Just a brief update on what we are up to. (Not much!)
Michael is still at BYU. He will be graduating in December of this year with a business degree. He was originally in the Computer Science field, but has come up with a business he wants to some day open in the Tri-Cities when he has saved enough money. He isn't sure what exactly he will be doing after graduation, so if you have any suggestions... He is really good with computers and works at the church's help desk in Provo. He keeps waiting for the Prophet to call and tell him his computer is down but that is yet to happen. He has talked to Bishop Banks while still at the Pasco seminary, his mission home in the Philippines, and many others as he helps them with the church computer problems.
Courtney is married to Will Keeler who is from Rhode Island. She graduated from BYU in 2007 and Will graduated just this past April. They are both working in Provo right now, but will be moving up to Cheney (near Spokane) where Will has been accepted into the Social Work graduate program at Eastern Washington University. We are really excited to have them living so close. We have promised them that we won't be annoying.
Erin just finished her first year at BYU and has decided to major in Communication Disorders and is still doing a lot of American Sign Language. She is home for the summer and is working at the new Sonic on Road 68 in Pasco. She is pretty excited about it as she LOVES to roller skate.
Zach is 16 now! Hard to believe and working hard towards: good grades in school, black belt in Taekwon Do, Eagle scout, Duty to God, drivers license. Kylee is in her first year in public school at MAC and has decided that homework stinks. Being homeschooled was much easier as once you finished your school work for the day you were done - no homework. Kaitlin still attends MCP, which is a homeschool group which has classes once a week. She is looking forward to turning 12 this year and finally going to Mutual with Kylee and Zach. Conner is 5 and thrilled to begin reading. He likes to sound out words and is especially good at math.
Well - that about raps it up.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Oven!
I went to do some visiting and my friend told me about this oven that she plans to put in her house when she builds in a couple of years. It sounds like something I would love to have, so I need to look more into it. I have always wanted a double oven as whenever we are making Thanksgiving dinner or have lots of company over and I want to be able to bake the meat and the rolls at the same time, etc., it is pretty much impossible. It just seems a waste of space to have two ovens when for the majority of the year I would only be using one. Plus two wall ovens are very expensive. This seems like the perfect solution - surprised I haven't seen more of these before!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
We Have an Address!
Been playing run-around-games with the City of Pasco the past few days. We had to sign an annexation agreement in order to be hooked up to the water and to get our building permit but the city was having a hard time locating us. They could find us on the map and use the parcel number, but they couldn't take my money to pay for future water usage upfront (their requirement) until I had an address. They assured me it would only take 15 minutes, but quite a few HOURS later - we have an address. It will be 7712 Jacobs Lane. My kids think it has a nice ring to it, very friendly. We will sign some more papers with the bank tomorrow and then...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Our First Tree
Kaitlin went on a field trip with her class at MCP. They went to a tree farm and everyone who went brought home a sticky branch. The tree farmer told all of the kids to take this sticky 12 inch branch and plant it in dirt and water it and put it in the sun. We decided to give it a try. We knew that we wouldn't want to leave this little tree behind so we planted it in a bucket. Kaitlin waters it faithfully and makes sure it is away from the dog and still in the sun. It has been a little more than a week and we have little buds and leaves that have sprouted right out of the branch. I am so tempted to pull it up to see if there any roots beginning to grow out of the bottom of this little branch, but I am resisting. Kaitlin can't remember what kind of tree it is or how big it is supposed to grow, so I guess we had beter find out before we actually plant it at our new house. It is kind of cute and when I learn how to use Brad's digital camera then I can take a picture of this little tree in a ice cream bucket.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Last of My Notes
Okay - I am done reading books. I have to be done. There is way too much out there and I would never get done. Just say I am done and be happy. What I don't know I can't miss. I know this seems boring - but at least I have all the important info in one place where I can't lose it. Sorry.
1. Have large over-sized framed mirror in the bathroom or two smaller framed mirrors over each sink in the bathroom. Both look nice, I do like the framed look though versus unframed.
2. Colors of the master bath and bed are extensions of each other.
3. Get details on to what is all included in the bid - materials, garage door opener, labor, towel racks, etc.
4. How much extra cost to have built in shelves, book cases, etc.
5. Look at kitchen and bathroom design of cabinets/cupboards, closets, closet doors, bedroom doors. Make sure it is what I want. Ex. spice racks, pull out drawers, shelves for lids, etc.
6. Have a change order statement that homeowner has right to make changes after contract has been signed.
7. Yes, want to keep any surplus materials.
8. Siding - durability and longetivity, buy best can afford as lower maintenance and replacement cost over years. Vinyl is good - thicker the gauge the better, but dark colors tend to fade. Aluminum and steel siding can be dented and may bend or warp if lower gauge, bet are fire and rot and bug resistant. Both need occasional washing. Use a PVC finish coating to protect and for easier maintenance.
