Final painting and staining

I would like to say all the painting is done. However, the section of white on the side of the closet makes it clear there are still things that need to be done.  That section of sheet rock covers the gas line to the fireplace which could not be put in until after the inspector's approval. There are several other places that also need the final preparation before painting. 
The color used in the closets is called Bold Brick. Very appropriate.

These are a few of the Douglas Fir doors that have been stained. We are pleased with the color.  Mike, the painter, was working today on staining all of the plywood and trim pieces to be used around the windows.  He is very happy that we are staining it.  He also complimented us on the color. 

I worked in the ravine today.  I cleaned up, cutting down dead stems and removing honeysuckle vines, and roots, that keep trying to grow up and over everything. 

This picture shows some of the blocks and bricks that have been put into the ravine to control the erosion. 

Some Color

Here is the first coat of the primary color for the house.  It is a soft, light grey.  It doesn't look much different than the color of sheet rock, but trust me, it is.  Here seems darker because of the plastic covering all the windows from the spray painting.

We like this type of grey because it changes character with different lighting.

Now you can see the plastic over all the windows.  This is the yellow in my office, as well as the guest bedroom, and the half-bath.  It seems dark but it is much lighter, more the color of butter.  After all of the wood trim and curtains and furniture, it will be a lot less dominant.

All the closets will be a different color - pictures later.

When you visit, this is the guest bedroom.  We had previously painted this room in a more intense yellow because this window faces North.  It keeps the room cheerful.  There will be book shelves in those niches next to the window, beside the bed. 

David spent the day packing up all of the stuff around and under the massive brick bar in the basement.  Soon the bar will be demolished and removed.  There will be more bricks to throw down into the ravine to slow the erosion.

I spent the day cutting back damaged shrubs and moving some perennials that have been in the worker's footpath.  Many plants are starting to put up shoots, which construction workers don't seem to recognize as part of a garden.  Argh!

Almost Ready for Paint

Starting outside, the siding is almost done.  Our contractor made the subcontractor take off much of the back siding because it was done so poorly. It looks much better.

The gutters and downspouts are installed, with a downspout visible at the far end.  That blue box below the window is for an electrical outlet.

Going inside, this is a view of the living room wall opposite the window in the picture above.  The large shallow box is for a large screen TV, and the smaller, deep box on the right for various AV components.  On the left you can see the half wall corner of the kitchen, which will hide any clutter on the counter. 

Here is a view of the sun porch with sun actually coming in, a rarity for the last several weeks of rain.  On the right side under the windows with a view out to the street are cavities which will have built-in wood bookcases.  They will be stained to match the rest of the wood trim around the doors and the deep windows. 

Looking in from the hallway is part of the bathroom.  The vanity hangs on the wall over the radiator on the left. It was the only wall where we could fit the radiator!  The toilet will be behind that, and my Jacuzzi tub is visible under the window.  Behind the wall on the right is the shower - larger than I would have liked, but that was how the spaces worked out. 

No, the walls will not be purple.

Finally Sheetrock!

We had been told that the wallboard would be done this week. We received  confirmation before arriving this morning and are pleased to finally cross that hurdle.

This is the entrance hall.  You can see the edge of the front closet on the left.  Ahead is the kitchen, and in the distance the window with the view of the bay.

This is the kitchen with the half-wall, then the great room. 

There are still, weeks later, men working on installing siding and lath on the outside.  One is on a ladder outside the window!

The Propane gas lines are installed, but some places still awaiting final approval by the county inspector. 

Looking back through the kitchen is the front entrance - the door will not be put in until after most construction is completed so no one can damage it.  The boxes hold the dish washer and the drawer microwave.  Just to the left of the boxes you can see the doorway into the bedroom hallway. In the distance is a window in the master bedroom. 

Walking past the kitchen half-wall, this is a view across the great room.  There is a small closet behind the kitchen area which will have the ladder up into the attic for access to the AC equipment.  Behind that is the stairs to the basemen.  Above the stairs is the alcove for the wall hung TV and the video equipment shelf next to it. The door in the corner is to my office.

Looking the other direction in the great room is the sun porch.  There will be 12 inch deep kitchen cabinets along the outside wall of the kitchen, under the window on the right all the way to the end of the half-wall.  Lots of storage space for all the sets of china we seem to have collected. 

Finally, my office.  We decided to go ahead and replace the current door with one in Douglas Fir, similar to the front door. 


Trigger Warning: All gardeners should stop before looking at the last photo because it is very disturbing. 

I warned you!  That muddy area with scattered pieces of leaves was a beautiful garden.  The "Secret Garden" has been the main entrance into and out of the house for the last few months, and is in terrible shape.

Most plants have safely died back for the winter.  The orange tomato cage protects a seedling from the Japanese Snowbell tree.  The contractor has promised that soon this area will no longer be pummeled by work boots, and everyone will be going in and out the front entrance.  I hope so, because some of those plants, such as the day lilies, are starting to put up early shoots.