Day 110, The Devil is in the Details

When you come to the end of a project whether it is a major remodel or daily chore; there is the tendency to skip on to the next something. I have learn that some of my worst goofs are created in this phase of a project. As I hand the final draft payment to Darrell for the outstanding delivery of our remodel. I know we have a myriad of punch list items to complete. I have notice as we started using the appliances, fixtures, cabinets, doors etc we start to see new things we ignored before.

Sandy and I preparing for the next stage of this project is the move back.

As Sandy blesses the last draft check. We still know we have host of invoices pending for non-scope approvals including our new entertainment center to be delivered next week. 

She reminds Darrell to start protecting our floors by wearing her dusting slippers

Clint and his wife, Sarah posed in front of the 'Blue Wall',  our wonderful introduction to the rest of our new living spaces.





BELOW, this is our memorial of our two senior Labs who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Next week, Sandy will say goodbye to Pasco and Ben is her very special celebration of their lives in our home.

Darrell and Craig got a change to catch up on all the pending punch list items as well as discuss lesson learns during the remodel process.


We are staging the furniture in the Family Room as we prepare to receive the entertainment center and the wiring of the flat screen and speakers.

You got to love Darrell when he gets to something he is really passionate about. He is a man of strong Family and Work values. I love to listen to him describe riding sand buggies at Pismo or describing an experience with a past client. I wonder what he will say about the Steele's after this project.

ABOVE, these are some of the familiar items as we move through the punch list process. Left is the actual list, sample stains to finish off the new entertainment center, grout chart to transition from the oak floor to the porch paver tiles. And of course the flow of funds from owner to builder.

ABOVE, Darrell and Sandy share a dog moment with Pixar, our new Lab and Tamika, our resident blond retired breeder.


LEFT, something in causal conversation you learn some interesting facts. Like Darrell ordered this cabinet extra because he felt it would look funny if we only had cabinets on the right side of the sink and nothing on the left. Sandy and I didn't have a clue he did that...

Darrell and Michelle worked feverishly to put a check mark to one more punch list item.

These two have make this whole remodeling experience at very wonderful home transformation.

BELOW, Picks up on all this other calls that are part of a busy builder's business partner.

Sandy is displaying the note pad and lab coasters given to us by the Brittans. The pad is proudly located on our middle refrigerator and the coasters are staged just in front of our gas cook top.

Soon I will be shooting 17 new shots of the remodel based on photos I took on May 6th, 2013, day 1 of the start of remodeling. The plan is to position the camera in the exact location and angle as the original shot.

Currently, I am staging furniture in the Living and Family room. I want to have the AV equipment installed plus a few other completed punch list items before I break out the Nikon and tripod.

Day 109, Carpet & Carpentry

This week signifies the last of the primary project chores less the entertainment systems. The carpeting of the downstairs, and various punch list items.

Sandy and I have been down with colds this week, yuck!  I think our immune systems took a tough hit with dead dogs, a sick kid and my dental cleaning.

I am sad to see the Brittian family pull up stakes and head to their next job site. I will soon not have that familiar sign greeting me everyday as I leave the house.

BELOW, Pat inspects the new 'Blue Wall'. Pixar and Tamika looks on to see what treats may be had,  afterall Halloween is just around the corner.

Plaster walls have certain tactile quality. They are so smooth from the burnishing process as seen by Dad touchy experiment.

ABOVE, the final touch is completing tacking the 'Blue Wall' baseboard.

RIGHT, Michelle and Dad finish installing the wall plates for the in-house vacuum system. They wanted the plate to be perfect or else.

ABOVE, here Jeff (left) and Troy (right) prepare to install the carpet runner for the downstairs.


LEFT, here comes the carpet pre-cut and ready to install.




BELOW, the the base pad in attached to the stairs prior to attaching the carpet. We anted the edge of the carpet rolled aroung each edge of the step.

RIGHT, looking the stairs up to the Family room we are very pleased with the end result. The color bends with the rest of our color palette. Thanks to Kristy and Kerry

BELOW, Sandy and I are very pleased with how well the entire downstairs turned out. From the humble beginnings of wooden rails and hand rail to what we have now.