9. Make entry nice, charming, serene, make sure light and not the same as the living room light and switch. Have a table with a runner, flowers and a book or two or else treasure box of scriptures. On the wall have a mirror or large picture. Put a rug on floor. Make sure difference between living room and entry.
10. Moldings add architechtural detail, easy to do it yourself. Also bead-board, paneling, and chair rails.
11. Storage under stairs?
12. Have wall rugs that go pretty much from one wall to the other.
13. Windows with low-emittance coating that reduces heat loss.
14. TV - decide if going to have rear-projection, front projection, picture tube or flat screen so can plan electrical. Same for DVD and surround sound. Plan for acoustics in floors and walls and ceiling - sound absorbing material.
15. If want a good flow from room to room need a continuous look for rooms, so select hues that complement one another, staying with light tones for a calming effect. (Good way to tell if colors will work well together is look at a color wheel and select colors with the same amount of saturation.) Bring home paint chips and examine at home in the lighting and even can get a small sample and paint a sqaure on the wall to see what you think.
16. Kitchen - choose semi-gloss or high gloss finish for paint. The higher the gloss the easier to clean.
17.Wall paper, wall cover. Make sure stain resistant and what' appropriate for a bathroom or kitchen.
18 If have solid surface counters (which are the easiest to clean) have it run up the wall for a backsplash as well.
19. Moldings - base (millwork adhered to bottom of wall), chair rail (horizontal molding mounted at chair height and often used with wainscoating), crown molding (angled molding generally applied close to ceiling to visually soften connection between ceiling and wall), dentil molding (type of trim that resembles teeth). Fluting, roping, corbels.
20. Remember the ceiling is a fifth wall to make appear taller paint ceiling lighter color than on wall.
21. Kitchen triangle - each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet long, total length of all 3 legs should equal 12 - 26 feet. General traffic shouldn't interfere with work triangle. Cabinetry shouldn't intersect any triangle leg by more than 12 inches. www.nkba.org
22. Most reasonable to clean for the cost for counters is laminate, solid surface and quartz surface. For floor it is sheet vinyl, linoleum and wood but make sure sealed very well.
23. Give room a sense of height by running curtain rod as close to ceiling as possible rather than top of window and will heighten room. Flowing draperies that pool at bottom will also add elegance to a room.
24. Over stuffed chaise loune or plush armchair and ottoman - create a sitting are in the master for curing up with a book or watching TV etc. I also like having a bench at bottom of bed with a cushion on it.
25. Serene feeling in bedroom - neutral tone textures and fabrics and colors.
26. Decide what kind of shelving, rods, drawers, shoe holders, dressers, etc. for inside closets. Also decide if having a TV in the master and where it will be placed. I would like the kids closets to have drawers inside the closet like the closets at BYU and that we had in Greece.
27. Silhouette shades have translucent effect - giving privacy while allowing light to ender. Check on cellular shades as well. Sheets can make good curtains too. Airy canopy - run inexpensive netting from mounted drapery brackets on ceiling above bed to a pair on wall behind it.
28. Have overall ambient lighting and can add task lighting if want.
29. Multiple head shower. What kind of shower door do I want? Are curtains fine?
30. Washerless faucets are best. Make sure kitchen sprayer is what we picked.
31. One piece units for toilets give a sleek look and are usually easier to clean than two piece units.
32. Ask yourself - how would you like to spend your time outdoors?
33. Deck - composite surface or PVC vinyl. Roof for patio - pergola, gazebo, canvas, arbor
34. Stamped concrete - how is that done?
35. NO wasted space, ex. under stairs, in upper cabinet corners, etc.
26. Check top of cabinets and molding to see what I picked. Do I still like it?
Pictures I scanned - pg. 21 - 2 fabrics on the arm chair - one plain and the other striped ticking. Page 50 - Wall striped vertical wall paper. Page 101 built in vacuum pan in kitchen where you brush away crumbs and there is a receptacle in the basement that would need periodic emptying. Page 116 - molding and baseboards. Page 126,127,132 - curtains and rods/pulls that I like. Page 144 polka dot bathroom. Pretty quilt on bed, striped painted walls. Page 148 - Stars on walls. Page 152 - pillows. page 163 - built in shelf over toilet. Page 192 - Pillows, striped fabric on chair cushions. Page 197 - colored beach chairs seem really fun. Page 207 - room just makes me feel happy. Page 215 - organized shelves, cupboards and bench in mud room as well as ironing board from wall cupboard.
1. Have large over-sized framed mirror in the bathroom or two smaller framed mirrors over each sink in the bathroom. Both look nice, I do like the framed look though versus unframed.
2. Colors of the master bath and bed are extensions of each other.
3. Get details on to what is all included in the bid - materials, garage door opener, labor, towel racks, etc.
4. How much extra cost to have built in shelves, book cases, etc.
5. Look at kitchen and bathroom design of cabinets/cupboards, closets, closet doors, bedroom doors. Make sure it is what I want. Ex. spice racks, pull out drawers, shelves for lids, etc.
