Kitchen Roundup Over

The Kitchen Roundup is over. The appliances are in place.

All Appliances in Place

It’s official. No more milling about – all appliances are in their proper slot.

The Cook-top is so flat, that it looks absent!!! When it gets cleaned up, I will post a picture that shows its stars!

Another View

And the sinks are getting ready for their debut!

Finish for the Sinks

As we came out of the house, we saw a gorgeous sunset;

Sunset: Mountain ,Sky, Cloud

The teal light blue is hard to discern from the photo, but it was just enough to remind us how beautiful it is here!

That was trip one.

Then, later that night we got the opportunity to select carpeting that should be low for allergens. Yay!!

Then we travelled over to the house to screw on the face plates for the Cat-6 plugs. Electrical Inspection does not like open wiring boxes – they need to be neat and tidy just like the rest of the wiring – I don’t have a problem with that! We’re finding out about all the inspections necessary for occupancy so you can get a Certificate for Occupancy – and you have to have that before you can move in permanently.

Closer looks reveal neat changes for items in the house:

Lights up and lit or blinking – this equipment is at the top of the furnace. It is the force behind which area gets what air.

Controller for the Furnace Zones

This nifty item maintains static pressure (makes pressure equalize throughout the house) so the furnace does not freak out.

The Maintainer of Static Pressure (for the Furnace)

This item is hooked up to the hot water heater, actually. I had to turn off the flash to capture it without glare:

Unidentified Chamber for the Water Heater

This picture at night shows the kitchen in different light.

View from the Master Bedroom

We are very excited to see the house nearing completion.

When we returned last night there was a worker still there. We went around making sure all the face plates got installed and I was opening doors to look behind them so as not to miss a connector. When I opened and closed the door to Willy’s office, it groaned and squealed as well as the doors at the SCARY Nightmare Manor House on Halloween!!! A few minutes later, Willy asked me to open/close the main bedroom door to check something, so I told him to open and close his office door. . . . No Squeak! I walked toward the office, past the kitchen, because I couldn’t believe there was no squeak. The guy who was working late walked by me with a Big Smile and a can! When I saw that the door no longer squeaked, I looked back at the guy, who now had a HUGE grin – he held up the can – lubricant!! He’d de-squeaked the door!!! LOL!! And he was proud of it!! What a fun gag!!

Another Day of New

It just seems that it is impossible for us to stay away now.  I, personally, love the new changes happening in the house and the pictures.

Now days, it is just finishing what we know has to get done before we move in.  I think we are “bonding” with our house. We sure like the homey-ness of it.

The New Countertop

The Counter Top Installed

The appliances have been rounded up like cattle (this is Wyoming, you know) into the kitchen, like they are ready to jump into place.

Well, maybe not, there are connections to deal with:

Yearning to Be Plugged In

I saw a workman do a neat trick to get a counter top installed in the laundry room.

The glue was put on the back of the counter top material.  Then he laid out dowels perpendicular to the counter – what it accomplished is that he can place the glued piece on top of the dowels without it sticking, before it is perfectly placed.

The Neat Trick

We’ve gotten to learn a lot through this experience – amazed at the myriad of neat tricks used by so many on so many different jobs.

We look forward to learning more and seeing exciting changes!

 

 

SQUEEEEEE!!!!!

We decided to peek out at the house today because the closer it gets to being done the more excited we get!

Lots of fun things: Coming up to the house, we can see the doorbell because it is lighted! I just never would have thought of that as important. But it sure helps light up the porch and tells someone where to poke their finger.

We walk into the house and it is dark inside, so we start searching for light switches. Gosh, we like how the living room looks! And the kitchen… the kitchen is going to be gorgeous and, more importantly, practical and accessible.

From Kitchen out to Livingroom.

Yesterday, when one of the workers was installing things in the kitchen, we were really sure the microwave was too large for the space it was to go in. It is amazing how our perspective, relative to size, can be so “off”.

Microwave Installed Perfectly

The anthropologist in me notes that the workmen seem to be very caffeinated, as we observe the cups they leave behind. LOL!

When we began this project, accessibility was an issue we wanted addressed. We knew to ask for a few things, but my brother had more ideas and answers, because he built an accessible bathroom in his house. We plan to have him assist us in tailoring this area.

Our Pedestal Sink

Yes, I am addicted to light. Our house in the Pacific Northwest was surrounded by trees, but, more importantly, was also limited in light fixtures, being a ’70’s house. Any lights going in – I am excited about!!

New Light Fixtures

The kitchen island is going to be very illuminated! Also note, on the lower right wall is the hookup for the ice machine in the refrigerator – things look so clean and prepared because they have insertions that match the needs of the appliances for each hole!

Lights Over the Island and Ice Machine Hookup

We looked over the hot water heater (because of yesterday’s question about whether gas or electric) and figured out that the water heater is electric.  It has its own thermostat and trip mechanism, so the gas line is only feeding the furnace.

Electric For Sure

And because of that, I had to take a picture of the electric panel filling up.

Filling Up with Wires

The fridge, dishwasher and oven will be installed Monday. More wires to come!