Michelle checks in with Darrell to see if there are 

any last minute items still left to do.

 

The basement was our staging area for appliances and key fixtures prior to their installation. Sandy wanted some of the old cabinets saved and installed in the front space of the downstairs. Darrell and Stacy will return on a rainy day to do that task.

Another chore is having Mikey doing a full electrical audit of our system. After many electricians adding and subtracting circuits over the last fifty years we need to verify each and everyone to insure their reliability.

In fact one of the key outcomes of such an audit is replacing faulty switches and plugs with code approve electrical items.

Mikey will finalize the switch labels for the Master and Sub Panels as part this audit.

 

WE are constantly reminded of the nature that surrounds us. I had profound influenced on us to fix up our home. The sunsets at Wikiup are breath-taken in their explosion of warm glows and the replacement of evenings cooler tones. Then comes all the points of light ushering the night.

NEXT: I hand Darrell the final payment and we discuss the punch list items.

The Blue Wall

As we draw to the close of construction and closer to moving back into our home; several aspects of the remodel still linger. At the top of the list is the entry way's famous 'Blue Wall'. Clint, our painting contractor has tasked with the project of using his Venetian plaster skills to showcase this wall. This is our grand entrance into our new Kitchen-Dining-Antique Space.

Clint applied some initial colored plaster on the wall waiting for his queue to create the final wall. As we all filed by the color plaster we uttered various comments about the background, pictured right. That's Clint's daughter helping Dad.

Clint and I discuss how we wanted this wall be done. Sandy and I gave him a picture of the Blue Bahia granite and said match this.

As we watched his progress I played with our new dog Pixar and Tamika demanded her time as well.

Clint announced this wall is done and Sandy and I agreed.






BELOW, I slept off two glasses wine as Clint worked his magic in the Entry.

We are delighted with the result. There is a combination of burnished plaster that is highly reflective and smooth with a granular look and sandy touch.

I now have my visual invitation to the rest of our home bordered by the Stone Fire Place, the Cherry Cabinets, the Oak Floors and all the Granite Counters.

NEXT: Are the punch list item to be done including the carpeting of the down stairs steps.

Day 106-107, Clean-up and Blue Wall, Good Bye to Ben

Today started off with a nice collection of pastries from Mr. Clint. I was on a mini road trip and missed the calories, so sad.

With final inspection behind us the to-do list is shrinking. One of the unmentioned tasks is the clean-up process performed by Michelle and son, Kyle. She also spots things still needing to be fixed.

Michelle was very busy spotting all the areas where the baseboard was installed and painted. She has a trained eye for any holidays.

RIGHT, Kyle has shown us how to tighten the dusting mop. We couldn't figure out how to lock the pole in the correct position.

BELOW, Michelle is cutting back the paper floor covering the hardwood floor and taping the edges down so it does not become a trip hazard.

Michelle and Clint are busy checking out the stained and lacquered closet doors. 

RIGHT, Michelle and Kyle have gathered all the paper and stuff a box with all left overs.

Our plumber, Brad didn't like the way our hydronics heating system was functioning.

We had his colleague come and see what the problems was.

The circulation pumb had failed and we caught it in the nick of time.

BELOW, Michelle is recording some of the remodeling areas. Both Darrell and Michelle should be very proud of the work they have accomplished in bringing our dreams and designs to a finished state.

We are still searching for the right look with the plaster wall.Clint wants it to wow us...

Thanks I know we will get there.

Ever want to know how to check a 9 volt battery? just ask Brad the plumber. I wonder if Mikey taught him that to test them with his tongue?

B E N

June 13, 2002 to October 25, 2013

It is with a sad heart that Ben had to be put down a at 2:00pm this afternoon. He had a tumor which was bleeding internally causing Ben to black out. Sandy and I drove him to the vets where we were advised of his condition. We were both present when Ben pasted. It is sad to lose him. He was just getting to know our new dog, Pixar. 

We are now a two dog household. 

LOVE YOU BEN!