6. Have a change order statement that homeowner has right to make changes after contract has been signed.
7. Yes, want to keep any surplus materials.
8. Siding - durability and longetivity, buy best can afford as lower maintenance and replacement cost over years. Vinyl is good - thicker the gauge the better, but dark colors tend to fade. Aluminum and steel siding can be dented and may bend or warp if lower gauge, bet are fire and rot and bug resistant. Both need occasional washing. Use a PVC finish coating to protect and for easier maintenance.
9. Make entry nice, charming, serene, make sure light and not the same as the living room light and switch. Have a table with a runner, flowers and a book or two or else treasure box of scriptures. On the wall have a mirror or large picture. Put a rug on floor. Make sure difference between living room and entry.
10. Moldings add architechtural detail, easy to do it yourself. Also bead-board, paneling, and chair rails.
11. Storage under stairs?
12. Have wall rugs that go pretty much from one wall to the other.
13. Windows with low-emittance coating that reduces heat loss.
14. TV - decide if going to have rear-projection, front projection, picture tube or flat screen so can plan electrical. Same for DVD and surround sound. Plan for acoustics in floors and walls and ceiling - sound absorbing material.
15. If want a good flow from room to room need a continuous look for rooms, so select hues that complement one another, staying with light tones for a calming effect. (Good way to tell if colors will work well together is look at a color wheel and select colors with the same amount of saturation.) Bring home paint chips and examine at home in the lighting and even can get a small sample and paint a sqaure on the wall to see what you think.
16. Kitchen - choose semi-gloss or high gloss finish for paint. The higher the gloss the easier to clean.
17.Wall paper, wall cover. Make sure stain resistant and what' appropriate for a bathroom or kitchen.
18 If have solid surface counters (which are the easiest to clean) have it run up the wall for a backsplash as well.
19. Moldings - base (millwork adhered to bottom of wall), chair rail (horizontal molding mounted at chair height and often used with wainscoating), crown molding (angled molding generally applied close to ceiling to visually soften connection between ceiling and wall), dentil molding (type of trim that resembles teeth). Fluting, roping, corbels.
20. Remember the ceiling is a fifth wall to make appear taller paint ceiling lighter color than on wall.
21. Kitchen triangle - each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet long, total length of all 3 legs should equal 12 - 26 feet. General traffic shouldn't interfere with work triangle. Cabinetry shouldn't intersect any triangle leg by more than 12 inches. www.nkba.org
22. Most reasonable to clean for the cost for counters is laminate, solid surface and quartz surface. For floor it is sheet vinyl, linoleum and wood but make sure sealed very well.
23. Give room a sense of height by running curtain rod as close to ceiling as possible rather than top of window and will heighten room. Flowing draperies that pool at bottom will also add elegance to a room.
24. Over stuffed chaise loune or plush armchair and ottoman - create a sitting are in the master for curing up with a book or watching TV etc. I also like having a bench at bottom of bed with a cushion on it.
25. Serene feeling in bedroom - neutral tone textures and fabrics and colors.
26. Decide what kind of shelving, rods, drawers, shoe holders, dressers, etc. for inside closets. Also decide if having a TV in the master and where it will be placed. I would like the kids closets to have drawers inside the closet like the closets at BYU and that we had in Greece.
27. Silhouette shades have translucent effect - giving privacy while allowing light to ender. Check on cellular shades as well. Sheets can make good curtains too. Airy canopy - run inexpensive netting from mounted drapery brackets on ceiling above bed to a pair on wall behind it.
