PHEW, What a Busy Week!

Windows and doors arrive! 

Brandan working on installing the master bedroom windows.  The inverted u shape will create the headboard.  It is amazing how quickly the windows get placed.  The Anderson windows are really so nice and the best part is they are the tilt out kind for easy cleaning.  After having cleaned the cottage windows  with the storm/screen combinations these last 7 years, I am almost looking forward to window washing, that woud be ALMOST. 

Guest room windows in, cannot wait to see the finished room.  The vaulted ceiling will make the room appear larger. 

Within two days all windows and doors are in. 

 When I first saw the windows in place, I was concerned that they might be too small.  I think they are small, but once the trim went on and when the window boxes are added, I think they will be the correct scale for the cottage.  Landscaping will also soften the foundation.  Using large Aztec trim will make maintenance easy and give the window treatment some heft.

While the windows were going in, I had many decisions to make.  The electrician and I met with Russ to decide where outlets and switches were to go.  The state of Massachusetts really dictates where most electrical units go, some make sense and others are rather silly.  One example I remember:  if you want just one outlet on each wall, you must have more if the wall is 12 feet long or longer.  Why?

I am still not sure where the dining room area will be within the great room so we are going to put in two boxes in the ceiling for lighting, waiting for me to decide when the room is closer to being finished and we can better see what the space will be like.  We also had to make the pantry cabinet in the kitchen smaller to give us more room when you enter the cottage.  Smoke detectors and CO2 monitors must be hard wired and must be inside and outside of the bedrooms.  I think it will look as if we are wired for sound!

Edan, the kitchen designer, was at the cottage this week too.  He was drawing out on the floor, the cabinets in both the kitchen and the bathrooms.  It is so much easier to see the space and what it will look like. 

While work was being done at the cottage, I had the daunting task of choosing the tile for the bathrooms.  As a cost effective measure, I have decided to use a tub/shower insert in the guest bathroom.  I figure that most guests will use the outdoor shower when they are here and to do a tub and tile shower is really not the best use of monies.  We have also decided to use the pine flooring throughout the guest bath.  I was originally against this idea, wood floors and toilets/tubs/ and sinks jut don't seem to go together.  Russ assured me that there is less water involved in the bath than the kitchen and the continuity of having the flooring throughout convinced me.  I am not sure I would have been convinced so quickly if I hadn't seen a beautiful bath on the Internet with wood floors.  We will have to wait and see. 

With just one bath to work on, you might think it would be easy.  Have you ever been to a tile store?  Overwhelming! 

 

   

After three trips to the tile store, and some guidance from Russ, this is the master bath.  Subway tile on the shower walls,  12"Carrara marble porcelain tile in a matte finish on the floor of the bathroom and 2" matching Carrara  tiles on the floor of the shower.  The Bubble tile border will go around the shower walls at eye level.  You cannot tell from the picture but the "bubbles" have subtle color and marble bubbles.  I think it will be very whimsical and fun. 

After the decision on the tile was made, would they work with the white vanity.  Another trip needed to be made to the design center with the tiles to match them with the cabinet.  Luckily, it all worked beautifully and Edan had sample pieces for me to take of both the vanity color and kitchen cabinet color.  Might save a future trip or two!

As if that weren't enough decisions for one week, I headed next to the lighting and bathroom fixture store.  If I thought picking tile was difficult, this was truely mind boggling!  There are gazillions of choices but not one faucet that was perfect.  I asked for some quotes on Kohler, American Standard and Delta and waited for the estimate.  After one of my blog entries, I friend commented that I should buy on line as it would be much less expensive.  Of course the plumber suggested I buy from his dealer as he would then be able to guarantee the product for a year.  Here is some of the price comparisons between buying from a local showroom and buying on line. 

