WEEK 11 - TEXT IN...TEXT OFF!

WEEK 11

Monday, January 17, 2011

Nothing to report today.  Isaak is coming back tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Weather has been quite the challenge lately.  Today we awoke to rain and ice.  I woke up early to clear the sidewalk and driveway.  As soon as I cleared the area it all became a big sheet of ice as the rain continued.

Isaak was here on schedule, but his helper “texted” that he was not going to chance an accident and stay home.  Yes it was icy out there, but I planned on going to work.  I just consider it a delayed opening.  I gave the roads a chance to defrost and then headed to the office.  I wish his helper would have considered that option.  And what’s this with the “texting”…doesn’t anybody dial the phone anymore?  I must be getting older, I’m sounding like my parents.

Today the side door gets installed.  Isaak does not have luck with the weather.  It was snowing the last time he installed the windows and today it is freezing rain as he plans to install the side door.  He is definitely more reliable than the postal service.  Rain, sleet, snow and hail does not stop Isaak!  Unless the hail is really big!

After the door was completed, Isaak began installing the insulation in areas that would not interfere with today’s pending framing inspection.

The building inspector showed up as planned.  The little bit of ice today did not stall him from doing his job.  And of course we passed our framing inspection without any issues!  Go Isaak!!  You Rock!  Add another sticker to our window!

After the inspection Isaak continued to install insulation for tomorrow’s insulation inspection.  With every step we can feel the difference in the temperature of the room.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Everyone is here today!  Isaak’s helper is filling up the kitchen with bales of insulation as Isaak and I have a little chat.  Last night as Wayne & I inspected the work, we noticed that there was a temperature change in one specific area of the floor.  Checking from the basement area it appears that one of the floor bays in the crawl space did not get insulated or it fell out of the bay.  Looks like the sub-floor will be coming up once again.

Having the expected hands today, the remainder of the insulation goes up fairly quickly and just in time as the building inspector returns to approve the insulation.  No extra sticker today on our window, just an added signature to the building sticker.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

This morning Isaak and I talk about next week’s schedule and the expectation of flooring.  The living room and dining room are wood floors already, and we will be adding wood to the kitchen floor and tiling the powder room.  So the idea is that the wood floor in the kitchen will be installed after the sheetrock, and then all three rooms will be sanded, stained and coated with one layer of polyurethane.  Many people ask about saving money by not installing flooring under the cabinets, but I prefer to have the floor installed under the cabinets.  This will ensure a level surface for cabinets and appliances, and prevent any chances of an appliance getting locked into placed by having flooring installed in front of them.

The issue with flooring right now is what to do with the furniture that is still in the living room.  It will have to be moved around as the sheetrock is completed, but we cannot put it outside in the snow while we wait for the floors to dry.  I suggested to Isaak that he completes the sheetrock in the powder room first.  This will give us another area to store plumbing supplies and possibly some furniture.

Isaak and his helper head out to buy over 45 sheets of sheetrock today!  Wow sounds like a lot!  The guys at the store are surprised that he can fit all the materials in his truck.

Just a little bit of sheetrock!

Today they guys unloaded sheetrock and completed the inside walls of the powder room!  Many times the installation of sheet rock makes the room appear smaller, but for us it did not.  In fact the power room appeared larger since we have been so accustomed to a small room.  How exciting to come home and see walls and rooms being completed!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Another morning we awake to snow!  Isaak and I shovel the sidewalk and driveways in order to get the cars out today.  Thank Isaak for your help shoveling!  Yes…I mentioned only Isaak!  His helper “texted-out sick” today.  Hmmm???  And just as Murphy’s law predicts…the plow comes down the street and fills up the driveway once again!

Isaak continues to sheetrock the ceilings by himself; not an easy feat!  He’s got this wonderful contraption that holds a sheet of sheetrock and then jacks it up to the ceiling level so it can be attached.  I imagine that cutting the right sizes and holes for recessed lighting can be quite time consuming, especially when he is doing this all by himself.

Today the back hall and outside of the powder room are completed and the room takes on more definition.  A couple more days and everything will be sealed up!



Introducing Cooper...He's visiting for a while!



Wayne & I spent the late part of the afternoon shopping for bar stools and new dining room set.  We found some great options, but I am getting concerned about going too retro-contemporary.



These were the top three choices.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Today, Wayne and I head into the New York City to search for living room lighting and check out more cabinet hardware.  It appears that some of our ideas are getting too contemporary.  I’ve been selecting more traditional styling with contemporary undertones to keep more of a transitional style with a period twist.  Wayne has been heading more retro contemporary, which I like a lot and is very fun, but may not mesh with some of the other items we have already selected for the kitchen. 

We may have to wait until the cabinets, lighting, countertops and faucets get installed before a final cabinet hardware is agreed upon.  My styling for the kitchen has been influence greatly on late 1930’s – 1940’s; and our living room is more late 40’s to 1950’s with sleek tailored lines for the furniture.  The challenge with the dining room is to bring these two rooms together and create a great transitional space.

Still we feel great about our progress as we approach Week 12.  We are able to cook and eat great meals and maintain our normal standard of living in the house.  The biggest challenge has been doing dishes in the slop sink.  Normally at this time for a standard kitchen remodel we would be done and out of the client’s house, but since we had all the electrical redone and the also the addition of central air conditioning it is taking a few additional weeks.

Next week:

• Completion of sheetrock
• Installation of wood floors
• Possibility of Powder room tiling to begin.

PROGRESS = Still seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Happy 7^th Birthday

Plumberry Designs, Inc!

Thank You!