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| Basement Purple Laundry Room |
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| Basement Half Bath to Marston's Man Cave |
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| Second Floor Full Bath - Colours inspired by '56 Belair salmon & grey |
Showing posts with label River House. Show all posts
Showing posts with label River House. Show all posts
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Paint Colours Unveiled
Last week we finally started laying the tile. Three of four rooms have been completed with the grout to be finished in the fourth room, tomorrow. The difference is amazing! Looking forward to having the rest of the tile completed in the next couple of months. Checkout how the new tile coordinates with the room colours. I think they look fantastic!
New Kitchen
My new kitchen counter-tops and sink were installed today (for the
second time) and I love them. If the kitchen is the heart of the home -
we now have a pulse. There are so many details to complete before the
kitchen is done but looking at it just makes me want to start cooking
something. There are days when the process defeats you and then there are days when you know it will be done. It is starting to finally look like a home.
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| Counter-Top Closeup |
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| View From the Basement Door |
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| View From the Patio Door |
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| View From the Stairs |
Look for updates in future blogs.
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| Island with custom platter storage. Love! |
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| Drawers in the toe kick - a customer feature. |
Monday, January 16, 2012
It is not what I said but how I said it!
We spent the summer dry-walling our home only to have to tear most of it out and start over. For the second attempt I hired a company from Greenville, based on a recommended from Ken Fairchild. (A friend of mine who just happens to be a really great builder.) After a walk through to survey the job, Carlos and I agreed to a price. The start date was yet to be determined because we were still completing repairs from Irene's visit.
After all the repairs were made, it was time for Carols and his crew to come in and work some magic. At the end of week one, the house is looking great: real progress has been made. It is Friday and time to give Carlos the first payment installment. He requests that the cheque be made payable to his wife. (Of course I agree and in the memo line I record who the payment is to and what for.) So there I am writing the cheque - Me, Carlos and my carpenter. Everyone is staring at the chequebook, you could hear a pin drop. I felt I needed to make conversation - it was just too quiet.
I ask, "Do you always give you wife all your money?"
Carlos replies, "Yes!"
I am laughing as I ask, "But she gives you some?"
He responds, "Yes, I have two sons and my wife, she is pregnant again."
We were instantly back to the awkward silence. I have worked with my carpenter for over three years and we have never discussed anything this personal. We exchanged a look and then busted out laughing at the situation. Carlos did not seem to find it all that funny. There he was proud of his family accomplishments and we couldn't stop laughing.
I felt obligated to explain that I meant, "Does she give you some of the money?"
To which he replied, "Yes, she gives me some of that also!"
Moral of the Story
Be careful when making inquiries about "some" because sometimes "some" is more than you were asking for.
After all the repairs were made, it was time for Carols and his crew to come in and work some magic. At the end of week one, the house is looking great: real progress has been made. It is Friday and time to give Carlos the first payment installment. He requests that the cheque be made payable to his wife. (Of course I agree and in the memo line I record who the payment is to and what for.) So there I am writing the cheque - Me, Carlos and my carpenter. Everyone is staring at the chequebook, you could hear a pin drop. I felt I needed to make conversation - it was just too quiet.
I ask, "Do you always give you wife all your money?"
Carlos replies, "Yes!"
I am laughing as I ask, "But she gives you some?"
He responds, "Yes, I have two sons and my wife, she is pregnant again."
We were instantly back to the awkward silence. I have worked with my carpenter for over three years and we have never discussed anything this personal. We exchanged a look and then busted out laughing at the situation. Carlos did not seem to find it all that funny. There he was proud of his family accomplishments and we couldn't stop laughing.
I felt obligated to explain that I meant, "Does she give you some of the money?"
To which he replied, "Yes, she gives me some of that also!"
Moral of the Story
Be careful when making inquiries about "some" because sometimes "some" is more than you were asking for.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
River View - Preserving Our Shoreline & Beach
When we bought the property the bulkhead needed to be replaced. It had collapsed and was beyond repair. Tree removal and bulkhead replacement were our first two priories on our list of hurricane preparations. Within a month of home ownership 22 large trees (pine & sweet gum) had been removed. Next came the bulkhead. Permits from were obtained and by the end of August our shoreline was ready for hurricane season. Thankfully it was not tested that first year. In 2011, Irene visited and her storm serge topped our bulkhead. When the waters receded we had lost some sod but everything, including our shoreline was still intact.