                                                               

Moen pull down kitchen faucet              Showroom/$532       Online/$345

 

American Standard/Town Sq. Toilet       Showroom/$645       Online/$425.64

 

Grohe Faucet                                          Showroom/$267      Online/$173

 

Bigger orders, from either EFaucets or FaucetsDirect, include free shipping so I think it becomes perfectly obvious which route to go.  I have bought online before and have never had a problem with either delivery or product, something I was also cautioned about.  As much as I want to support local merchants and tradesmen during the cottage renovation, I also do not want to be stupid about this.  If I were to use the above numbers and buy two toilets, two bath faucets and one kitchen faucet, I would save about $900 shopping on line.  Amazing, amazing.  It is worth my time ordering on line to save this kind of money.  My plumber said to quote him the numbers from online dealers and he will see if he can match the price but I do not see how he can beat what I have found.  Will keep you posted. 

                                                                                          

 

Thinking that we had made enough decisions for one week, I arrived one morning to find huge boulders dumped in the backyard.

Tyler and partner, with the help of these big jaws, started on the stone wall.  The wall will divide the yard, giving me two  level areas in the back.

First row of stones being placed.  Reminded me of a rock jigsaw puzzle. 

Granite steps in place.  When I mentioned how chewed up the yard was getting, Tyler had the best answer.  "Just aerating it for you!"

In two days, the wall is almost finished, steps are in.  Tyler will be back to fill in with some small stones.  Makes the yard look so much better, I am so glad we did this. 

Leaving the Cape on Sunday morning, I stopped at the cottage and took this picture.  Even on a cold, gray morning, the view is beautiful.  I cannot wait to pour that first cup of coffee, walk out onto the new deck, and sit down to enjoy this view.  Oh, right, I don't need to go outside any longer to see the view...I can see it from every room, even from bed! 

Week 8 Lessons Learned:

1.  A second or even third opinion can help in the decision making process.  There are so many decisions to be made during a project such as this, that it helps to have another set of eyes and many times ears, to hear and see what might work better.   

 

2.  Practice comparison shopping.

 

3.  Whenever and wherever you can, leave some options open for decisions down the road. Hasty decisions can lead to disappointment later on.  (This is sounding like Congress right now!  They really do need to make some hard and fast decisions.  Just saying.)

    

 

 

 

 

 

Progress

We have had our fair share of rain so getting the new bulkhead in is a good thing.  Am already thinking about how to best shield this as it will be the first thing you see when you drive into the property.  These covers used to cost $250 but in the last year or so they went up to $650 or more.  Lucky me!

Shingles are all on along with the fascia boards.  Adding architectural shingles gives the roof so much more character and depth.  Good color and variations in size, a good choice.

Walk in closet in the master bedroom framed out and ready for clothes!  If anyone saw the closet in my old bedroom, then you will appreciate the excitement I am feeling.  I can leave clothes here and also see them when I am getting ready.  A great improvement!

This is rather hard to read but this is the master bath with a linen closet.  There will be a large walk in shower which I will only use when the outdoor shower is not on.  Will be nice to be able to raise my arms to wash my hair in this one since the old shower in the cottage was really tiny.  There will be plenty of light throughout the house, another plus. 

The reality of rebuilding is cost overruns.  This past week had brought that concept into my reality.  The kitchen is more expensive than the allowance quoted, the fireplace too, and getting reclaimed wood floors will be almost twice the quoted cost.  Wish I could settle for Formica counter tops, oak flooring and no fireplace but this is the one and only time I am going to do this and I don't want this to be less than I imagine it.  I have "settled" on a preformed bathtub/shower in the guestroom since a tiled tub would cost a whole lot more and I figure that most guests will shower outside when they are visiting.  I hate settling but there are just some things I have to fore go to get what I want elsewhere. 

Then there are all the extra costs that are not included in the building contract.  Light and plumbing fixtures, switch plates, knobs, and medicine cabinets.  I am trying to use as many "reclaimed" items as I can but it is really tough to do. I bought a fabulous antique cabinet several years ago thinking I could use it as a medicine cabinet in the cottage.  It is so interesting with two drawers and a cabinet door above.  Since the door has a recessed portion, I figured a mirror could be glued in the space and it would be unique and appropriate for the cottage.  Well, the drawers are 12" deep and there is no wall in the cottage deep enough for me to use the cabinet.  I could put it in my closet but who would see that?!  I am really disappointed about this.