28. Have overall ambient lighting and can add task lighting if want.
29. Multiple head shower. What kind of shower door do I want? Are curtains fine?
30. Washerless faucets are best. Make sure kitchen sprayer is what we picked.
31. One piece units for toilets give a sleek look and are usually easier to clean than two piece units.
32. Ask yourself - how would you like to spend your time outdoors?
33. Deck - composite surface or PVC vinyl. Roof for patio - pergola, gazebo, canvas, arbor
34. Stamped concrete - how is that done?
35. NO wasted space, ex. under stairs, in upper cabinet corners, etc.
26. Check top of cabinets and molding to see what I picked. Do I still like it?
Pictures I scanned - pg. 21 - 2 fabrics on the arm chair - one plain and the other striped ticking. Page 50 - Wall striped vertical wall paper. Page 101 built in vacuum pan in kitchen where you brush away crumbs and there is a receptacle in the basement that would need periodic emptying. Page 116 - molding and baseboards. Page 126,127,132 - curtains and rods/pulls that I like. Page 144 polka dot bathroom. Pretty quilt on bed, striped painted walls. Page 148 - Stars on walls. Page 152 - pillows. page 163 - built in shelf over toilet. Page 192 - Pillows, striped fabric on chair cushions. Page 197 - colored beach chairs seem really fun. Page 207 - room just makes me feel happy. Page 215 - organized shelves, cupboards and bench in mud room as well as ironing board from wall cupboard.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Reassurance
This evening I talked to the builder. He is taking all of the paperwork to the bank tomorrow and telling them to push it thru so we can get going. I had a few questions for Ken as I sure am leaning toward being a pessimist. With all of the decisions that have to be made and details about every little thing, I have been nervous about making the wrong ones. I know after talking with people who have had homes built for them they told me that once the contract was signed there was no changing anything!!! Or you had to pay an arm and leg for it. I think I might want to change something like the kind of bedroom doors or something. I don't know. Or want more light somewhere. Ken assured me that he doesn't work that way. He has us go through the house at every step and yea or nay things and he has us walk through the house with the electrician when it gets close to that time. If we find a better deal or something we like better in a door, or light fixture or whatever, no big deal about changing it. I was very comforted about the whole thing and don't feel like I am in such a panic to have everything perfect before we sign our lives away. Thanks to the Moon's we have a really good builder, someone who wants us to have the home we want to have.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Bank
Talked to the bank today - no problem with the higher estimate than the bank had figured on. We still qualify so that is good. I was afraid we would have to take out all the bathrooms - that is what we told the kids we would have to do. They didn't think that was very funny at all! Hope we sign the papers with Ken this week so we can break ground soon.
Books
I read a couple of books to help me with building our home. A couple people have asked about them, so I will post the information here. I got all from the Mid-Columbia Library.
1. Make Your House Do the Housework by Don Aslett and Laura Aslett Simons. This book is written in Don Aslett's typical style and is not a home-dec type book. It is basically a book about building a home that is easy to clean. I despise cleaning, so many of the hints were great, but some I knew there was no way I would ever do that!
2. Your Dream Home by Lisa Siglag. This is a combo home-dec book and home design book. I am reading it now.
3. Be Your Own House Contractor by Carl Heldman. This book was more about building your own home and goes step by step on how to do it and forms to fill out, questions to ask.
4. This one wasn't at the Library - The Owner-Builder Book by Smith. This book gave suggestions as to details you may want to include in your home (i.e. sky lights, central vac, etc.)
Plus I have kept the booklets and info from the Parade of Homes that I have attended and I always put comments in them as I went through a house. Also, I am very inexperienced in all this, as is Brad, so we play dumb and ask lots of questions and wander up and down the aisles of Lowe's and Home Depot. We have found that lots of people give advice and opinions and we just have to decide which ones we want and which we don't, and which ones we can afford. Brad and I are pretty simple folk and don't want anything too fancy, just something decent and where we can play and be happy and have fun. We don't want anything where people are going to feel like they can't come in and make themselves at home.
On a side note - Courtney's husband, Will, was accepted into grad school at Eastern Washington University. He starts in September. We are soooo excited!
1. Make Your House Do the Housework by Don Aslett and Laura Aslett Simons. This book is written in Don Aslett's typical style and is not a home-dec type book. It is basically a book about building a home that is easy to clean. I despise cleaning, so many of the hints were great, but some I knew there was no way I would ever do that!
2. Your Dream Home by Lisa Siglag. This is a combo home-dec book and home design book. I am reading it now.
3. Be Your Own House Contractor by Carl Heldman. This book was more about building your own home and goes step by step on how to do it and forms to fill out, questions to ask.
4. This one wasn't at the Library - The Owner-Builder Book by Smith. This book gave suggestions as to details you may want to include in your home (i.e. sky lights, central vac, etc.)
Plus I have kept the booklets and info from the Parade of Homes that I have attended and I always put comments in them as I went through a house. Also, I am very inexperienced in all this, as is Brad, so we play dumb and ask lots of questions and wander up and down the aisles of Lowe's and Home Depot. We have found that lots of people give advice and opinions and we just have to decide which ones we want and which we don't, and which ones we can afford. Brad and I are pretty simple folk and don't want anything too fancy, just something decent and where we can play and be happy and have fun. We don't want anything where people are going to feel like they can't come in and make themselves at home.
On a side note - Courtney's husband, Will, was accepted into grad school at Eastern Washington University. He starts in September. We are soooo excited!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Last of My Notes/Meeting with Builder
Well, these are the last of my notes, so now I won't have to worry about packing something that I might really need. I know this is really tedious, but there is so much to worry about and think about that if I put it down somewhere permanent I can relax a little more. Sorry.
1. Use the same kind of paint through out the house - can use different colors. Suggestion - good semi gloss enamel latex paint or satin finish.
2. What is my backsplash in bathrooms and kitchen? The higher up the wall the better as it is easier to clean than the wall. I think I am using whater is on the counter.
3. All faucets, fixtures, doorknobs, light switches, hinges, locks, etc. should be the same. Not as each other, but all in the same category.
4. Stove should be outside vented hoor or down draft venting system.
5. Frosted glass is good and so is double-glazed windows.
6. Usage of mirrors is good too.
7. No floor vents, put them in the lower walls instead.
8. Stain and varnish doors is better than paint and same for the wood casings around the door as they are easier to clean than paint. Use the same stain throughout.
