The Crescendo Continues

The workers have been very busy for the past two weeks around our house. They've been installing electrical and plumbing fixtures, completing the retaining wall, and installing granite and marble countertops. Brenda and I have been working right alongside them many of the days too. We put in long hours cleaning inside and outside, as well as installing and adjusting whatever we could.  Each morning I would begin my day with a trip to Home Depot to return unnecessary or excess items and buying even more parts.

Kitchen granite before the cooktop hole was cut.

Island top installed

Oven installed and ready for baking

Breakfast nook ceiling fan

Rear bedroom fan

Family Room fan (before raising it 2 feet)

There have been a few glitches.  For example, after buying down rods for the ceiling fans according to the buying guide at the store, we discovered they were too long and caused the fans to hang too low.  So, next day I returned to the store for shorter rods and had the electrician make the changes.  Also, some of the connections hardware for the internet, cable, and media room I bought several months ago was wrong which meant even more trips back to the store. 

When the electrician hung the Dining Room lighting fixture it wasn't aligned with the centerline of the room.  It was very easy to adjust, but I needed a very tall ladder to do so.

Gotta love the swan faucet

The piles of scrap wood, saw horses, and empty pallets were getting out of hand, but luckily we had some much needed rain this week which allowed the burn ban to be lifted.  On Wednesday we started burning the piles and added to it all the empty cardboard boxes from the lighting fixtures and appliances.  We had also trimmed several trees behind the house so I took the opportunity to burn those limbs too.

I left for work on Thursday morning and shortly afterwards the concrete crew began forming the driveway and installing the steel rebar and sand foundation.  I've asked them to bury PVC pipe under the driveway and sidewalk so I can add landscape irrigation and lighting afterwards.

The Jack and Jill bathroom vanities are topped with granite which closely matches the floor tile.  The mirrors have been delivered but not yet installed.  Each vanity has an electrical outlet installed in the drawer to allow hairdryers or razors to remain plugged in and ready for use.

Guest bath vanity

Utility Room countertop

Kitchen cooktop in place with backsplash slate tile

Master bath marble tub surround

Bren's vanity lighting and marble

Beginning tomorrow the wooden floors will be laid and the glass shower door will be measured for installation next week.  I plan to mow the grass, cut the stumps in the lake which have been exposed by the lower lake level, and continue installing the media components.  It should be another busy week.  About the only thing left to install will be the appliances which sit on the flooring and the carpet in the guest bedrooms and Game Rooms upstairs.  The cleaning team will then come in to remove all the protective covers, as well as vacuum, wash, and dust everything.  Finally, the painters will touchup any scraps or dings that may have occurred.  We still look forward to moving in very soon.