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Journal Entries: 29

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Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 5/23/2008 10:53:17 AM

More inside and outside

Photos

Walk In Shower	Master Bath	Master Bath
Master Bath	Back Yard	Outdoor Kitchen

Marjorie's Forum Posts: 0 Send Private Message Randomly Selected Image 5/28/2008	Nice Master Bath.  Is this located downstairs or upstairs?  Thanks. Margie
Marjorie's Forum Posts: 0 Send Private Message Randomly Selected Image 5/28/2008	Another question...is your outdoor kitchen actually outdoors, or within an outside wall?  I was wondering how weather would affect it?  I would like some more information on this...it sounds like something we might want to do sometime.  I live in Illinois. Margie
Chris's Forum Posts: 0 Journal Entries: 29 Send Private Message Image from Chris's blog 6/19/2008	Margie Sorry for the delay in response, we have been busy trying to keep up with all the little stuff left over.  The mster bath is downstairs.  The house looks tall with the roof pitch but its only one story. The outside kitchen was actually an add on after construction started.  We were able to get our cabinets from the Kraftmaid outlet and I had enough left over to do the kitchen.  It's under the rear porch about 15 feet from the edge, so rain, elements, etc. are not a problem.  The only problem right now is the dust from other construction sites around me.   Chris

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More Pics

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 5/23/2008 9:47:41 AM

More Interior Pics

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Kitchen	Kitchen	Kitchen Hutch
Dining	Guest Room	Laundry

Long Overdue Update

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 5/23/2008 9:38:20 AM

Its hard to believe that its been almost 2 months since the last time I updated the blog.  We are in and with all the little stuff of moving in and projects finishing up I got behind in posting.  I'll do a few posts with pics of the interior.  To try and load all of it at once would take forever.

Over the last 2 months we had quite a bit of extra work done.  Johnny and Tim put up about 425 linear feet of fencing, so we now have a very large back yard.  My brother in law and me got my daughters playset squared away and now we really do have a great outside area to cook, relax and play.  Once all the "little things" are done, we might actually get to use it.  It's funny how with a project this big and so many people working on it, that there would be so much left over.  Every weekend I make a list and do my best to scratch everything off by the end of the weekend. 

When i get done with projects, I'll post about the whole 6 1/2 month experience and I'll try to include all.  The good, the bad and the ugly. 

Photos

Family Room	Entry	Formal Living
Formal Living	Master Bedroom	Master Bedroom
Family Room	Foyer

Almost there

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 3/28/2008 7:53:46 PM

Well this has definetly been the week for ups and downs.  The wood flooring was wrapped up in 2 days. Tim, Johnny and Casey did an incredible job getting the job done quickly and the floors look great.  That was the up.  The down came Wednesday when the plumber showed up to do final.  Due to a mix up he thought the stuff wasn't there and left.  Then a no show on Thursday and finally getting started today.  Needless to say this delays us with grouting the tile floors.  Final electrical is underway and will be done on Saturday. During this time Tim and Johnny focused on some of the smaller stuff.  They got the backsplash done and got the hutch together.  Johnny also finished the shower.  A whole bunch of 4x4 trav tiles.  Things are starting to shape up with a lot of little stuff still left.  But it is closer.

Another thing that had been on the list to do was the stone veneer for the fireplace.  The stone took a while to come in and on Thursday Travis and a helper came by and put it up. With the multi color veneer and the slate floors, I think it looks really good.

Will update again when plumbing and electrical are completed.

Photos

Larry's Forum Posts: 6 Interview Answers: 111 Average Forum Rating: 3.20 Send Private Message Randomly Selected Image 3/30/2008

Chris, Looking at all of your pics and everthing looks great!  We are building in Midlothian Texas. Got your door man and was in contact with him regarding cost, etc.,. and have decided to work with him but have been unable to connect or confirm a contract.  Was the same with you? Have sent 2 or 3 emails but no response.  Also, try to call and only get a fax signal. Other questions, what kind of deal did you get on your cabinets and flooring (travertine and wood)?  Larry

Chris's Forum Posts: 0 Journal Entries: 29 Send Private Message Image from Chris's blog 6/19/2008

Larry Sorry about the long delay in response.  Finishing up the project has been very time consuming and honestly lost track that I hadn't responded.  Steven lists doors on EBAy and that's actually how we started the process.  I bought the door on auction and he contacted me pretty quickly.  I know for ours, eventhough it was an auction, he still custom built the door. Hope this helps. Chris

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Wood Flooring

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 3/24/2008 6:45:21 PM

Well Monday started with a bang with our wood flooring started.  The guys got a total of 5 rooms done today and it looks great.  They got Emily's room, playroom, closet, the dining room and my media room done.  We chose Timborana wood from BR-111.  It's a glue down engineered that has a really deep color.

The updates will probably be plentiful this week as we are in the home stretch.

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More flooring and granite

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 3/23/2008 5:13:56 PM

Our flooring is still going with Johnny and Tim finishing up the slate and the Travertine in the Master Bath.  It really looks good and can't wait to see the wood.    Overall the pace seems to have picked up a little. 

The granite was installed Thursday and finished on Friday.  The granite in the Kitchen is called Amber Fantasy and it really ties the room in well.  We chose Santa Cecilia for the master bath and it looks good too.