9. Treat carpet with a good soil retardant.
10. Nylon - toilet seat anchor bolts, shower head defusers, plumbing washers, drawer glides, applice parts, carpet.
11. Steel - brushed low luster finish, or stainless for sinks, cooktops, appliance doors, bathroom hardware. Be consistent though.
12. Commercial grade vinyl doors that look like wood are the best.
13. Closet rod - not wood, instead use strong commercial stainless steel pipe or galvanized steel pipe but wipe off oil with paint thinner first.
14. Bathrooms - fluorescent light using natural color tubes.
15. Stairway walls should be painted a darker color as many handprints often along there, and have light switches at both the top and the bottom of the stairs.
16. Outside sidewalks adn driveway - slightly crowned in center so water will run off and also not go into the garage/house. Same with outside steps starting away from house. Have gutter/downspouts far away from sidewalks.
17. Hard surface good durable plastic toilet seat.
18. Plywood in garage instead of sheet rock so can set up shelves inside garage. Seal garage floor. Use 4 foot fluorescent light units.
Many of these ideas came from a couple of books I read. One being by Don Aslett and I wish I could remember the title. It was about creating a house that is easy to clean. Some of the ideas I didn't care for, and many can be done after the house is built, but some are better to do as you are building. I do have another book to read this week about Creating Your Dream Home, so perhaps I may have a few more things I want to add but the book looks more like a home-dec book.
Now to our meeting with the builder. He is a very nice guy and is willing to work with us to make it more affordable. The estimate he gave us is about $20,000 more than I was guessing, but then what do I know. I do know that he often doesn't use all of the estimate, in fact, he is noted for not using all the money. Plus he is quicker than many builders and so saves money that way - interest on the loan, etc. He also showed us places we could cut costs and where he had estimated higher than he thinks it will really be. Example: He estimated we would be buying all new appliances, yet we have a brand new washer and dryer, and we don't need a new refrigerator. But we do need a stove/micro combo and the dishwasher. We can do the clean-up after the house is built and that saves money rather than him hiring a professional to do the job. We can do our own painting. We eliminated some windows that we had already planned on eliminating, but hadn't yet told him about. So my next task is to talk to Scott Unger at Wells Fargo on Monday and see what he has to say about the higher estimate and see if he wants us to provide any income documents, etc. Before we hadn't done that as the house we own now is through them and he used that information to pre-qualify us. Then we will sign papers with Ken and fork over a bit of money and get started. So we may break ground next week or the week after. I am soooo excited! We will have to have a picnic out there beforehand like we did at the Columbia River Temple so we can say we were there before "it" is built. Another nice thing about Ken is that it is okay to make changes whereas other builders, what is written down at the beginning is set and nothing can be changed without penalty. Ken told us that he has us check and re-check everything before each step so if we want to make adjustments we can before it is too late. We came home from the meeting with Ken and told the kids that the price was too high and we were going to cut back to a small shack. I don't think they believed us, but Zach, our skeptic declared that he was right in thinking that it is now back to the drawing board with houseplans and we will be still waiting to build years from now.
1. Use the same kind of paint through out the house - can use different colors. Suggestion - good semi gloss enamel latex paint or satin finish.
2. What is my backsplash in bathrooms and kitchen? The higher up the wall the better as it is easier to clean than the wall. I think I am using whater is on the counter.
3. All faucets, fixtures, doorknobs, light switches, hinges, locks, etc. should be the same. Not as each other, but all in the same category.
4. Stove should be outside vented hoor or down draft venting system.
5. Frosted glass is good and so is double-glazed windows.
6. Usage of mirrors is good too.
7. No floor vents, put them in the lower walls instead.
8. Stain and varnish doors is better than paint and same for the wood casings around the door as they are easier to clean than paint. Use the same stain throughout.
9. Treat carpet with a good soil retardant.
10. Nylon - toilet seat anchor bolts, shower head defusers, plumbing washers, drawer glides, applice parts, carpet.
11. Steel - brushed low luster finish, or stainless for sinks, cooktops, appliance doors, bathroom hardware. Be consistent though.
12. Commercial grade vinyl doors that look like wood are the best.
13. Closet rod - not wood, instead use strong commercial stainless steel pipe or galvanized steel pipe but wipe off oil with paint thinner first.
14. Bathrooms - fluorescent light using natural color tubes.
15. Stairway walls should be painted a darker color as many handprints often along there, and have light switches at both the top and the bottom of the stairs.
16. Outside sidewalks adn driveway - slightly crowned in center so water will run off and also not go into the garage/house. Same with outside steps starting away from house. Have gutter/downspouts far away from sidewalks.
17. Hard surface good durable plastic toilet seat.
18. Plywood in garage instead of sheet rock so can set up shelves inside garage. Seal garage floor. Use 4 foot fluorescent light units.
Many of these ideas came from a couple of books I read. One being by Don Aslett and I wish I could remember the title. It was about creating a house that is easy to clean. Some of the ideas I didn't care for, and many can be done after the house is built, but some are better to do as you are building. I do have another book to read this week about Creating Your Dream Home, so perhaps I may have a few more things I want to add but the book looks more like a home-dec book.
