So, it looks like 60 days to the finish line, more or less. Our builder updated the construction schedule this week to account for a few adjustments and we arrived at August 1 as a target date for calling this chapter of our project "done".
Of course, there's still an incredible amount of work to do and plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong, so we're going to play it safe and assume a couple of weeks beyond this for sake of our move plans. Still, the finish line is in sight, and we're pretty thrilled about that!
Work this week centered around the tile work, which is nearing completion in the bathrooms but will extend into next. The kitchen and pantry tile jobs will wait until our countertops are in, maybe a month out from this point. What's finished, though, looks absolutely great, and the attention to some of the finer details is apparent.
Otherwise, more of the same is going on in and around the house, with continued focus on trim work, closet builds, touch-ups, and a couple of re-do projects. Interior doors were hung, with the exception of pocket slider doors, and the primer coat of paint has been applied to all of the woodwork installed to date.
Our trip to Charlotte last weekend was productive, giving us too many ideas to think about for the study and dining room! We were also able to see in person the bed/headboard we were considering for our bedroom, and yesterday ordered that along with two comfortable chairs to fill the seating area in our future retreat.
On Sunday we spent time downtown at an art exhibition on Marion Square that featured work of quite a few local artists. We'd like to incorporate an artistic element related to the lowcountry in our "keeping room" area (the area between the kitchen and the family room that we didn't know what else to call!), and this gave us the opportunity to get a sense of the local art scene and some ideas to consider.
We've also continued the ongoing process of vetting furniture and design options with the help of our designer, who provides not only ideas but some gentle nudging here and there when needed, making sure we are being thoughtful while continuing to make timely progress.
On the planning front, we met with a landscape firm to review our plans and expect to see a proposal in the coming week.
Looking ahead, our outdoor fireplace should receive its "tabby" stucco finish (cement/shell mix) next week, and we're excited about seeing that come to life. Bonnie is already anticipating Saturdays of college football on the porch, seated next to this fireplace as it takes the chill out of those chilly autumn afternoons! In Charleston!!
Finally, we met with our builder this afternoon to review the layout for our driveway (on paper), and expect this will be staked out for our review early next week, with at least a chance that by week's end we'll see some new concrete and stone!
As an aside, the driveway is one area of many that received special attention by our Architecture Review Board, thanks to the Grand Oak tree in front of the home. One of the accommodations we agreed on was the use of a permeable surface in the area of the tree's root system. This is to ensure there's enough water seepage into the soil to sustain the tree, and to prevent excessive runoff into the surrounding landscape and ponds.
As a consequence, we'll use a mix of crushed stone, sand and oyster shell in the lower portion of the driveway, and pave the upper section (area near the house) with a concrete and oyster shell mix that should complement the look of the loose material.
Nothing is simple with this project!!
That's our update for this week! Hope you enjoyed it!
Ron and Bonnie
Of course, there's still an incredible amount of work to do and plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong, so we're going to play it safe and assume a couple of weeks beyond this for sake of our move plans. Still, the finish line is in sight, and we're pretty thrilled about that!
Work this week centered around the tile work, which is nearing completion in the bathrooms but will extend into next. The kitchen and pantry tile jobs will wait until our countertops are in, maybe a month out from this point. What's finished, though, looks absolutely great, and the attention to some of the finer details is apparent.
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| This classic rosette-patterned tile is installed in one of our guest suites. Tiles on shower curb are aligned with tiles on the wall; rosettes on the shower floor are aligned with those on the floor, including on the angle (as if the curb was not there). That's attention to detail! |
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| This is the tile "rug" in our master bath, now installed with its border. Everything appears to have worked out just right so that whole tiles in the main floor sections will abut this both at the front and back of the rug |
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| Our second guest suite gets another traditional treatment of basketweave and subway tile, with a contemporary twist provided by gray accent stripes on the shower walls |
Otherwise, more of the same is going on in and around the house, with continued focus on trim work, closet builds, touch-ups, and a couple of re-do projects. Interior doors were hung, with the exception of pocket slider doors, and the primer coat of paint has been applied to all of the woodwork installed to date.
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| Construction of the custom shelving in the master bedroom closets is just about compete. This is looking in at one end of the "hers" closet |
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| We'll call this a partial do-over. We were struggling with how best to finish the coffered ceiling, with its internal beams finished at the same level as the surrounding soffit. So, we're raising the inner section a few inches to allow the finish trim to end into the sides of the soffit area. If that doesn't make sense, we'll include so before/after photos when finished! |
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| We've had a challenge with porch railings. Some due to warping of the pressure-treated lumber as it's dried more completely in the intense sun, and some as the result of not accounting properly for the slope of the porch floors. Some minor fixes have been required, but in this case it was recognized that starting over is sometimes the best course of action! |
Our trip to Charlotte last weekend was productive, giving us too many ideas to think about for the study and dining room! We were also able to see in person the bed/headboard we were considering for our bedroom, and yesterday ordered that along with two comfortable chairs to fill the seating area in our future retreat.
On Sunday we spent time downtown at an art exhibition on Marion Square that featured work of quite a few local artists. We'd like to incorporate an artistic element related to the lowcountry in our "keeping room" area (the area between the kitchen and the family room that we didn't know what else to call!), and this gave us the opportunity to get a sense of the local art scene and some ideas to consider.
We've also continued the ongoing process of vetting furniture and design options with the help of our designer, who provides not only ideas but some gentle nudging here and there when needed, making sure we are being thoughtful while continuing to make timely progress.
 |
| On the left is a fabric for an ottoman in the study that will accompany a yet-to-be-selected pair of club chairs. On the right, our great room sofas (leather), and fabrics for two pair of chairs that we've now placed on order. It's a start! |
On the planning front, we met with a landscape firm to review our plans and expect to see a proposal in the coming week.
Looking ahead, our outdoor fireplace should receive its "tabby" stucco finish (cement/shell mix) next week, and we're excited about seeing that come to life. Bonnie is already anticipating Saturdays of college football on the porch, seated next to this fireplace as it takes the chill out of those chilly autumn afternoons! In Charleston!!
 |
| Outdoor fireplace chase is wrapped in felt paper and readied for stucco |
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| Another way to measure progress on the interior trim work! |
Finally, we met with our builder this afternoon to review the layout for our driveway (on paper), and expect this will be staked out for our review early next week, with at least a chance that by week's end we'll see some new concrete and stone!
As an aside, the driveway is one area of many that received special attention by our Architecture Review Board, thanks to the Grand Oak tree in front of the home. One of the accommodations we agreed on was the use of a permeable surface in the area of the tree's root system. This is to ensure there's enough water seepage into the soil to sustain the tree, and to prevent excessive runoff into the surrounding landscape and ponds.
As a consequence, we'll use a mix of crushed stone, sand and oyster shell in the lower portion of the driveway, and pave the upper section (area near the house) with a concrete and oyster shell mix that should complement the look of the loose material.
Nothing is simple with this project!!
 |
| "Is that a spider?" |
That's our update for this week! Hope you enjoyed it!
Ron and Bonnie
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