Final plumbing and electrical should start this week and we should be on the home stretch.  Will update in a few days.

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Flooring

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 3/18/2008 11:36:04 AM

Things have moved along better this past week and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Johnny worked on Saturday and started laying the Travertine in the entrance and formal living and got quite a bit done.  For these areas we chose an 18x18 travertine and it looks really nice.  We also set a tumbled medallion in under one of the fixtures.  On Sunday, Anna and I did some clean-up (never ends) and moved tile in for the next rooms.  I also installed the granite on the guest bath vanity.  Yesterday Johnny finished up the 18x18 Travertine and both of us started on the Slate in the Family Room and Kitchen.  These rooms are a puzzle design using 12x12 and 6x6 tiles.  So far all of the flooring choices are looking good.

We also finally got the mounds of dirt knocked down yesterday.  It actually looks like we have a yard now.

The granite in the ktichen and master should go in Thursday and I'll update after that.

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Still going

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 3/10/2008 6:58:52 AM

Well not alot to report after last week.  We are waiting for Entergy to come and connect us to power so we can get the HVAc system up and running to get the house climate controlled.  I don't have too many pictures of the inside as the guys were doing small touch up things while waiting.  Over the weekend, I finished up the whole house audio system by running all of the speaker wires and hooking up the control boxes.  We are using a system from home theater direct (www.htd.com).  There will be 12 zones in the house, each having the choice of up to 6 sources.  This became a do it yourself after we got quotes from some of the local companies and found them to be high in price and short on features.  I'll let you know how it sounds once we get power.

I also installed the granite on Emily's vanity.  I found a nice one at Lowe's for a great price and couldn't pass it up.

I also included a picture of Emily's playset.  This should tell you how the weather's been down here.

Well that's it for a whole week.  Everyone told me the last few weeks would be LOOOOONG and its definitely true.

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Electrical and a day of clean-up

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 3/1/2008 7:42:47 PM

Electrical is moving along with more fixtures going up and its looking good.  The entrance, foyer and kitchen hanging fixtures went up today.  Overall the electrical is going really well.

We used the good weather and the fact that the stucco work is done to clean up around the outside of the house today.  It's just amazing how much better the house looks without scaffoding, lumber, full throttle cans, empty buckets of stucco, tools and anything else that piled up outside.

As next week progresses, my inside guys have told me flooring is going to start.  Anna and I are both really excited to see the flooring go in.

Well that's it for the typing update, I just wanted to update pictures.

Be back later.

Photos

Brandon's Forum Posts: 10 Journal Entries: 12 Interview Answers: 167 Average Forum Rating: 3.00 Send Private Message Image from Brandon's blog 3/2/2008

Looking awesome Chris.  where did you get your mantle?  I am recycling one from my in-laws and just finished stripping it.  We had the forms put up today and I;ll update the blog soon.  Just told by Jeff from fortress frame that we won't see walls until after Easter. I am a little upset and thought it would have been sooner, but I can't control it only hope that it is done coorectly. Check my blog this week.   Brandon

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Stucco Done?

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 2/28/2008 8:01:11 AM

Well about a month ago I made the comment in the blog that I just decided to accept that 1 day I would be told that the stucco was finished and it really happened.  The third crew to work on my house were three guys (Devin, Mike and Greg) and I have to say, I wish these guys would have been the first crew.  They did a really great job on finishing the portico despite the weather.  I've included pictures of the work progressing late into Sunday evening.  But finally, after what feels like an eternity, the scaffold has come off!!!!!

Final electrical has started and is progressing.  There are alot of days that go by that don't feel like there is alot getting accomplished quickly, but some of it is due to we are ready to move in now.  Apartment life stinks!!!

The inside guys are moving along with the second coat of paint, and it looks really good.  Now we are into stages where I need to get electrical finished and the A/C on for the wood flooring.  Overall its been a pretty good week.

Be back later with more.

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More Cabinetry

Posted to Louisiana-Mediterranean by Chris in Lafayette, LA on 2/18/2008 7:34:05 AM

First, it's good to see my friend Brandon has jumped into the fun of building.  Two guys from southwest Louisiana on the blog at the same time.......... we may not survive.

I've got some more cabinetry in since the last update.  I spent the weekend laying out the master bathroom and kitchen cabinets for install.  The laundry are another set of oatmeal glaze in a different doorstyle that Jamie (the cabinet shopper) found for me.  Once again props for Jamie.  It really made it worthwhile to shop with Jamie and pay for freight shipping when you factor in the rooms that were covered.  We also built the support for the drop down in the kitchen.  When we drew the houseplan, we decided to get rid of the breakfast nook and add dropped down section of granite to the island for seating.  I think this is where we will end up eating most of the meals instead of the dining room.

I also put together the vanity in the half bath.  It came out really nice.

I also included some pictures of the shelving work Tim, Johnny and Dennis did in the master closet and pantry.  It was great to have these guys help design how the shelving would go.  My wife can't wait to go shop at Sam's to fill up the pantry.

My HVAC guy should get everything in place Tuesday and I'm trying to get my electrician back this week to do his final stuff.

You may have wondered about the outside and why no updates for there.  The weather has been such a pain that we can't get the stucco finished.  We have forcast for 3 days of good weather and I'm hopeful that we can finish up and get the scaffold off the front of the house.

Be back later in the week.

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