Now to our meeting with the builder. He is a very nice guy and is willing to work with us to make it more affordable. The estimate he gave us is about $20,000 more than I was guessing, but then what do I know. I do know that he often doesn't use all of the estimate, in fact, he is noted for not using all the money. Plus he is quicker than many builders and so saves money that way - interest on the loan, etc. He also showed us places we could cut costs and where he had estimated higher than he thinks it will really be. Example: He estimated we would be buying all new appliances, yet we have a brand new washer and dryer, and we don't need a new refrigerator. But we do need a stove/micro combo and the dishwasher. We can do the clean-up after the house is built and that saves money rather than him hiring a professional to do the job. We can do our own painting. We eliminated some windows that we had already planned on eliminating, but hadn't yet told him about. So my next task is to talk to Scott Unger at Wells Fargo on Monday and see what he has to say about the higher estimate and see if he wants us to provide any income documents, etc. Before we hadn't done that as the house we own now is through them and he used that information to pre-qualify us. Then we will sign papers with Ken and fork over a bit of money and get started. So we may break ground next week or the week after. I am soooo excited! We will have to have a picnic out there beforehand like we did at the Columbia River Temple so we can say we were there before "it" is built. Another nice thing about Ken is that it is okay to make changes whereas other builders, what is written down at the beginning is set and nothing can be changed without penalty. Ken told us that he has us check and re-check everything before each step so if we want to make adjustments we can before it is too late. We came home from the meeting with Ken and told the kids that the price was too high and we were going to cut back to a small shack. I don't think they believed us, but Zach, our skeptic declared that he was right in thinking that it is now back to the drawing board with houseplans and we will be still waiting to build years from now.
Other House Notes
1. Yarbrough's suggested doing a light orange peel on the walls. I can't remember what exactly that means, so I guess I had better find out. They also suggested a knockdown ceiling? And they suggested using a 1/2 mix for the ceiling paint. So is that better than using a bright white to match the moldings, etc.
2. No extra side window in the master bedroom. Only the ones along the back wall.
3. Bishop Christensen, our architect, suggested the extra cement slab in the foundation for support since we have such a long back wall that is unbroken.
4. Lots of outlets in basement as well as lights. Perhaps fluorescent lights as they are much brighter than incandescent and probably in the laundry room too. Figure out where we want light switches also. We also want plugs and outlets outside too, and access to being able to put more lights outside if we want, especially near the house for outside fun. Put an outlet above the kitchen cabinets so if want to put any lights for decorations up there there is an easy access to electricity. Also an outlet in the island is nice too - where is a good spot? Outlets in the workbench area too. Extra plugs where we plan to put TV, etc. Not recessed lighting in the basement as it is kind of dark. And an outlet in the pantry.
5. Big basement windows, like the Christensen's have. I need to go and take a picture of their.
6. Rounded corners on the walls.
7. Driveway off at an angle so the distance to the street is the shortest.
8. No wasted space - cabinets, lazy susans, etc. Figure out and discuss with cabinet guys for all places. Double check on their work.
9. Wood wrapped windows are nice but more expensive. How about niches? shelves at end of hallway, etc.?
10. I want two sections of drawers in the kitchen. How many are in the plan? How about cookie sheet cupboard? I don't need a spice rack drawer? Or do I? If so, I would like for it to be higher rather than lower I think.
11. We will need an above stove microwave.
12. Put an in-wall ironing board in the laundry? Do I really want this?
13. Is there wasted space going to be occurring under the stairs?
14. Phone jacks upstairs and down.
15. Trex is a good product for the porch and deck, but how costly is it?
16. Should we extend the patio in the back so it is longer at the back of the house?
17. I want to make sure I have a pull out spray at the kitchen sink. This is a MUST!
18. Do I have the builders put in built-ins in the master closet, or do I do that? I know I want drawers inside both master bedroom and the kids closets so we can eliminate some dressers.
Well - I think that about wraps it up for now. I have a few more notes to add, but have to get school work done with Kaitlin and Conner before I can worry more about this.
2. No extra side window in the master bedroom. Only the ones along the back wall.
3. Bishop Christensen, our architect, suggested the extra cement slab in the foundation for support since we have such a long back wall that is unbroken.
4. Lots of outlets in basement as well as lights. Perhaps fluorescent lights as they are much brighter than incandescent and probably in the laundry room too. Figure out where we want light switches also. We also want plugs and outlets outside too, and access to being able to put more lights outside if we want, especially near the house for outside fun. Put an outlet above the kitchen cabinets so if want to put any lights for decorations up there there is an easy access to electricity. Also an outlet in the island is nice too - where is a good spot? Outlets in the workbench area too. Extra plugs where we plan to put TV, etc. Not recessed lighting in the basement as it is kind of dark. And an outlet in the pantry.
