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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/12/2008 6:38:26 PM
We are sooo behind schedule, that I took my husband's advice and hired someone to mud the upstairs porches prior to my tiling. There wasn't enough of a slope, so we felt better having it graded properly to avoid water damage in the future. We have seal-a-flex already down, but this will help with water run-off. I thought I could do this myself, but I think I would probably avoid this until next year! It wasn't the money so much as a little feeling of defeat. I am sure my hubby was thinking "get over yourself" but he didn't actually come out and say it.
As the finish work comes to an end, the excitement wears off...not to mention the energy level. So, after planning out the pavers in the courtyard, it was a just decision to bail out of the mudding process for the porches.
Off to Home Depot for a few items for the weekend. My pavers did not come in, so I have to switch gears and find another project. I guess I will work on the dreaded baseboards. Hate them. Absolutely the worst part so far for me, outside of the travertine shower, since we started. I think it is the monotony. Besides, I can't say I have cut a board on the first try yet. I always have to go back and take off just a bit. Frustrating...and probably why I am a nurse and not a carpenter!
Whit
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/7/2008 2:37:33 PM
Absolutely exhausted. The heat index is 96 degrees. I had to quit for the day. I have a new apreciation for those who work in this heat all day doing manual labor. Unbelievable how quickly I petered out. Time to work on something inside! I think I will finish caulking the beadboard.
Is is beer-thirty yet?
Whitney
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| still need to finish edges with concrete. |
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| Dirk at the wheel |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 9/6/2008 10:17:26 PM
Small amounts of progress, as most of it involves finish details. Especially hard to get anything done during football season. It seems every weekend brings a new guest...including unwelcome guests such as tropical storm Fay. We lost power for a day, and all off our palm trees bit the dust. All of my mulch disappeared, and we learned we needed to trim many a tree.
I have chosen to change my pattern of work to finish one room at a time instead of one trade at a time. My brain needs to see at least one room fully completed or I am going to scream!
I focused on the outside this weekend to include shoveling two tons of dirt and three tons of crushed limestone for the courtyard pavers. My hubby was better suited to run the tamper, so he compacted the stone. The heat was brutal today. I began laying the pavers, but I don't have enough to complete the project this weekend.
I installed the beadboard in one of the bathrooms, and built the picture mirror. Someday I will install it. I still have to work on the molding.
Dirk has been working on finishing the soffit details, and caulking.
I finally bought the glass for my cabinet inserts. Lee and Cates has some seeded glass lying around, so I had them cut it to size for $70.
I will continue for the next week (after work) to finish the pavers. I will then move on to the stair treads, as I still have not stained them. I finished the newel post and railing.
So glad the Gators won!! We haven't beat Miami since 1985!!
Going to bed, will send better pics tomorrow night.
Whit
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| Almost done trimming the pesky range hood. i ran out of trim! Someday I will tile the backsplash. |
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| Seeded glass finally installed. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 7/19/2008 7:30:25 PM
Our first post was a little over a year ago. It's hard to believe it has been that long. It has been 8 months since we broke ground.
We were forced to move in last week since we sold our home, and the owners of the vacation home came back, too! We feel like we are camping, however, it is nice to be finally HOME! We are focusing on baseboards, and unpacking. We still have to tackle the fireplace mantle/hearth, baseboards, interior window casings, paint the interior doors, install carpet in the office and spare bedrooms, install the stair treads/risers, tile the upstairs porch, and the list goes on....so does the dust.
It has been raining for a few weeks, so spraying the baseboards wasn't optional. We had a bit of a mishap with our cabinets being installed level, so we just got countertops last week. We connected the kitchen sink today, so as of an hour ago, I have indoor plumbing.
Still living out of the half finished guest bathroom. I will finish tiling the master when I darn well feel like it. We are behind schedule on everything else, so why not that as well?
We installed some landscape, and are now able to cook in our kitchen. We will be sanding and edging the butcher block tomorrow on the island.
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| pavers at night |
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| dusk at Casa de Suenos |
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| Hi Sweetie! |
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| Starting to unpack |
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| Our first official meal. By the way, we had fajitas. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 6/27/2008 8:54:40 PM
Well it is hard to believe it has been a month since I last posted. Time flies when you are having fun. We plan on getting our CO next week provided we finish a few projects this weekend. We have to be out of our house by the first for the new owners on Monday, so no pressure!! I am tired of packing and cleaning. Unfortunately we can't move anything into the house until it is official, so the garage it is. We will stay at a friend's vacation home until we have occupancy. The "kids" will just have to adjust...