Windows arrive this week and that should make an enormous difference.  The studs should all be in for the room walls and when that happens I will have a better idea about the space.

Have decided to go back to PA this coming weekend for Christmas and then I will head down to Florida for the month of January.  Apparently the schedule for January includes installing electric wiring, rough plumping, and the heating/ac ducts.  Then we wait around for inspections of the electric, plumbing and building work.  Since this could take two weeks or more, that is if the inspectors are around to do the inspection, I wouldn't have much to do.  When we get the go ahead, the insulation guys come in to  spray in closed cell foam.  They will be insulating the "whole envelop" (which I think means the entire house: eves, walls and basement ceiling). I am assured I will be as snug as a bug in a rug when this is all done.  The insulation installation (say that three times!) will take a week at least, getting us to the end of the month.  Wall board goes up and then the really fun work begins.  I cannot miss that so I should be back by the second week in February. 

 

Lessons Learned:

1.  Don't "wrist"drive!  As I was going off Cape on Monday to pick out the granite, I plugged my cell into the car charger.  Deb was following me while we drove and my phone rang.  I picked up the phone and disconnected it from the charger.  Deb told me there was a state cop alongside me and I should slow down.  There he was.  He back off, came behind me and turned on his lights.  When I rolled down my window he asked me if I knew why he had stopped me.  Of course I didn't say I was speeding, so I said I did not know.  He said that was even worse.  He accused me of texting while driving.  I told him that I don't do that and showed him what I had been doing to separate the phone from the cord.  He took my paperwork, went back to his cruiser and returned with the $100 ticket for "wrist driving".  So, beware, keep your hands on the wheel...or remove the cord from the phone below the window level!

 

2.  Building overruns average between 5 and 10 percent.

 

3.  There is always a solution to a problem but it will probably be more expensive than you want.  I was having a great deal of trouble finding a counter top for the mermaid sink I dragged back from Mexico years ago.  The sink is very colorful and busy and anything I could find when we were at the granite place fought with the sink.  Edan, the kitchen designer, found a black granite flecked with turquoise, that makes the sink pop.  The sink will look fabulous in the guest bath and it will make quite a statement.  I love it!

 

4.  When this are going down the drain, it will only get worse.  On Wednesday I left for the kitchen design meeting in a bit of a rush.  I had the sink, plans, papers, and bags to get into the car as well as myself.  i grabbed my phone and all my stuff, put it in the car and went back to close the door.  Off I went, arriving to grab my purse, sink and keys to go in for the meeting.  Yes, no purse!  It wouldn't have been so bad except I was meeting a friend for lunch right after the meeting.  Poor Jane, she go to treat lunch.  THEN I leave to rush home to get ready for a dinner out.  Could things get any worse...oh, yea they could!  I am at a light and a woman is pointing to the right side of my car.  I pull into a driveway and there is the flat tire.  I use my smart phone to find the AAA 800 number and the first thing they ask me for is my membership number!  Of course I don't know that and do not have my card with me as it is in my purse.  She asked me if I have picture ID with me, of course not, that is in my purse too!  I did find old bills with my name and the car's info on it and that would have to do.  Long story short, they came to change my tire and I go to the dinner party on time.  I thoroughly enjoyed my scotch that evening.   



 

 

 

Days Late on Posting: the Latest Pictures

The bedroom wall constructed and ready to be raised.  Week after Thanksgiving.

Wall up!  I am standing where the bed will be located.  The window design will wrap the bed, awning windows above the bed and two double hung windows flanking the awning window.  The windows will create a headboard effect.  Neat!  Walk-in closet will be to my left and the master bath as well.

This is what it is all about...the view from the bed.  May never get up again!

 

Walls up and the roof rafters are being set.  Russ holding up the rafters as Brendan raises the center beam.