5. Big basement windows, like the Christensen's have. I need to go and take a picture of their.
6. Rounded corners on the walls.
7. Driveway off at an angle so the distance to the street is the shortest.
8. No wasted space - cabinets, lazy susans, etc. Figure out and discuss with cabinet guys for all places. Double check on their work.
9. Wood wrapped windows are nice but more expensive. How about niches? shelves at end of hallway, etc.?
10. I want two sections of drawers in the kitchen. How many are in the plan? How about cookie sheet cupboard? I don't need a spice rack drawer? Or do I? If so, I would like for it to be higher rather than lower I think.
11. We will need an above stove microwave.
12. Put an in-wall ironing board in the laundry? Do I really want this?
13. Is there wasted space going to be occurring under the stairs?
14. Phone jacks upstairs and down.
15. Trex is a good product for the porch and deck, but how costly is it?
16. Should we extend the patio in the back so it is longer at the back of the house?
17. I want to make sure I have a pull out spray at the kitchen sink. This is a MUST!
18. Do I have the builders put in built-ins in the master closet, or do I do that? I know I want drawers inside both master bedroom and the kids closets so we can eliminate some dressers.
Well - I think that about wraps it up for now. I have a few more notes to add, but have to get school work done with Kaitlin and Conner before I can worry more about this.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Details Before I Pack Them
It seems like everytime I turn around someone is asking for something (coat, book, picture, FHE lesson, etc.) that is already packed and in the storage unit. Oh, well! So I figured I had better write down information about the house before those papers get packed too. Besides, tomorrow we have an appointment with our builder, Ken Gale, to go over the building estimate of our home. His address is 1775 Boston St., so I have to remember to turn left on Alder from Van Giesen. How scary is that?
I asked Sara Stephenson to look at the choices that Brad and I had made in regards to our house and she said they all matched really well - too well. Everything would be near the same color or the same shades and we would find it boring after just a short while. She suggested we put in some contrasting colors. When I asked her to go shopping with me she very kindly went along and gave me great words of wisdom. Here are my notes: (so if they get packed later - I know right where to go.)
1. At Juan Palomino's Premier Wood we decided to use beech wood for the cabinets throughout the house (bathrooms, kitchen, laundry). And we decided to go with the natural finish. It is very light, but will be a great contrast to the wood floors that Brad and I picked out previously. The style of cabinets will be Shaker style and we will be using long handles (Brad and I saw similar on display at Lowes.) and extended edges. I need to check with them about what kind of cabinets they will be putting in the kids bathroom on the main floor. No soffits, varied look at the top, but I can't remember what I picked for that - I think it was pretty standard.
2. Luke's carpet - We changed the carpet color to a slightly different shade. The carpet will be in the living room and down the stairs. The color we are going with is called French Bread and is number 143. And we also changed to colors of the counters in the 4 rooms we have counters. The kitchen and laundry room will be Baltic Granite formica with an etched finish 3691-46 and the two bathrooms will be Wilsonart Laminate Granite 4550-01 and we want rounded edges on the counters so no sharp points for Conner to run into. We kept the tiles in the master bath and vinyl flooring the same. (I should check if the vinyl is all one piece rather than a bunch of squares as I would rather have all one piece. The vinyl is in the two bathrooms and in the laundry room. Wood floor is in the master closet though, just like the bedroom closets even though the master closet is off of the bathroom.
3. Lumberman's - I think I need to go back talk to Mitch Taylor and look at the doors we picked to make sure they match each other. I want the bedroom door and the closet doors to be similar to the cabinets - in the Shaker style (2 flat panels, or 6to match the front door) and in the same color. What color are the knobs? Should they be stainless steel to match the kitchen sink handles and bathroom sink handles, etc. or the brushed antique satin nickel that Brad picked out for the front door? I think they should all be the same - so I need to check on this, but does it really matter - at least the knobs and handles should be the same, so maybe not fixtures? Should the front door be the same color as the wood floor or as the kitchen cabinets? The pantry door and the pocket door should also be like the kitchen cabinets - so I do need to make that change as I know that isn't what we told the guy originally.
4. Lowes - We picked out paint and I am sure I can't remember everything exactly, so when we get to that part of the job I will have to consult with my expert again. We decided on using a variation of Valspar Seaside Retreat paint with colors Cottage Stone SR401, Sailcloth SR101, Stonecastle SR301, and Shallow Tide SR208 for the master bedroom and bathrooms. And for the kitchen/family room area we picked out Valspar Seaside Retreat Malibu Dune SR212 for the dining/family room part and light khaki SR302 for the kitchen. They seem kind of dark to us, so I don't know. And I can't remember what colors we were doing living room, laundry, hall and bedrooms in, and I didn't write it down.
Things I want to make sure to put into the plan - light and plug in the laundry room closet, ceiling fans in family room and other?, lots of lights and plugs, where are the phone jacks, door stops, bathroom rods with screws on outside rather than inside, make sure there is plenty of space to take big TV and pool table down into the basement or else want to put them down there before the mainfloor is put down, lots of lights outside especially in the back yard and want a large security light out there as well, the wall by the stairs is part full wall and part half wall, molding and French doors and ceiling should be painted bright white (if molding is white shouldn't base boards be white too?), order an extra box of wood flooring so if get a scratch someday will have a piece to replace it with.