Since our last post: We have cabinets, irrigation, pavers, outdoor ceilings, some plumbing, bathroom counters, partial range hood, doors, and a few appliances. What is so frustrating is that no matter how many projects we are able to check off of our list, it still looks soooo unfinished. The countertops and baseboards will definitely give it a more finished look. We will have at least three months worth of finish projects once we are in such as tiling the outdoor spaces, outdoor kitchen, courtyard, final landscaping, and lighting.
I designed my own range hood (in my spare time) because I couldn't find one I liked, and to have one custom made was out of the question. I found one I liked in a magazine and well....we made it! I drew out the template, and my husband helped me put it together. I put a finish stucco coat on, and sprayed it with a satin polyurethane for easy cleaning. I purchased trim with my cabinets that will finish it off. It was tricky mitering the corners, but after several wasted pieces, I figured it out :) I never said I was a carpenter. Now I just have to find time to install.
Sod began this week. I officially have more dirt outside than in. It should be done by Saturday.
I have to seriously clean tomorrow. That is a luxury I haven't been afforded. We have some great friends that have really pulled through for us and helped with projects and picking up. Never underestimate the value of friendship!
My husband really rocks. He has kept me motivated the last month, as I am running out of steam, and my job has been busy.
I need a manicure, pedicure, spa treatment, and a hair appointment. We have sacrificed a lot, but would not change our minds about building ourselves even for a moment.
Stay motivated... you CAN do it.
Whit
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| My hubby trenched and ran all of the irrigation. I helped for about....an hour :) |
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| I am glad I had no part of this |
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| The "kids" |
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| My sweeting graciously stopping his project to install the range hood with a friend. |
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| Not bad for $50 worth of supplies! |
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| Omega cabinets. I love every bit of the design. Super high quality. |
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| Last minute change to paver sidewalk instead of concrete. |
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| On the homestretch! |
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| Partial sod. I guess we need a riding mower. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 5/21/2008 7:48:08 PM
We spent three days laying our wood flooring. I think we need to trade our knees in for some new ones. We learned a few lessons along the way like how to manage the glue without wearing all of it; where to start when you have multiple rooms; and how to manage thresholds. All in all it looks great. We still have to place the bullnose and thresholds since they didn't get shipped until yesterday.
Our cabinets will be delivered Friday. Finally! We are putting in doors and hardware this week. Our next job is to work on the irrigation.
I have more dirt on the inside of my house than outside!!! We are taking a much needed break this weekend and spending it at the beach. I can't wait to sleep late.
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 5/17/2008 9:02:43 PM
We officially have electricity today! Wow, what a difference. I can now see all of the imperfections in the drywall, and will now have to go back and touch up. Not too bad.
We are putting in the last of the wood floors this weekend. Should be easier since we have air conditioning!
We are way behind in cabinetry, but what can you do? Irrigation, pavers, and landscape on the exterior...cabinets, baseboards, stairparts on the inside. We are on the homestretch, but MAN it feels like there is soooooo much more to finish.
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 4/22/2008 9:45:52 PM
We are making steady but slow progress, as we are doing a lot of the finish work ourselves. More light fixtures and outlets going in, upstairs railings complete, more tiling, and touchup painting complete. We have moved on to working on the stairs. Skirtboards in. We will be tiling the risers with travertine, and use maple treads. I hope it looks good. The A/C compressor concrete pad has been built and poured. It still needs stucco to finish. I am patiently awaiting our cabinets, which is holding everything else up.
We will be moving on to the finish grade and sprinkler system soon. I have to paint all of the doors before they are installed this weekend. I am sick of painting.
I installed the in-wall coffee maker in our bedroom. I will post more once there appears to be more progress. There is sooo much left to do. Lots of loose ends to tie up.
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| Dining Room |
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| Guest Room |
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| Master BR Coffeemaker |
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| Railings...still need to fill and stain the screw holes on the posts |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 3/31/2008 8:44:44 PM
Dirk had a great friend come to town this weekend, and they worked on installing the handrails. We stained the wood for weeks. Once again, we underestimated how this would be. Drilled the holes, and inserted the balusters. Over 200 linear feet of railings. We went with Dekorator powder coated aluminum due to the proximity to the ocean. We didn't want the look of vinyl even though it would hold up the best.
I was only able to work on the master bath tile on Friday before I succumbed to a severe cold. I was able to do light duty and install electrical outlets and some lighting fixtures before my fever kicked in. We have been burning at both ends, so it was a matter of time...
Culvert was delivered Friday, and the Lift station should be ready this week. We are working on the irrigation plans now. At this stage we anticipate our overall project to be by 2%. The unexpected area we ran into problems in the very beginning was underestimating our lumber costs. We went over by 25% due to a poor takeoff. We had to get creative over the course of the project to bring other areas into reach. With some areas coming in way under budget, it all seems to be working out. I will let you know once we get our CO, so I won't hold my breath!