We’ve taken Rodeo with us in the truck for all the time we have been excitedly watching the house come together, never letting her out, because the construction area was not safe. Knowing it was safe tonight, we allowed her to “meet” her new home. She did not act like it was unfamiliar territory. It had our smells, since we’d just been in the house, and she is now, long familiar with construction smells. When we finally take her bed inside the house, she will know we have moved once again.

As you can tell I am VERY excited about how fast it is all coming together now! The kid in me is yelling like the title of this post. Squeeeeee!!!

 

 

From Here to the 20th!

We have to vacate the rental house by the 20th. Brandon, our contractor let us know a while back, that the the hold-up is the counter tops. Right before we left the house yesterday, he mentioned that they were done, but up in Billings (MT). Therefore, if he (or someone) went up to get them, we wouldn’t have to wait till Wednesday for delivery and then installation. Yippee!!

Today, when we drive up to the house, four vehicles are there! All at our house – because the crews had quit work on the other houses being built on our streert.  We guessed it must be super busy inside! …and here’s what we saw:

Grabber Bars for the Guest Bath

So glad to see this bar! Accessibility is very important to us.

More evidence of busy-ness!

Shiny and Sturdy Sinks

One for the Laundry Room and one for the Kitchen.

And the more we walk through the house, the more busy and intense it is!

Willy’s Workshop Flooring

In the context of choosing flooring for the  house, we decided that a workshop area and carpeting do not make good partners, so we decided to have Brandon install laminate flooring into this important area. This way, Willy doesn’t have to cringe when something goes bang or thwack, splat or thud! Yay!

Master Bath Coming Together

These are the discoveries for us today:

A Faucet for Willy’s bathtub. Check!

The tile is almost complete surrounding the tub.

Toilet. Check!

Sink Installation

Sink one-of two. Half Check!

Now to the other side of the house…

Guest Bath (and workman’s toolbag)

Guest shower. Check!

Guest toilet. Check!

Sink – tbi (to be installed).

Hot Water Heater Installed

Water Heater (we forgot to ask if it is an electric or a gas water heater.) Check!

We didn’t want to bother the guy installing appliances in the kitchen because he just looked way too busy!  That way we’ll have more pictures to take tomorrow!

So many busy bodies at work in the house today- at least 5 – made for a super busy house. We were amazed!

We took the camera and went outside to see if we can see the towers that host computer access.  The jury is out on that one… but we took pics anyway!

The Search for Computer Access

As we left the house, I noticed a hole dug into the front yard.  I asked one of the workers passing by from his truck what the hole was for – he said he thought it was the water access. Water and electricity were major players inside the house, today!

To say we are excited is an understatement!  We can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!! Woo Hoo!!!

Well, Now Resuming….. :)

I think the Christmas Holiday painting delay was even longer than the delay while waiting for approval from the City.  But, I had forgotten that when you paint a new house, you have to have at least two coats of paint because it is like sealing the wall board.  And… there needs to be time between paint layers to assure drying.  Time… it takes t_i_m_e!  …and I am not the most patient of people.

Despite the seeming delays, we now have a new lock on our front door.  Thanks to Steve Crayton, our son.  Steve came up one day, spent time yacking with us, stayed the night, installed the locks and left for Colorado immediately after because nasty weather would follow him home.  We have learned to really listen when they predict bad weather here – they mean it!  Down near Cheyenne, Wyoming, he dealt with 65mph winds on the interstate!

Two of My Favorite Guys

One item we have been anticipating is the furnace.  We have assumed that once the furnace gets put into the house, the rest of the work will follow quickly.  In fact, it needs to because we are planning to move into the house in about two weeks.

Furnace Assembly

This furnace is sooooo much smaller than the furnace we had in our old house – it’s downright amazing.  Logically, if you have a smaller house, you will have a smaller furnace. The AC will be added on come spring when the ground thaws, so they can grade it perfectly for the concrete slab the HVAC unit lives on. Frozen ground does not bulldoze easily.We will also have a humidifier added because it is so dry here. The humidifier not only helps keep noses from being dry, it helps preserve the house and furniture.

We were informed that the furnace needs to be working so that the tile can dry completely and evenly.  That makes sense.  It is amazing the tiny bits of information a contractor needs to have in order to complete a house well.

Exhaust fan

Yes, to most people, this picture of a bathroom exhaust fan is boring.  However, to us, it shows progression of the finishing touches.

Inserting Pot Lights

Neat little lights. Inserted by a pro.

And a Fan

With temps higher in the spring and summer, it pays to have a fan or two.

Pedestal Lamps

These will not only look great over the island – more importantly, they will provide good light!

The Working Doorbell

And, another strange picture: a new working doorbell!  We had one in the old house, but we could never hear it back in the rec room.  Electric versus battery powered – a big difference.

We are thinking about curtains and blinds… decisions, decisions.  Given the time constraint, we will use blankets and/or sheets for the short term.

I’ve been looking at lots of ideas to streamline the kitchen.  It will be fun to see it evolve.

Interestingly, the kitchen counter tops will go in shortly, along side finishing the last of the plumbing. I never had thought of them as needing to go together – but sinks and plumbing do go together! As well as all of the faucets, toilets, and sink and shower fixtures. I sure am glad the organizing and work are being done by professionals!!!

Through all of this, we have been amazed at the preciseness in how the house is coming and needs to come together.  So many aspects to consider!  We are so pleased that we have a great contractor!