Beam fitted in, amazing that this is a two man job. 

Beam set and waiting for the remaining rafters. The bedroom addition is set back two feet from the front plane of the original cottage face to give it a more pleasing appearance. 

Bedroom under roof!  Looking at this picture, I continue to be amazed by the neatness of the team. Inside and out there is very little mess at the end of each day.  I can already imagine the flower boxes on the windows and curtains at the windows.  Cannot wait.  Think there needs to be a new budget created for landscaping, ugh!

Here is the view from the back of the house.  Large slider to the right is the living room area, the three double hung define the dining room space and the slider to the left is the master.  All this for that water view!  The deck will run the entire length of the house. 

Week of December 3rd:                         Old shingles coming off the old roof, cannot wait to see the progress this week.  Windows arrive and are installed early next week.  It will look more and more like a home. 

This week started the decision making in earnest.  Met with the kitchen designer, Edan Dayan of Main Street at Botello's Home Center in Mashpee, on Wednesday, Nov. 28.  Hours later we have a design.  In the original plans the sink and dishwasher were in the island.  Edan  talked me out of that idea.  Sink is now in front of the window and dishwasher is to the right, trash/recycling bins to the left.  That is good as it is the same in PA. 

  Here is the aerial view of the design.

View from the great room.  The island shape is a large pie slice.  I have bought a french door frig, not a side by side, but the size is the same. 

View of the kitchen when you enter through the front door.  The dining area, with the three windows is in the background.  Large drawers for storage and utensil drawer on top.  All this is across from the dishwasher to make emptying the dishwasher easy. 

Kitchen view from dining area.  Large drawers opposite the range for pots and pans with another cooking utensil drawer on top.  When talking to one of Russ's previous clients I learned that it is better to have large drawers for pots and pans instead of cabinet drawers with pull out shelves.  One less move to get to what you want to use. 

Color scheme is cotton white cabinets and black/gray granite.  The granite is called Jet Mist with an antique finish.  We went to Skyline Marble and Granite in Marlboro, MA on Monday, December 3, 2012. 

 

 

 

 The antique finish is matte with a very soft feel to it.  It looks like soapstone but is less expensive and more important, needs far less maintenance. It looks like the pattern you see when there are different sands on the beach.  I think it will be a classic look. 

Will be meeting on Wednesday to find out how much this all will cost and to see if it is anywhere within the budget!  I am finding that the cost over-runs are a reality! 

As if there were not enough decisions to be made, I went to Boston and then Lynn, MA for some more fabric to cover pillows.  Am using furniture from my parents inn, The Blue Anchor, which was recovered last year when we sold the condo. I found accent fabric for pillows and cushions and will take pictures of that.  Want to have a survey of color for the great room.  The couch is coral, chairs have a coral, green and cream stripe fabric and the new floral fabric has all these colors on a blue field.  Am leaning to white trim and blue walls but will also try green walls.  Future post will be the fabric and color choices and would love to have feedback from you all.

 

Lessons learned this week:

1.  Sometimes you can walk into a store and find exactly what you have in your mind's eye and other times what you are looking for is just not there.  I have a vanity sink, hand painted in Mexico, with mermaids on it.  I carried it back with me several years ago, knowing I wanted to use it in the cottage at some point.  It is very colorful and when I tried to find a vanity top to put it in, I was stumped.  Everything we looked at yesterday was just too busy and fought with the sink.  Think I am going with plywood!  Will see what the designer suggests tomorrow.

 

2.  Thought the completion date was the end of May.  Was hoping to return to the Cape after Christmas, make the decisions needed and then head down to Florida for February, return to the Cape end of Feb./early March, and then head back to Florida for a few more weeks.  Not going to happen that way if completion date is really the end of March.  Cannot imagine not being here for the finishing touches. 

 

3.  I am making the effort to use local craftsmen and local businesses.  So far it has gone very well and I am happy that my money will be staying local.

 

4.  This project is so much fun, I want to do another!  (Let's see if I feel the same way on March 31st!)