May 2010 Before Repair
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| The view towards New Bern. |
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| Our sandy beach with the failed bulkhead. |
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| The pilings had actually broken allowing the bank to erode toward the river. |
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| The operation requires a floating mini-excavator. View of the new bulkhead and jetty at high tide. |
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| Closeup of new bulkhead - A double wall of pilings placed immediately in-front of the original bulkhead. Part of the repair included the reinforcement of the original bulkhead and repair of the original jetty. |
November 2011 River View
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
What Happened to Customer Service?
Do you ever feel like good customer service is a thing of the past? Perhaps it is the consumers fault because we accept it. Maybe it is the cost to consumers for lower prices. Sometimes it is like a hostage situation where we are forced to buy from the only store locally that sells a desired item. The reasons for this acceptance will vary but one thing is certain, we all have experienced poor customer service. Day five of the flu and my spirits are running a bit low. I woke-up this morning and realized I needed to perk-up. I decided I needed to get my day started so I called Gary over at East Carolina Paint Centre and asked him if he would mind mixing some paint for me to pick-up? Of course he was happy too. Okay, so far, so good - I decided to get ready for my daily adventure. Before I left the house I checked my blog, e-mail, Facebook, etc. Lots of positive messages about the blog and "feel better wishes". (Big thanks to everyone who sent them.) Finally I was ready to go out and greet the world.
First stop on today's mission was the paint store. Customer service at its very best. Gary was coming out to the car with the paint before I even had a chance to kill the engine. He was worried I was too sick to come-in for it. I could have hugged him. Ironically my way of thanks would have brought him in closer contact to my germs (not a great way to repay someone for their kindness.)
Next stop the river house. Checked on today's plans and discussed closet ideas with the guys. Everything looks great and progress is apparent. The journey continuous with a visit to John Micheal's Jewellery on Trent Road. There I am greeted by name. I bought my husband a new-to-him ring for Christmas from an auction and needed to have it inspected for loose and/or damaged stones. For $10 I bought the piece of mind that the ring is fine, along with two watch batteries (happily installed). Another great experience on the journey to a great day.
Then I got a phone call. It was my husband calling to check on me and asking me out to lunch. I knew instantly I wanted to go over to Thai Thai on Neuse Boulevard. They have the best lunch buffet ever. I arrived before Marston and was greet with, "Nice to see you is your husband also coming?" I replied and was immediately led to a table where I was asked, "Would this table be alright?" Of course it was. Next question, "Did you want your usual drinks?" We go there a couple of times a month for lunch and the guy remembers what we like to drink. Needless to say everything about this experience was fantastic.
The moral of the story. Poor customer service experiences can often be eliminated by supporting the local businesses who have a vested interest in providing the very best service possible. Sadly, there are a few owner/operators who haven't realized this vital business secrete. Shop local: get to know your local business owners and support the local economy. I think you will be pleasantly be surprised by the people you'll meet. Those who say a small town has nothing to offer them - need to take a second look.
Best
FYI - Check today's new post on the project page.
First stop on today's mission was the paint store. Customer service at its very best. Gary was coming out to the car with the paint before I even had a chance to kill the engine. He was worried I was too sick to come-in for it. I could have hugged him. Ironically my way of thanks would have brought him in closer contact to my germs (not a great way to repay someone for their kindness.)
Next stop the river house. Checked on today's plans and discussed closet ideas with the guys. Everything looks great and progress is apparent. The journey continuous with a visit to John Micheal's Jewellery on Trent Road. There I am greeted by name. I bought my husband a new-to-him ring for Christmas from an auction and needed to have it inspected for loose and/or damaged stones. For $10 I bought the piece of mind that the ring is fine, along with two watch batteries (happily installed). Another great experience on the journey to a great day.
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| Hubby's New Bling |
Then I got a phone call. It was my husband calling to check on me and asking me out to lunch. I knew instantly I wanted to go over to Thai Thai on Neuse Boulevard. They have the best lunch buffet ever. I arrived before Marston and was greet with, "Nice to see you is your husband also coming?" I replied and was immediately led to a table where I was asked, "Would this table be alright?" Of course it was. Next question, "Did you want your usual drinks?" We go there a couple of times a month for lunch and the guy remembers what we like to drink. Needless to say everything about this experience was fantastic.
The moral of the story. Poor customer service experiences can often be eliminated by supporting the local businesses who have a vested interest in providing the very best service possible. Sadly, there are a few owner/operators who haven't realized this vital business secrete. Shop local: get to know your local business owners and support the local economy. I think you will be pleasantly be surprised by the people you'll meet. Those who say a small town has nothing to offer them - need to take a second look.
Best
FYI - Check today's new post on the project page.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Another Closet
Little progress was made today. It is day four of the flu and honestly I am ready to move past it. The final touches on the kitchen island started this afternoon and will be finished tomorrow in preparation for the counter tops being re-installed on Thursday. They had to removed and placed in storage so we could fix hurricane damage. I eagerly wait our reunion.
