I have been a huge slacker on updating this blog...I have fallen down on my job. With that said, there have been huge changes at the house! I will walk you through the details with the pictures we have taken along the way...enjoy!

This a shot of the ceiling in the living room/family room. It is a couffered ceiling so it has been framed in a grid like style. Each little square will have a can light so there will be about 10 lights in the ceiling. It's going to look great!

This was a huge help for us this past weekend...a to do list! Heath and I both love a good ol' check list...makes you feel good about what you have accomplished and it keeps you focused for what is ahead. I had fun asking Heath "what else can I check off or is there anything you've done that I can check off?" We loved seeing what was completed at the end of Sunday's work.

Steve Drye came up (yet again) and was such a great help. He has been extremely supportive and so willing to come to Creedmoor to assist at the drop of a hat...speaking of hat...not pictured is a Panama Jack sun hat with shells on it that he likes to wear while he works on the house... its funny to see!

This is what the back of the house looks like today. As you can see the brick was delivered and Gary (former employer of Heath's) is going to come and lay the brick for the entire house! It will start Sept 10 and take about 2-3 weeks. All of the windows and exterior doors are set. We had one minor set back for the upstairs windows in the 2 bedrooms...so we be replacing them soon.

It was so fun to pick out the brick back in May...it was such easy decision. It's called "Oyster Bay" and it is made in Statesville, NC! Its gorgeous...there are a hues of greens and grays and creams...looks like moss has grown on some of them. It will be fun to see it all come together!

"The Door of Doom"

This is the interior view of the front door. It is gorgeous...100% mahogony and heavy as lead. It took a while to install. Thanks to Steve for the delicious fajitas that gave us energy to finish...even at 1am...it was complete and we were all satisfied!

A few weekends ago, Heath and Steve set the wood columns on what will soon be the front porch. They are awesome 8 foot columns that will be trimmed out and bricked about 1/3 way up...it really adds character to the house and makes a great first impression.

This is the front of the house as it stands today. Insulation will start next week and dry wall will begin after Labor Day, as well as brick. Things are moving fast and we are all looking forward for the day that it is ready to be occupied!

We are leaving this weekend for a 10 day stacation ("stay"- because we are going to the beach and not moving a muscle). We have been saying for weeks and weeks that we are so ready for a break! We will return to the jobsite rested and ready for the next thing to come!

Thanks for all the feedback and support and love from family and friends!

Love,
Caroline



Southern Living

For those of you who dont know (or haven't seen), the house is a Southern Living house plan called "Brookgreen Cottage". What sold Heath on the plan was this killer screened back porch...400 square feet...with a fireplace. The master bedroom has french doors that take you right out onto the porch :) You jealous yet?

So this is what the back of the house will look like. There won't be a patio quite like this because the house is higher off the groud so there will actually be steps up to the porch.

This is what the front of the house will look like. The brick is not the exact same (the bricks for Heath's are beautiful). There will also be board and batten siding painted in a color called "prairie dust".

I just got the idea to share what the final house will look like (or will look similar too) so that you can get it in your mind!

Enjoy!

Love, Caroline

Summer Olympics: Team Heath & Caroline: synchronized window hanging

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since my last post....sorry!

In the past 3 weeks: the framers finished, cabinets/vanities order made (they are being built and should arrive in 4-5 weeks), tile/carpet was selected, plumbers roughed in the pipes, HVAC guys installed ducts, a temporary power pole was set up, and the windows were delivered! Who is installing the windows you may ask....well Heath is with the assistance of his father Steve and his better half (hehe)... me! The windows have probably been the biggest headache thus far in the process...the wrong ones were ordered (Heath was under the impression that the correct ones were ordered...so that sales rep got to know Heath pretty well :)), the company said they would fix the windows which means installation was pushed out for over a week, the company "fixed" the windows but when we went to install some of them THEY HAD HOLES IN THEM. Holes in windows aren't good. Holes mean rain and other weather can get inside. Holes can lead to major damage. Holes can be fixed but it means the 5 windows that are damaged won't be replaced until next Friday! We were perplexed that this particular company damaged the windows that they incorrectly ordered in the first place! Heath has learned to pick the battles with the  house process, but this was one that he was gonna fight!

The windows are actually very beautiful! There are regular double-hung windows and then there are several sets of casement windows (they open out)! This windows is in the kitchen above the sink. It's awesome! I love the transom above!

This is the corner niche in the den. There are a total of 4 windows in the niche, I just took a picture of 2. We have already discussed this little niche being the perfect spot for a Christmas tree!

This is the left side of the house where the master bedroom is. The wall juts out and creates a niche for where the bed will be. This window will be next to the bed and there is one (you can sort of see the sunlight peeking through the screen) on the other side of the niche. The windows are 8 feet tall! But when the walls are 10 feet tall, it is perfectly proportinate!

This is the flashing tape (tape with a tar-like sticky back) used to seal the window. I swear I am a good helper but I also provide Heath with some comical relief!

This is the small window in the bathroom that is above the front porch. I was inside helping to hold the window while he put the screws in!

I have been so impressed by Heath and his talents at each phase of the house. I asked him "how do you know how to do all this stuff?" He is so modest and said "Well I read a lot."  I was like "Oh yeah, duh...reading" He said "you can learn a lot about doing stuff if you just take the time to read about it." I liked that response :) but I know it's because he's just good at everything he does.

Last but not least I could not forget to mention the true project manager, Waylon. He is such a comfort to have down at the house! He loves to watch all the action.

Heath is out at the house with his buddy Adam (as I type) hopefully installing the triple windows in the upstairs study. The weather has been stormy almost every afternoon but the rain cools things down, which is quite refreshing!

Final window pictures to come soon!

Thanks for all your comments and words of excitement and encouragement!

Love,
Caroline