Sunday, January 29, 2012

Some Good News From Our Project Manager!

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     I had read a few bloggers talking about how dark the house was the day they moved in since the light rough ins are just that - rough ins. I noticed this happened everywhere in our house we had paid for a light rough-in:
      It's a light fixture! I asked my PM if they leave them for a few days or take them out before we get keys and he says they stay! Yes, it's a very basic fixture, but it holds a working light bulb and takes away the need for us to run right in the house and install light fixtures on day one, with everything else going on that day.

     Just a little thing, but one which will make a big difference during all the craziness.

*Note to self: Ben would like these back when we replace them - they do not go into a landfill or take up "Just in case we need them some day for some thing" storage space in the basement.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Almost!

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     There is not much left to do until our house is ready for action. Frankly, I feel like they should just deliver my appliances tomorrow and let me at it. But alas, Ben (our project manager) is a perfectionist and wants to touch up and retouch and light all the candles before he hands over the keys. Here is what we saw today when we went to see the house:

*In no particular order, because between my computer and blogger I don't know which one is more stubborn. It's a real pain to get things in a certain order and I'm just too doggone tired to deal with it.

Boys Bathroom: Granite: Wheat Oil Rubbed Bronze faucet

Front Door Exterior
Front Door Interior - oops! They are changing this


Kitchen Corner - excuse the dirty floors - we're animals!
Floor: Sugar Creek Maple: Cinnamon
Cabinets: Timberlake Maple Butterscotch Glaze
Hardware: Oil Rubbed Bronze/Antique Bronze
Counters: Black Pearl/Brazil Black

Granite's lookin' good!

Kitchen Sink/Window

Front Bedroom

View from living room - great dumpster!

Blurry Back Bedroom

More floor - Living room

Office - Sugar Creek Maple floors. Color: cinnamon

What's wrong with this picture?  Can you see it?
On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being "Who cares?" and 10 being "Oh no they di-in't" rate this problem.



     Do I need to say I am so happy with the selections we made that 'happy' doesn't begin to do justice to the way I feel? They were working on our oak staircase when we were at the house. One of the guys was sanding his heart out. They are going to be glorious! I keep looking at all the pictures of the house. No matter what I'm doing I just have to stop and look at them. I told my husband today that when I move in I'll probably be sitting in the house looking at pictures of the house.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Lights, Plumbing, Stone!

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     Okay, there was a lot of work done since Friday. It was really something to get to the house today and see the progress. The biggest deal is the exterior:



Isn't she beautiful!?

Chandelier in dining room

Entry


     I love-love-love (yes, triple-love!) the oil rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures. I'm so thrilled with everything.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Lights and Vents

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     Even though we are not moved in yet, there are a few things I already wish I had done.

1. Have recessed lighting everywhere throughout the whole house. If it's in the kitchen and basement and some closets, why did I not get it in the office, bedrooms, living room and family room? I have no good answer for this.

2. Have the dryer vent higher on the wall. It just makes sense.

3. Have the microwave fan vented outside. (I would have done this if it had been an option. I did let them know at sales meetings I didn't like it being circulated back inside - now I know some people did pay the upgrade to have it vented outside.)

4. Insist on one door instead of french doors and have another window on the wall instead.

I really can't think of much. I did spend a lot of time thinking about everything. Plus, it's our first time, so I'm sure there will be things we think of as we live in the house. We'll just have to build another one next year. Kidding... because this was a lot of time and effort. More than I would have ever thought it would be. It's worth it, though. I can't wait to live in it!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Since I Am Not Sleeping...

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    I might as well share. I Stopped by the house and almost drove right past it:

 

Went inside and she was all painted:

Then I went upstairs and saw the bathroom without the cardboard:
And took another picture of the shower:

Then I headed to the basement and saw this little Devil: 

The kickplate for this guy is installed under the kitchen sink, too! 

     I was pretty excited. I think the closer it gets to being done the more emotional I get. I nearly cried.

     The roads in our (nearly finished) development were not plowed at all. I found it rather shocking! Anyone else experience this? Isn't it the responsibility of the city?




Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tile & Grout Question

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     When I started reading all the Ryan Homes bloggers I could find I read about sealing the tile & grout from someone. They might have done a video or shared a video with us. Can anyone tell me what they did to seal the grout? I know it was a miracle how simple it was to do it. Anyone? Ferris? Bueller?

Update:
     I'm so good I'm going to answer my own question. I just found the post I was looking for  on BD's blog. I should have known. I actually searched several posts on the blog and then found it a different way.

Monday, January 16, 2012

In All Fairness

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     I am so happy with the progress on our home. I think this is obvious if you read the blog posts. But there are things which sometimes need to be addressed because they were not done well the first time. Here are some pictures I took yesterday:






 

     It makes me wonder if this guy was doing this work for himself or family/friends - would he do this sort of job? I know very well about gaps between the baseboards and walls. But to me this stuff was plain bad workmanship. I know our PM will take care of it, so I'm not worried about it, just surprised anyone would be willing to do this and leave it this way. Maybe some of it is because I know how things are supposed to be done - my parents did a lot of custom trim work. I spent a few odd weekends and summer days installing lock sets and the like. But I think anyone would see the problems in this. What do you think?

    

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Yeee Haaawwww Doggies!

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We had a lot of new stuff to see today!

 Stairs are going to be beautiful!


 Bathroom has cabinets, granite, and tile! Pretty, pretty, pretty.



 I can  not wait to soak in this tub.


 Kitchen cabinets are perfect!

 View of the back of kitchen.

 Front of kitchen. Isn't she pretty?

 Upstairs hall from back of hall.

 Short part of hall to master & bonus room.


     I know, right? This post hardly needs any words. We are delighted to see our selections in the house. I'm so ready to move in right now!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Drywall and A Hipster Llama

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     We had to go to the neighborhood to watch the baby yesterday, and since we were there we stopped by the house. The drywall is hung and the mud & tape has been done.

     Cabinets, stair railing, lock sets, doors galore, granite tops for bathrooms, and baseboards filled the garage. Literally!
Loaded Garage. Pretty Exciting stuff!

The drywall is up everywhere. Also thrilling. I love my giant kitchen/family room area:

 They are keeping my oak staircase well protected. 

The catwalk in the Bonus room/ extra groovy bedroom:


My sighing tub, with natural light!




And just for fun, a hipster llama:


Sunday, January 1, 2012

We Have A Garage Door

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     We stood in this garage the other day and it felt big to me. I can't wait to:
  • Have a garage
  • Have a dining room
  • Have more than one bathroom
  • Have a garbage disposal
  • Have a dishwasher
  • Have modern faucets
  • Have a third floor laundry
  • Have a jacuzzi tub
  • Have that snazzy central vacuum
  • Have a fireplace
  • Have ample parking
  • Have nice floors
  • Have plenty of bedrooms
  • Have beautiful windows
  • Have lots of cabinets
  • Have plenty of counters
  • Have an office for my work-at-home husband
  • Have central air
  • Have family across the street
  • Move in!