Closet design progress has been slow. Final plans for the Yellow Bedroom's closet are done. Meanwhile I keep re-drawing and configuring our Master Bedroom closet. The problem is that it is huge closet with hard to use space (it has two large windows in it). Not exactly what I would have planned but I am trying to make the best of it. A couple of possible designs have emerged but nothing that screams - This is it!
The good news is that another closet design has been completed. The bad news is that I created two plans for it and have to choose between the two. This bedroom would be perfect guest room or child's room. At this point some may be questioning: Why go to all this trouble for a room that may never get much use? Which is a great point but the truth is resale. Really great closets and storage spaces (along with great kitchens and bathrooms) helps sell houses. Marston says this is our last house and I hope he is right. But I am leaving all our options for resale open just in case he changes his mind.
Basically the bulk of the material will be IKEA products with upgraded hardware and a few personal touches added. To start designing your own closet system visit their website http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/19086/tab/pax_planner/
Closet design progress has been slow. Final plans for the Yellow Bedroom's closet are done. Meanwhile I keep re-drawing and configuring our Master Bedroom closet. The problem is that it is huge closet with hard to use space (it has two large windows in it). Not exactly what I would have planned but I am trying to make the best of it. A couple of possible designs have emerged but nothing that screams - This is it!
The good news is that another closet design has been completed. The bad news is that I created two plans for it and have to choose between the two. This bedroom would be perfect guest room or child's room. At this point some may be questioning: Why go to all this trouble for a room that may never get much use? Which is a great point but the truth is resale. Really great closets and storage spaces (along with great kitchens and bathrooms) helps sell houses. Marston says this is our last house and I hope he is right. But I am leaving all our options for resale open just in case he changes his mind.
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| Option 1 - Has drawers possibly eliminating the need for a dresser in the room. |
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| Option 2 - Has lots of short rod storage and is less expensive to build than option 1. |
Basically the bulk of the material will be IKEA products with upgraded hardware and a few personal touches added. To start designing your own closet system visit their website http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/19086/tab/pax_planner/
Monday, January 9, 2012
Foyer Closet Design
The foyer closet design was created using the IKEA website and thus their products. Other items will be added, like hooks for keys and a pullout rack for scarfs. One of the nice things about moving locally is the ability to relocate "areas" from one house to the other, one at a time. Unpacking into an organized space should make getting used to the new house easier and faster. Visit http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/19086/tab/pax_planner/ to plan your own IKEA closet.
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| River House - Foyer Closet |
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Potty Training
There are different reasons to want to conserve water. Admittedly ours was because of the price. Our water bill is not very expensive but our sewer is billed at three times the actual gallons of water used. This gets expensive. It makes you think twice about watering the lawn and garden. The plan for the new house includes ways to make it more efficient.
The River House has five bathrooms, which doesn't sound efficient for two people. Being someone who likes to reuse things I debated on keeping a couple of the existing toilets but the water consumption for 1960s model is much higher than modern toilets. One toilet was missing from the house prior to purchase so I knew I would have to buy at least one. Then there were the pink and brown toilets that worked but were PINK and BROWN. After having saved all the toilets on our lawn for about six months, a decision was finally made to replace all of them. Two have been purchased. Today I began the search for the remaining three. The most interesting find of the day is a toilet and hand sink all-in-one combination. Trust me this is better than it sounds.
Many people go to their local box discount centre and select something pretty, which is ironic considering what it is used for. Some shoppers are worried about water usage. But the number one thing most people are concerned about seems to be the height of the toilet. If I was a tall person I think I would want a tall toilet. Being 5'2" I personally don't like the ones I have to "climb" to get on. I assumed other under-tall people would feel the same way but this does not appear to be the case.
I recently visited a local bathroom showroom to checkout the toilets. I was immediately greeted by the salesperson (lets call her Sally). Sally asked me how she could help me today. I replied that I was interested in finding toilets for my house. Everything was going great until I said the word toilet. Her smile changed. She looked at me like she was in the process of smelling a dirty toilet. After she recovered from my blasphemy, the smile returned as she informed me, "I would be happy to show you the commodes." I knew I was probably in the wrong store but decided to continue the search. Tensions subsided and Sally seemed to have forgiven my lack of social graces. She showed me all of the floor models and told me their special features. (Yes they have special features but that is another story.) I was invited to sit on some of their most popular (expensive) models. There I am feeling completely ridiculous taking the showroom commode for a test drive (albeit a dry run) when I am asked, "How does it feel?" I really had to pause and take a moment to respond. I know the salesperson was being very nice and trying hard to sell the product but really - how does it feel? My lack of response encouraged additional questions. "How does it fit? Don't you just love the comfort height?" Not knowing have to tactfully answer questions about how a toilet makes me feel or fits me, I went with the height. I looked down at my dangling feet that couldn't touch the floor as I responded that it was too high! I figured she would instantly understand because she was about 5' tall. Sally was not deterred. She was helpful. She explained I was just not used to the comfort height and needed to practice. She assured me that once I got used to the comfort height I would realize how hard the standard height is to sit-on . Try to keep a straight face; take all this seriously; and don't be insulted because she was very nice about the whole thing. I left without buying a toilet. I mean honestly, how could I buy a toilet from a woman who just told me I need to practice using the toilet and then confessed she has trouble sitting on it herself?
