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.