Other Ideas to Consider: Built in lockers of cubbies for coats and shoes in the garage, Audio prewired as well as for possibility of theatre and video games in basement, stained concrete basement floor, full-extension drawer glides in drawers, pull-outs in cupboards, skylight, can part of the mechanical room be under the stairs?, polyrock or some kind of stone work along the front.
Well - I have other stuff I can add to this post, but it is on the other computer so I will wait and add that information tomorrow, and hopefully a house plan too.
Oh, and by the way, Erin got a job at the Sonic that is going to open on Road 68. She is so excited as she is now getting paid to roller skate!
I asked Sara Stephenson to look at the choices that Brad and I had made in regards to our house and she said they all matched really well - too well. Everything would be near the same color or the same shades and we would find it boring after just a short while. She suggested we put in some contrasting colors. When I asked her to go shopping with me she very kindly went along and gave me great words of wisdom. Here are my notes: (so if they get packed later - I know right where to go.)
1. At Juan Palomino's Premier Wood we decided to use beech wood for the cabinets throughout the house (bathrooms, kitchen, laundry). And we decided to go with the natural finish. It is very light, but will be a great contrast to the wood floors that Brad and I picked out previously. The style of cabinets will be Shaker style and we will be using long handles (Brad and I saw similar on display at Lowes.) and extended edges. I need to check with them about what kind of cabinets they will be putting in the kids bathroom on the main floor. No soffits, varied look at the top, but I can't remember what I picked for that - I think it was pretty standard.
2. Luke's carpet - We changed the carpet color to a slightly different shade. The carpet will be in the living room and down the stairs. The color we are going with is called French Bread and is number 143. And we also changed to colors of the counters in the 4 rooms we have counters. The kitchen and laundry room will be Baltic Granite formica with an etched finish 3691-46 and the two bathrooms will be Wilsonart Laminate Granite 4550-01 and we want rounded edges on the counters so no sharp points for Conner to run into. We kept the tiles in the master bath and vinyl flooring the same. (I should check if the vinyl is all one piece rather than a bunch of squares as I would rather have all one piece. The vinyl is in the two bathrooms and in the laundry room. Wood floor is in the master closet though, just like the bedroom closets even though the master closet is off of the bathroom.
3. Lumberman's - I think I need to go back talk to Mitch Taylor and look at the doors we picked to make sure they match each other. I want the bedroom door and the closet doors to be similar to the cabinets - in the Shaker style (2 flat panels, or 6to match the front door) and in the same color. What color are the knobs? Should they be stainless steel to match the kitchen sink handles and bathroom sink handles, etc. or the brushed antique satin nickel that Brad picked out for the front door? I think they should all be the same - so I need to check on this, but does it really matter - at least the knobs and handles should be the same, so maybe not fixtures? Should the front door be the same color as the wood floor or as the kitchen cabinets? The pantry door and the pocket door should also be like the kitchen cabinets - so I do need to make that change as I know that isn't what we told the guy originally.
4. Lowes - We picked out paint and I am sure I can't remember everything exactly, so when we get to that part of the job I will have to consult with my expert again. We decided on using a variation of Valspar Seaside Retreat paint with colors Cottage Stone SR401, Sailcloth SR101, Stonecastle SR301, and Shallow Tide SR208 for the master bedroom and bathrooms. And for the kitchen/family room area we picked out Valspar Seaside Retreat Malibu Dune SR212 for the dining/family room part and light khaki SR302 for the kitchen. They seem kind of dark to us, so I don't know. And I can't remember what colors we were doing living room, laundry, hall and bedrooms in, and I didn't write it down.
Things I want to make sure to put into the plan - light and plug in the laundry room closet, ceiling fans in family room and other?, lots of lights and plugs, where are the phone jacks, door stops, bathroom rods with screws on outside rather than inside, make sure there is plenty of space to take big TV and pool table down into the basement or else want to put them down there before the mainfloor is put down, lots of lights outside especially in the back yard and want a large security light out there as well, the wall by the stairs is part full wall and part half wall, molding and French doors and ceiling should be painted bright white (if molding is white shouldn't base boards be white too?), order an extra box of wood flooring so if get a scratch someday will have a piece to replace it with.
Other Ideas to Consider: Built in lockers of cubbies for coats and shoes in the garage, Audio prewired as well as for possibility of theatre and video games in basement, stained concrete basement floor, full-extension drawer glides in drawers, pull-outs in cupboards, skylight, can part of the mechanical room be under the stairs?, polyrock or some kind of stone work along the front.
Well - I have other stuff I can add to this post, but it is on the other computer so I will wait and add that information tomorrow, and hopefully a house plan too.
Oh, and by the way, Erin got a job at the Sonic that is going to open on Road 68. She is so excited as she is now getting paid to roller skate!
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