For the most part, the painters are done! They still have not painted the library (Rouge Red) or the bottom part of the dining room under the chair rail (English Pine) but everything else is done and looks great. We finally got the paint colors straight upstairs. The gold (Basketweave) is really nice.
Early in the week, the marble was installed on all the bathroom countertops and on the tub surrounds. One bathroom counter top had the sink too close to the side splash and will have to be repoured. The Corian was also laid. It is really, really pretty. I chose a little bit different edging for the hutch unit and it turned out super--just sets it off. My cooktop is in (Jenn Aire gas downdraft with a grill unit on one side that can be changed out to burners) and the double oven was also installed (Jenn Aire too with convection oven on top, standard oven on bottom and both self-cleaning-yea!). The dishwasher has been delivered but is not installed yet. I guess they'll wait on the refrigerator and washer and dryer.
D and I went over Thursday evening with sister Laura. Donna and Darrell Fagala, friends who are building with Gems in North Point, were there measuring our shutters (theirs are just like them) so Donna could tell the electrician at their house how far from the door and window to make the outlet for their porch light. Painters were there. And Russell from next door with his wife and kids came by. He had toured a couple of weeks ago and wanted his wife to see the house. They are still trying to select a builder. It was wild. Laura had not seen the house since it was in the framing stage. She approved of all selections to date. When we walked in, the first thing I saw was my light fixtures in the foyer and dining room. They look so good. I was really worried about light selections--it was the one thing that I had not given a lot of thought to but so far it's fine. The dining room fixture is just really neat!
Friday, I met the wallpaper ladies to confirm which papers went in which rooms. They prepped walls all day Friday and will start hanging on Monday. The place was just buzzing with people. The electrician was pulling wires into the electrical box in the master bedroom closet and another was hanging light fixtures and fans. The threshold man was there asking me all kinds of questions that I didn't know the answer to: "What's going on this floor? How thick are the pine planks? Is it going straight down on the plywood subfloor or will there be something between?" The plumber was reworking the pipes for the faucet in the kitchen. Mis-communication (really no communication) between AC Plumbing and Mike. Richard Thomas at AC failed to let Gems know that I chose a wall mount faucet for my kitchen sink. In the middle of all that, our down-the-street neighbor, Joyce Currie, showed up for a tour. She wanted to know all about the wallpaper which was spread out on the kitchen counter. What goes where? "Oh, I have a bath with magnolia paper in it. Wanna see?" So I escaped to Joyce's house for a bit. Had a nice visit with her and husband Cupcake (no that's not his real name but that is what everyone calls him!). Joyce wants to know if I want to chair the Beautification Committee for the Property Owners Association. Just what I need--one more something to do!
Saturday D and I went out and moved all the firewood that had been stacked in the front yard around to the back. More fill dirt will be delivered and spread this coming week. Our friends, Paul and Maite Clyatt, came out for a visit and tour. They're building in North Carolina and will be moving in July. Maite hand painted the tiles that will be used in the backsplash in our kitchen. Son Dwayne also showed up with his bride, Linda, and good buddy, Scott. Scott was in from Tampa on business and to buy a ring for longtime girl friend Robin to whom he'll propose soon (I'm not telling when!). He asked us to host his rehearsal party at our new home. What an honor! They'll get married the first weekend in October. It should be a beautiful time of year for a Houston wedding.
Sunday we were back out at the house, D to move more firewood that had been stacked in the side yard and I did a thorough walk-through and started my punch list of "fix-me's" to begin preparation for our closing which has been changed to May 14. Teri reminded me that even that date is not locked in stone. Lot's of things have to happen between now and then and there is a chance that it will change again. I think D and Sassy will cry if it does! D's new mantra is "I hate this apartment, I hate this apartment." I'm busy sewing and keeping my web site updated so it really doesn't bother me as much as it does him. D misses his yard and his garage. Working at 5902 this weekend felt good to both of us. Nice to have some physical exercise.
Oh, I finally heard back from Adkins Architectural Antiques with a price on the Sheaf-of-Wheat pattern for the porch rail-$45.00 a spindle. Not a bad price actually. The railing for the front porch will be carried over to what D and I have started referring to as Phase II. Actually I believe it was Mike's term!
