First Inspection... Check!

The rough in plumbing inspection passed with flying colors. The fireplace facade has continued it's progression toward the ceiling. The invisible speakers have become yet more invisible.

Breaking Bad?

Some of the demo results in items that are just too good to throw in the dumpster. However, they apparently aren't good enough to sell on Craigslist! I couldn't even give away free the 6' soaking tub! So we had to pay the dump $28 to take it. I guess we could have put it in the dumpster, but it was so big it would have taken up more room than it was worth.
Attached are photos of the very interesting spot we take our useful recycle items. It's the Mississippi Rebuilding Center (named for the street it's located on). You have to drive down an alley like you're about to do a drug deal. There is an eclectic collection of people to put it mildly. Then on the street outside has sprung up a collection of little restaurants and other businesses. I've included a photo of one of the more interesting establishments.

Hardwood floors installed

It's really beautiful and quite an art, the way they lace the new wood into the old wood to add new hardwood. And then to merge floors from two rooms is really quite a challenge because the original installers didn't really care if the boards lined up. So the new guys have to adjust the widths of the boards in the merge part to make it all work. As one of the guys says "this is what sorts the men from the boys" in the hardwood installing business.

Beam o' rama

I've been dying to have a box beam ceiling. Looks like my wishes are coming true.

The County

As with any, well most any, remodel we are dealing with all the permit issues that come along. I was visiting with my friendly County planner the other day about our snazzy curbless shower and he casually said "by the way you do know those windows you're installing have to be tempered, right?" WHAT????
Not only were they special ordered, and delivered, but INSTALLED!!! and NO they weren't tempered. Dear god... so we chat a little longer and I ask how this could have slipped by me. He says something about circling "#3" on the code list. Now I reach back in my memory banks and remember a 4 page document in approximately 4pt font on blue paper stapled to my plans when they were returned. They looked like the usual gobble dee gook: attic spaces, mechanical systems, blah blah and one was underlined in red that said we have to put timers on all the fans (seriously!). Well that made us pretty happy because we happen to like timers on our fans. But that was item #40.

After much discussion he admits these windows don't have to be tempered if they are greater than 60 inches above the finished floor. I knew they were pretty high... and YES, they were 64". Crisis averted. But these are the kinds of things they almost never show on HGTV.

Monday we have our first real inspection. Rough in plumbing. Keep us in your prayers.

The hardwood floors

We are adding quite a bit of new hardwood. That was a regret I had in the last house. I wish I had put hardwood in the family room. So his time there will be wood in all the main living areas. Carpet will only be in the two bedrooms.

The faucets

I thought I knew what faucet I wanted... Then I got to the show room and saw the expensive one. Why do the expensive ones have to look so much better???? Well we are only buying three... Here it is .. Ta da!

Framing for the shower

We are planning to have a curbless shower. This requires lowering the floor 3.5 inches so the tile guy can build the tile pan up to make a slope to the drain below floor level. All pretty complicated for something that sounds so easy.

The Fireplace continues

I managed to finish the surround of the opening today... my birthday. Woo hoo! I keep thinking 'this will be the hard part'! Then I realize we have to work around the mantel... dear god.

More Invisible speakers

Here are more views of the soon to be invisible speakers.

Sound

In our last house we had a great 5.1 surround sound system. But it was pretty ugly. Huge speakers hanging off the wall, etc. So this time I'm insisting on something else. Hubster is squawking a little about the cost, but the cool factor is way out there. These are invisible speakers. Once you install them you actually sheetrock mud over them. Yep, you can't see them AT ALL! The sound is produced something like a guitar. I've taken pictures of the units here. And his placement process. More pictures of the install will be coming.

Rock bottom...

We started to rock the bottom of the fireplace today. It really seemed like a LOT when we were doing it. It looks so tiny in the photo... sigh

Bringing in the Big Guns

Today we had some extra help! Go get 'em Luka.

Tile for the Shower

Here is the tile for the shower. The subway is the walls, the fancy trim is for around the windows, and the hexagons is the floor of the shower. All are carrara marble.

Mudding and Taping

We've started to mud and tape the sheetrock in the dining room and den.

Progress on the Fireplace

Vaulted Dining Ceiling

These are progress photos of the dining room ceiling.

Lots of new photos

I was at Round Up in Pendleton for a few days and the guys were like Christmas Elves! I can't believe all they were able to accomplish! These first photos show before and after of the entry opening.

They know me at Home Depot

When I walk into Home Depot they call me by name. They wave and say "Hi Luanne! Back again?" I literally make about 3 trips a day there!