Welcome back, we’re in the slog part of the project I find very challenging. Slogging means we’re doing the infrastructure projects necessary for the house to function so we can move the project forward. Our envelope has been created, foundation and framing are done and the house is sealed. Now we need to have all the things built out that make the house function, like plumbing, electrical, heat and insulation. It’s boring, takes too long, and most of it gets covered up. That said, it’s really important and needs to be done right. I show this picture because it was a good day with lots of subs onsite making things happen. I think you’re seeing plumbers, gutters, and contractors. Days like this don’t happen often enough and help to make the slog worth it.
Lots of subs onsite doing what they do
My biggest challenge is keeping track of the all the details of the project. So many vendors and trades, so many inbound and outbound phone calls, so many different folks onsite. To keep track of it all I created this spreadsheet. Day of the month for headings, different projects by month on the rows, time needed in the columns. The projects are sequenced by critical path whenever possible. Green bars are scheduled, yellow isn’t scheduled yet but pending, and red isn’t a good thing. Wish I’d invented it but I stand on the shoulders of giants. It’s the best view I have on project status for what needs to be done, yet in another sense it’s a fantasy because there are so many variables and constant change. I feel like I have some control but accept that the chart has to be massaged pretty much daily.
Project Scheduling
So, let’s take a tour and see the progress we’ve made. As I said, we’re slogging right now but that’s necessary to get onto the next stage. Here’s the new entry way which is a blank palette right now. Renee and I are of the mind that the entry establishes our home’s feel and are starting to have visions of what could be. We want it to be inviting and capture the natural feel of where we live. She is a Master Gardener so there will be lots of plants and trees surrounding the entry and probably a cool planter or maybe some sculpture. The door you see is a temporary dunnage door which will be replaced with the permanent door when construction is further along.
Entryway in Process
This is a before picture. I won’t miss the giraffe rock.
Entry before
So let’s step inside on the tour. First stop is after you’ve walked thru the front door and thru the entry way into the great room. I’ll explain that shortly. You’re looking into the kitchen and with a bit of imagination can see that the framed wall (center of the picture) will have our refrigerator next to upper/lower cabinets and the induction cooktop with lowers and kitchen sink against the exterior wall. There is a big island where that 2/10 electrical cable is coiled up on the floor. The man door leads to the covered deck. Laundry room and my office are behind the framed wall.
Great Room – Kitchen
Here is looking to the other end of the great room from the kitchen. Lot of thought into making this space happen. Again, the island sits where the coiled cable is on the floor but otherwise the rest of the space is a blank palette that will become our living and dining rooms. There’s a spirted discussion going on about which room goes where so stay tuned to see what we decide. Man door at the end of the room leads to more deck on the south side of the house where we get sun when it’s out. The fireplace is propane and our alternate heat source if the electricity goes out.
Great Room – Living & Dining
Here’s a view of the other side of the kitchen space looking down a hallway leading to the back half of the house with bedrooms and bathrooms. Those are topics for a future post. To the right of the hallway is the front door behind that 3/4 wall. This side of the 3/4 wall is an appliance carport which will be installed on the framing behind the garbage cans. If you don’t know what an appliance carport is you’re not alone and that too will be a future post. Try googling it and you don’t get many hits because it’s not very common. It is Renee’s inspiration when she’s in full on creative mode. It’s a bit hard to explain but imagine an appliance garage without any doors that looks attractive. I’ll do a future post to show what she’s come up with, I think it’s pretty cool. To the right of the carport is the new pantry. And another shameless plug for my girder truss which in running down the middle of the picture in the ceiling, sorry, can’t help it. None of the great room would be possible without it.
Great Room – Appliance Carport
So let’s wrap up with this picture of the 3/4 wall, but just after you’ve walked in the front door. It’s 5’ tall leaving 3’ of open space to the ceiling so you won’t really see the kitchen but will have the feeling it’s there. The opening looking into the great room frames the view from the big windows but you only get to see part of it so again teases you about what’s there. The intent is to give clues about what’s above and behind the wall when you walk in and invites you to come inside and find out more. We thought a lot about this and like the idea of some mystery, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
Entryway – Inside
So we’re close to wrapping up the slog with insulation and drywall being the last steps. Then we get to start doing projects that are much more exciting because they get us back upstairs. Still too early to forecast when but Renee does have a birthday at the end of May. Could be the best present ever.
Thanks for reading, appreciate your support and look forward to the next post.