No time to take a lot of pics...
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| One section of the railing |
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| Guest bath |
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| Hallway wall sconce |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 3/23/2008 7:12:34 PM
Our stucco guy completed the house on Friday. They did an outstanding job. Super smooth, and minimal expansion joints. I like the color, but was expecting it to be more ivory. It turned out to have a yellowish pink tone, but I still love it.
I got tired of painting, so the touch up will have to wait a while. I began tiling the guest bath, and then moved on to my shower.
I am an amateur tiler, so the travertine gave me a run for my money. It is not forgiving at all. My fingertips have no feeling left, and I barely escaped decapitation... I will spare you the details. I used a tumbled stone in the guest bath, with sea glass accents. I still have to fill in the cracks, but I don't have a glass cutter. I used 1/4" HardiBacker on the guest floor. It is soooo much easier than cement board.
I will be grouting once I finish all three bathrooms. I ran out of tumbled stone (three short), and the store I bought it from is an hour away.
Instead of buying expensive bullnose travertine for the master shower, I cut the edges on a 45-degree angle to make a bevel. It looks great. Just lightly buff the edges to give it a finished look.
Tiling tip: Flexbond mortar does not seem to wash off. I wore gloves, but I got it on my elbows and forearms. I guess it will be long sleeve shirts for the next week. And ladies... it doesn't help the whole smooth skin thing!
I am not looking forward to tiling the rest of the house.
Dirk painted the handrails all weekend, and began working on the gutters. We put up the garage light fixtures just so we could see what they would look like. They look so small! I may have to buy bigger ones, but this is the least of my problems right now.
Happy Easter!
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| Apparently my tiling skills are better than my math! |
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| Back Porch |
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| Chimney |
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| West side of house
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| Northwest corner
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| Guest bath travertine floor
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| Master shower begins
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| Hilarious!! You can barely see them:) |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 3/11/2008 8:21:37 PM
Although we are making progress, it sure feels slow! The drywall is complete, and we have begun priming and painting. I underestimated the time needed to do the painting, so it will probably take a full week and a half to paint the inside. I am finished with the priming, ceiling paint, and a couple of rooms. I am spraying most of the house, with my husband backrolling to give it a more finished look. My sprayer finally kicked the bucket after a few years, so we invested in another one. I love that darn thing! I am a renegade when it comes to color. My family is not always keen on my vibrant choices, but is suits me just fine. My husband could care less if I paint it neon green. So much for feedback!
The stucco is progressing as well. The scratch kote is almost finished. We ran into a major setback when the rain hit, and it was evident we didn't have the slope on the upstairs porches we needed. A few calls, a couple hundred bucks, and a week later, we are back in business. We halted the stucco work until we could come up with a solution that didn't break the bank, but satiated my need to not dream about water infiltration. Thank goodness we had extra Seal-a-Flex put down. It should be fine now.
Cabinets are going to be about another 8 weeks to complete and be delivered. Garage door is in, but the door opener couldn't support the weight of our oversized door. I couldn't even lift it without leaning into it! Home Depot came through again with their clearance appliances. I got a front loader dryer by LG for $297. Originally $800. This completes our appliance package.
I am out of town next weekend on business, so my husband will have to go it alone with the painting of the trim. I think he will survive.
If only it would stop raining!!!!!
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| Taped and ready |
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| Primer complete |
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| Ok, so not my most attractive moment! |
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| Living Room Started |
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| Our Green Office |
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| Garage Door Arrives |
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| Stucco Resumes |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 2/21/2008 9:02:43 PM
We passed our MEP rough, and finished the insulation. We chose closed cell foam for the roof, and spray-in cellulose for the exterior upper walls/soundproofing. Wow, what a difference in the sound level already. It left quite a mess everywhere, so I just finished vacuuming to get ready for drywall.
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| I stained 22 boards for our porch ceiling. Now I have to polyurethane them. |
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Posted to VilanoBeachCasa-de-Suenos by Whitney in Saint Augustine, FL
on 1/30/2008 7:06:22 PM
Not much progress since our last post. Having full time jobs makes it difficult to complete projects during the week.
Dirk started firring out the garage (manually), I think his head is still ringing. I completed priming the doors. We also spent a day cleaning up the site. It is hard to believe it can get so messy!
I found our wood floors last weekend. Yippee! What a great find. It was a close-out from a company going out of business. $3.80sf. Was $9.75. Carpet $3sy.
I purchased our tankless water heater from wamhomecenter.com. I got a Takagi for a fraction of the cost.
The stucco goes on this week. HVAC on Saturday. The windows and doors are almost complete as well.
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| Windows and Doors |
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| First layer Stucco Mesh |
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