big shock there, I dont expect there to ever be any exposed caulk in a home these two own





D, since your friend deals with granite, I'd ride that pony if you can swing it. Just make sure you get a darker color so it doesnt show stains. The apartment I built with my old roommates had natural maple cabinets,white walls, then black appliances, tile and granite. Everyone commented that it looked like something you would see in a magazine

 

I've seen a bunch of junk from 4 or 5 houses piled up into a giant pile and burned...I bet that woulda got your blood boiling if they tried pulling that

That's definitely good to hear though! Make sure you take pictures of every single wall before the drywall goes up. Will make things 10x easier when you're trying to add stuff later on and are wondering if you're about to sawzall through a pipe or live wire


And before you ask, yes I've done that before

 

We're definitely putting stone in, but it won't be dark. I've lived with honey-stained poplar, black porcelain floors, and black Silestone (very similar color scheme to the one you describe) for the past 7 or 8 years and am ready for something different now.

We'll have walnut floors that continue into the kitchen ( ) and warm brown maple cabinets, so I need something to lighten it up and balance out all the warm tones. I'm thinking of white quartzite (natural stone similar to granite - not to be confused with the composite), though I may do the island in Blue Bahia granite to add a pop of color and to tie in with the blue recycled glass backsplash. I need to go look at slabs to make a final decision, but have to decide on bathroom tile first. Builder needs that soon.



Good advice about the wall pics. I'll do that. Will have to do Wednesday, I think..they're planning to put in the insulation on Friday!

And, dearest Snotty, I wasn't going to ask...I absolutely assumed you had.

 

Nice progress. I'm sure you can't wait to be in there.

 

I. Can't. Frikkin. Wait.

Went by tonight to take the wall pics. Hung out on the deck a bit. It was great just to be there. We've chosen almost all the finishes now, so I'm really starting to be able to visualize the final product. Can't wait.

 

I dont think Ive ever actually seen walnut floors before. Ive looked at some pictures, hard to really get a feel for them that way though. I like the bright island idea. My mom has it opposite, light granite on the counters, and a dark island top. I would have never thought of that myself, but I like the contrast

 

I initially read this as YOU spread yourself all over your site.





Nevermind. Carry on.

 

There is a ton of variety in walnut's final appearance, depending on the grade and the finish. It's funny, but a friend from high school posted a great link to another friend's facebook page that I followed - it was mostly modern high end home decor photos. Very random, but also very compelling..I flipped through for a good half hour, then stumbled across these floors and fell in . We hadn't even closed on the land yet, but I had my floors picked!

http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/...ign-group.html

A little research told me they were rustic grade American Walnut. I love, love the variation in color and shade. We'll be doing 3-5" variable width. They're over the budget the builder gave us for hardwoods, but we decided early on that floors would be one of our big splurges.

Interestingly, the kitchen in that house has similarly toned cabinets on the perimeter with a white top. Very different feel to the wood grain and stone we'll be using, but you can get the idea. I think it's refreshing. The kitchen is the darkest corner of our great room with only one window looking into the screened porch, so I want to brighten it up, and I think the counter tops will really help.

 

I dunno how I feel about the walnut floors in the kitchen, I absolutely LOVE them everywhere else in that house though. Maybe its just the combination of the dark floor, and then the dark cabinet. I seem to prefer a lot of contrast without getting too obnoxious in the kitchen.

I wonder how a cherry cabinet would look paired with that floor?

 

I agree - I was a little concerned about the monochromatic feel to the kitchen, too, which is why I'm going for such strong contrast in the stone. Our light blue recycled glass backsplash will add some color and contrast, too. Also, I just noticed that kitchen doesn't have stainless appliances, either, which I think will help to break up the brown, too.

Our cabinets are also a little darker than those, but still a warm brown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7656588334/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7656588334/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

They look a little green between my crappy cell camera and the showroom fluorescents, but you get the idea. They're less green and a little warmer than this representation. They'll be pulling the darker tones from the floors.

 

I think that kitchen looks cold (as is so typical of the modern style). With a few changes, I'm going for slightly more rustic modern, so I hope a little cozier.

 

What color is this light blue backsplash?? Need pictars!!

 

They are 1 inch squares.

 

Where are you shopping for kitchen cabinets/back splash, etc?

 

Our builder works with Cavalier Kitchens & Baths in Winchester, so we used one of their designers for the cabinets. I bought that tile online, but have an appointment at Daltile in Chantilly tomorrow to look for tile for the bathrooms.

I'm buying the stone through Dominion Granite.

I bought sinks and faucets for the entire house at homeclick.com. They have consistently good prices and I've been happy with the service.

 

Update:

They hung drywall throughout the house yesterday. The builder says it will probably be a week + for all the taping, mudding, and sanding to be completed in this humidity. I'm starting to get really impatient to see our aesthetic choices go in. And, well, just to be there. This apartment feels smaller every day.


