Week 5 Wrap Up

Day 18-20 of Week Five: Due to the back splash hold up, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty low key at the house. Bruce, our electrician, spent a ton of time here finishing up lighting and electrical work in the island and all the glass front cabinets. I had my own painter come Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the evenings to paint the main game room wall and super high stairwell. Although, he was referred by a good friend, I once again learned my lesson on not using Sandra's people. I payed 30% more than her guys quote and had to deal with him painting during prime time at home from 5-8 PM.

After living with my mom and step dad for the first three weeks, we moved home a couple of nights before Thanksgiving weekend and then headed to Dallas. After returning home from Dallas, we opted to try and stick out the last week without appliances at home, since we were plain just sick of living out of a suit case for the past FOUR weeks.

Sandra had told me, very seriously, the night before we began, that I love her and this process now. That it has been so exciting picking all these things out. She told me, I will love her and the process for a while and then I will get to a point that I will hate her and this remodel. She told me that was normal but that she 110% guarantees I will love her even more than ever the moment we are done.Day 21 - Thursday at 5PM we had a completely and totally and different home when we walked in and saw the paint completed. See, paint colors had been a relatively easy decision back about three weeks ago. But when it came time to put them on the wall, I started second and third guessing the colors.... one too dark??? Another way too light??!?!

As a result, I spent a few visits at Sherwin Williams having my new B.F.F., Saul, remix a custom version or two or three..... Thank goodness, the last minute second guess worked out perfectly. I trusted my designer Sandra on the darker color for certain areas, which I am madly in love with and trusted my own gut on the very lightest one, opting to go a slightly darker version for the main living room.

It is true, paint, makes the entire house look different. Pictures don't do the colors justice but one of the most exciting results was how the new warm gray walls, make the beige couch pop. It looks like a new piece of furniture.

Day 22 - By Friday, the back splash, had not made it to the Lone Start State. But the great news was Friday afternoon at 5 PM we had eight shiny appliances and they are amazing. It was a rainy and dreary day but the installers made our day by being on time and happy to be there. I can't begin to describe how close we are.

The new touch faucet... a last minute switch out.

Blake had this one filled with in about 10 minutes of it being plugged in.

So as every single week has been before, Week 5 ended on a super high note. Knock on wood, our very original completion date was this coming Friday, December 10... so cross your fingers, our carpenter has a lot of work left to do.... but he says that's the plan?!?!

I had just

Aunt Jessy's Turkey Craft!

While in Dallas visiting all of Blake's side of the family, Aunt Jessy got crafty on us and had involved ALL the cousins for a fun paint project.

 Before we knew it, we had SEVEN little turkeys on paper!

My Baby Ballerina.

 

Week #4: Counters Are In & So Much More! Post 9/15

Monday, Day 15 was an amazing day!!!! Jamie and Little John were at the house installing the gorgeous counters!!!!

We also found back splash tile today!

My mom came over tonight, the first time, since tear out and with her help, we decided not to do the same back splash tile throughout the dining room part of the kitchen and instead just paint. Even though, I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the large gray subway tile, I didn't love the feel of it going all the way across the large dining room space under the three windows. She also helped clarify a lighting question in the far old breakfast nook turn sitting area. I was SO THANKFUL for her visit and opinions.

I have painted swatches ALL over the downstairs to help decide on paint. I am so concerned about going too dark. However, I want it to be cool and dramatic in some parts too.

They also put the sink in and it is AWESOME!!! Just LOVE it.

Day 16
Bruce there 9-2 working on more electrical.

Jamie came by to measure for back splash and give quote to install, we ordered tile, as it is in Califonia.

Sandra okay'd the no tile, but felt like we needed to frame or finish out the area out better to complete it and give counter top a back splash wood frame. During our early morning meeting at the house going over my last minute changes, I told Sandra and Beth about my passion for photography and how I don't have any printed pictures out displayed. They instantly LOVED it and we are making it my gallery wall.

As far as the lighting, we decided today on the 3 smaller lights vs. 3 bigger ones. I got a reasonable quote from painter referred to me by Cindy for entire downstairs and game room. I have got to figure out paint colors!!!!

Tonight, during our daily phone debrief, Sandra and I talked about the benefit of not having every single detail set in stone in our head during this process. There is a clear benefit of things happening naturally and it's better to be open to a change! I 100% agree and went to bed and woke up doing the happy dance so excited about the changes.

Finally, Wednesday, Sergio came and taped off EVERYTHING and patched the remaining holes that Bruce had made and re-textured. This was all done the Monday - Wednesday before Thanksgiving break.

Now, it's the waiting game. With the Thanksgiving holiday, the tile won't be here until next Wednesday or Thursday at the earliest. We can't install the seven appliances until the back splash is in, grouted and sealed. I told Sandra, I will give it until Friday of the following week - December 2, otherwise, I want the appliances installed before the weekend. She called and scheduled delivery and installation that Thursday or Friday, so only time will tell... cross your fingers! Between now and then, it's really just painting and finding out when Hank is coming to install the island counter top and finish out the cabinets.

Week #3. Post 8/15

The new floors (the same as before) were integrated Monday and Tuesday. This was the morning following our Marathon and this guy had run the full marathon as well and while I was hobbling around in severe mental and physical pain, he was popping up and down off and on his knees laying hard wood floor. You betcha, I wasn't complaining about my calves anywhere in earshot of this amazing guy!!! ;)
The good news was that we found cabinet jewelry (a.k.a hardware) on Day 11 (Tuesday) and thought we had picked out the perfect back splash the very same day... WOW, a lot accomplished. Most of the stuff like that, Sandra brought samples to my house and dropped them off for Blake and I to look at for several days before we had to make a decision. I love how Sandra NEVER once pushed us for a decision but you kinda start to understand at some points how your lack of decisions can slow down the entire process.

Sandra called Wednesday morning and told me Hank was supposed to bring over the cabinet bases that morning but with the recent rain and high humidity over the weekend, he wasn't 100% certain the paint had dried and cured by Tuesday night, so Sandra assured me that waiting until first thing Thursday morning, would NOT HOLD ONE THING up.

Then in the same call, I was told the back splash we had decided on the day prior, only had very limited supply and therefore it was a no-go. So back to ground one on deciding on our last big decision.

I trusted Sandra and forgot about it until Thursday afternoon after SEVENTEEN FULL DAYS of being moved out of our house, I walked in the door at 5PM and found this....
I was squealing like a little girl and so excited. Cindy, my good friend, was there to witness the joy, along with Hank, my 2 counter fabricators, Blake and Sandra. They were all waiting for my arrival to see my reaction to our kitchen taking form after just over 2 full weeks since tearing it out. 

 The view from walking in the front door!

The following day, Friday, was just as good, when I walked in to find the magnificent island...

Hank, had said, in his entire career of being a cabinet maker, this was the coolest island he had ever made. I asked him, "Why is that?" He replied, "It's huge and has SO MUCH in it and storage, wow!" Let's just say we ended this Friday of week 3 on a high!