'Cause she's a brick....house!

Happy Birthday Heath 9/20/2012! We had dinner at Angus Barn to celebrate!

It's been exactly one month since my last update. We have had LOTS going on with the house and with personal lives. We were at the beach for 10 days but while we were gone the insulation was started and finished in the house! It was cool to come back and see the progress. The following has been accomplished since last post (in no specific order):
1. Electrical-outlets/can lights
2. Insulation
3. Drywall
4. Brick outside -started and almost finished
5. Fireplace in front built
6. Well-pump installed
7. Correct windows installed in the bedrooms

While we were at the beach, Heath received a call from a neighbor down the street...the man (Wayne Lowery) who cleared the lot and driveway back in May, died. He had stage 4 lung cancer. He never told us (or his friends/family, except his wife) that he was ill. He literally kept working right up until he passed away. We were saddened but have seen his wife Becky since then and she is in good spirits. We will have her over for dinner as soon as the house is complete!

Picture from May 22, 2012 (1st day of work)

I will post some pictures now and caption under them....ENJOY!

This is the front left of the house where the master bed/bath is. Heath and Chris Hegee (brick mason/friend) did this!

And here it is complete! The detail (border) around the window was Heath's idea...he's got some good ones!

Front fireplace/chimney! Heath is so creative and thought of this awesome detail for the front, just to add character and appeal to the brick tower! It is so cool!

Side view of fireplace. Chris did an amazing job!

Front of house with awesome fireplace!

House as it stands today. The brick is being put on the back porch and the fireplace on the porch has started. The rest  of the house will have board & baton siding and will be painted Prairie Dust (green/tan color)

This view is from the stairwell looking back into the kitchen (you can see vent for range hood) and into the den.

Drywall in stairwell. Already have a piece of furniture for that little niche!

View from stairwell looking into kitchen. The window will be above the sink, oven/micro combo to left!

The mudroom will house the washer/dryer and a pantry. It will be tiled.

New windows in guest room. They now meet code and if necessary will open all the way for a firefighter to get through. We like these better than the original windows.

The bigger of the two rooms upstairs. Each room has a little secret door to attic space. Steve and Heath floored the  spaces so that there will be ample storage..there is not once ounce of wasted space in the house.

The drywall has been completed. This view is standing in the corner of the kitchen looking out to the back porch, peninsula and stairwell.

Lots of action out at Brassfield! It's all super exciting. The tile for showers/floors in bathrooms/mudroom will start next week, hardwood floors will be ordered as well as the siding. The paint will hopefully begin soon too! More pictures to come...

Thanks for all the love and support! Heath is blessed!

Love,

Caroline

  

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

Raisin' the roof!

My apologies for not updating since June 25th! We vacayed to Ocean Isle with some good people. It was a great weekend with many laughs and much needed relaxation. Here is a pic of the girls...xoxo!

~BACK TO REALITY~

A lot has happened since then and I hope I have the picture evidence to prove it! I will go backwards, starting with the latest picture back to the ones from last week and a few weeks ago....

Here is the house as it stands today...well as it stood Friday...not sure how much they worked Monday. With 105* heat on Saturday, they worked 'til 1pm...don't blame them! The room on the left upstairs may be completely walled by now, but you can imagine it! The front little window on the top peak is the window in hall bath upstairs...it's a cool spot!

The picture below is the new "front yard." We originally discussed having a circle drive but we liked the idea of having a bigger front yard (green grass) and a prettier view down the drive as you are coming down. It looks really good. We will have a large driveway with grass and natural areas on either sides with hopefully some trees and uplights for the ambiance :)

This was the view (below) before the clearing. It was still pretty but it looks ten times better now!

This picture was taken over a week ago (so you can see how much gets accomplished in just a weeks time). This was the beginning of the 2nd floor wall framing/roof. The peaks and valleys in the roof system are beautiful...from the inside looking up it makes for a cool ceiling with some style instead of flat ceilings!

This was taken in the back yard looking up towards the back of the house. The back porch is not framed yet (it is as of now but I don't have current pictures), but the opening you see on the 2nd floor facing the back yard is where a wall of windows will be. The windows will open out and we will be able to get a nice cross breeze. Its going to be such a great spot!

We've ordered cabinets for the kitchen and all bathrooms! It is very exciting! Thank you Steve & Vera for coming up again and enjoying our first "meal" in the house together! PS thanks for the Cheerwine ice-cream, can't beat that stuff!

Love, Caroline

City girl puts in some elbow grease...

I know what it's like to put in some sweatquity (haha). I've also been hard at work out at the house and I want to prove it through pictures!

I am helping mix the concrete and water! Overseen by Heath of course :)

My partner Steve Drye. He was digging out the holes and I was helping fill them up! We made a great team!

I'm probably laughing because I was confident I didn't know what I was doing...even with positive reinforcement from Heath and the on-lookers. It was fun!

Evidence that I can pitch in and get sweaty! It was a great day!

Love, Caroline

If you build it, they will come!!!

Pardon me for not updating the blog in 6 days! There was a lot going on this week and weekend so I am just now getting around to it! I know you will understand!

The first floor walls were put up on Tues-Wed-Thurs this week and they have started framing the 2nd floor floor!

#1: This picture was taken Thursday evening. Heath is standing where the front door will go! The walls are 10' and the windows will be 8' (floor to top of window)...just to put it in perspective.

#2: This picture is of the back of the house. The door opening on the left will lead inside from the back stoop to the mud room. The kitchen/dining room and doors to master bedroom (from porch) span the rest of the house length. The cinderblocks in the forefront will support the screened back porch (not yet floored).

#3: This is another picture of the front of the house from a right side perspective. The great room is located in the front right corner of the house.

#4: I am standing where the fireplace will be that is why there is no wall. Waylon wanted to get in the shot! It's his house too!

On Saturday, Heath's parents and my parents came up to see the progress and to pitch in with some help (and food)! It was so nice to have them there, we had the best time with each other! Thanks Steve & Vera and Tom & Nancy for your help and support through this! Cannot wait to enjoy the finished product with you all!

#5: Heath and Steve (Heath's father) set the piers (blocks) in concrete. These will support the screened back porch. 

#6: Heath with his brick trowel ready to put some mud on the blocks! He is so talented. His masonry skills started back in highschool (he even won a silver medal at a national competition :))

This a video that Nancy took..she wanted to document this skill in action. Tom is seen in the video too!

It was soooooo hot yesterday. Vera & Nancy supplied us with lots of liquids and a watermelon that hit the spot. This handy invention was quite the necessity...you dip/soak these little cloth rolls in water and they expand into a small towel!

More pictures to come. I broke a pretty good sweat and want to prove that this "city girl" isn't afraid to put in a little elbow grease!

Love, Caroline