Most of the major items have been chosen at this point. Tile was one of the harder things for me to choose (so many choices that I liked and that carried things in totally different directions). Countertops, too. Same thing. I like such a huge variety, but ultimately the need to brighten things up a bit helped me settle on the Super White quartzite. A shipment is coming in mid-August, so as long as they get 2 matching slabs that I like, that will be the one we go with.

I think lighting (have some already) and the stone for the 2 fireplace surrounds are the only major-ish things remaining.

 

 

Are you having them install all of the lighting? A lot of people will have them install the basics and then add all of the fancy fixtures as DIY projects later on. Just a thought...they're pretty easy to do!

Ceiling fans may give you some trouble though if you don't know the shortcuts

 

Have you met me? And you're suggesting I play with electricity?



No, I'll probably have them do it. I've already found most of my lighting splurges. Though, there may be a couple of areas where we install something more basic and upgrade later if I just can't make up my mind what I want yet.

I have tempted fate by replacing outlets in the past, and I'm still here...

 

I would never suggest that...I care too much about the safety of your pets


Thought you might know somebody that had some experience, but they'll do all the hard wiring during the rough in and leave you with the three wires to connect to. Just need some wire nuts and a few basic tools!

And the last sentence is truly terrifying. Let's hear this story

 

My one poor little remaining puppy appreciates that.


And there is nothing to tell. I did just fine, tyvm.

 

Nice can't wait for the update pics, D!

 

Drywall pics!

Great Room

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732795518/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732795518/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732798142/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732798142/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732800282/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732800282/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


Master Bedroom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732802066/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732802066/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

Master Bath

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732804864/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732804864/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732807754/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732807754/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

Powder room & coat closet off the entry

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732809962/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732809962/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


Upstairs bath

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732812420/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732812420/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

Guest Bedroom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732814622/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732814622/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

Office for now

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732817176/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732817176/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

Stairwell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732819566/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7732819566/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


No real exterior changes this round. He expects to bring the flooring in to adapt next week. Doors and trim will also start to go in next week. Deck rails in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Freakin nice

 

What are the two openings on the left and right sides of the office?

 

The left is a gigantic closet that will have an access panel to the HVAC. The right is a little door to attic storage space. We'll have the same storage in the upstairs bedroom, but you can't see the opening in the pic.

 

Very nice

 

You have custom paint going up?

 

Eventually yes, but for now it will be white until we live in it for a while and decide what we want. We're buying new living room furniture and haven't decided on colors. I lived in a very colorful house before and enjoyed it, so I know we'll put color up again, but have too many other big and difficult to change decisions to make right now.

 

I was going to say go neutral with everything for now until I read you lived in a colorful house.

 

Our slabs came in!


This is the stone we'll be using for the kitchen counters/island and also for the vanities in the master bath and the shower bench in the master. I it. It's the 4th batch we've looked at. The first was sold out already, the second had a poor finish and lots of fill, the 3rd was too dark. Finally...juuuust right.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7844456260/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7844456260/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

They also finally hung the front door. They had put it up for us to see when it first came in, then immediately removed it so it didn't get damaged.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7844455494/2012-08-21_17-24-21_224 copy.jpg by MoxiePhotos, on Flickr

Otherwise things have been moving a little slowly. They've finished the drywall, paint, and trim but I haven't taken any new photos in there. They prepped the fireplace surround yesterday and will be finally starting the deck rails today. Should be seeing some big changes soon.

 

Looks AWESOME! I recently moved into the wilderness too, though you look like you'll be even deeper in.. hope you enjoy

 

That stone looks great!

 

Thanks guys.

Whereabouts? Post pics!

 

Granite is SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIICK. LOVE IT

 

Thanks, Steve. I love it, too!! Can. Not. Wait. To start seeing this stuff go in. So impatient.

When do you guys start?

 

Waiting on a second quote on the cabinetry. Should have it by Monday then we'll order before Labor Day. We have a quote from Home Depot and they are running some ridiculous sales right now but I have a connection at a building supplies warehouse who also sells cabinetry so I am getting a quote from them which is going to be "builder's cost" but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Home Depot is still cheaper right now. They already gave us $6,000 off and I got a coupon emailed to me today for an additional 10% off.

 

I hope you like bugs. That's one of the biggest differences I've noticed since moving out here. Of course my place is much older and riddled with woodpecker holes and the like, so they have an easy in.

 

Nice!! That's great. I've heard if you buy cabinets there at the right time, you can do very well. Just have to catch it right - sounds like you did.

I've been marveling at the rapidity with which the spiderwebs and mud dauber nests are re-built. We have some very talented orb weavers on the deck and screened porch. They can stay. The wasps have to go...

And I'm still contemplating chickens for tick removal. The other half hasn't quite given the thumbs-up on that yet, but after living with my disease riddled carcass for the last few months, I think he'll probably sign on.