1) Meet the Royal Granada 1018 Contemporary Toilet.
This was our first toilet purchase and will be in one of the half-baths. At the time of purchase it was most competitively priced by Overstock.com, who also offers Club O Members free oversize freight shipping and reward dollars toward future purchases. Being that we have not installed this toilet yet, I am unable to tell you how it makes me feel at this time. Please stayed tuned for future updates.
For additional information about this product please visit the following web address. http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Royal-Granada-1018-Contemporary-Toilet/2923549/product.html
2) Introducing the Porcher 97010-11 Solutions 1.6 to 0.8 Wall Mounted Dual Flush Toilet.
This fine specimen was purchased for the basement half-bath. I made the decision to purchase this model based on the reviews and the instillation video on YouTube. I was impressed. I would tell you how I really feel but I am sure my true feelings will be better expressed after I get to use it. I purchased it online from Build.com who at the time offered the most competitive price and free shipping.
For additional information about this product please visit the following web address.
http://www.build.com/porcher-97010-11-solutions-1-6-to-8-gpf-wall-mounted-dual-flush-toilet/p1379427
I can hardly wait to buy the next three toilets. Today I identified several possibilities but none of them has made me feel the urge . . . to buy. I still have reviews to read, prices to compare and special features to learn about. In the end the search will have yielded five stylish, low-water usage toilets of various heights (because you never know when a tall person is coming to visit).
Ciao!
The River House has five bathrooms, which doesn't sound efficient for two people. Being someone who likes to reuse things I debated on keeping a couple of the existing toilets but the water consumption for 1960s model is much higher than modern toilets. One toilet was missing from the house prior to purchase so I knew I would have to buy at least one. Then there were the pink and brown toilets that worked but were PINK and BROWN. After having saved all the toilets on our lawn for about six months, a decision was finally made to replace all of them. Two have been purchased. Today I began the search for the remaining three. The most interesting find of the day is a toilet and hand sink all-in-one combination. Trust me this is better than it sounds.
Many people go to their local box discount centre and select something pretty, which is ironic considering what it is used for. Some shoppers are worried about water usage. But the number one thing most people are concerned about seems to be the height of the toilet. If I was a tall person I think I would want a tall toilet. Being 5'2" I personally don't like the ones I have to "climb" to get on. I assumed other under-tall people would feel the same way but this does not appear to be the case.
I recently visited a local bathroom showroom to checkout the toilets. I was immediately greeted by the salesperson (lets call her Sally). Sally asked me how she could help me today. I replied that I was interested in finding toilets for my house. Everything was going great until I said the word toilet. Her smile changed. She looked at me like she was in the process of smelling a dirty toilet. After she recovered from my blasphemy, the smile returned as she informed me, "I would be happy to show you the commodes." I knew I was probably in the wrong store but decided to continue the search. Tensions subsided and Sally seemed to have forgiven my lack of social graces. She showed me all of the floor models and told me their special features. (Yes they have special features but that is another story.) I was invited to sit on some of their most popular (expensive) models. There I am feeling completely ridiculous taking the showroom commode for a test drive (albeit a dry run) when I am asked, "How does it feel?" I really had to pause and take a moment to respond. I know the salesperson was being very nice and trying hard to sell the product but really - how does it feel? My lack of response encouraged additional questions. "How does it fit? Don't you just love the comfort height?" Not knowing have to tactfully answer questions about how a toilet makes me feel or fits me, I went with the height. I looked down at my dangling feet that couldn't touch the floor as I responded that it was too high! I figured she would instantly understand because she was about 5' tall. Sally was not deterred. She was helpful. She explained I was just not used to the comfort height and needed to practice. She assured me that once I got used to the comfort height I would realize how hard the standard height is to sit-on . Try to keep a straight face; take all this seriously; and don't be insulted because she was very nice about the whole thing. I left without buying a toilet. I mean honestly, how could I buy a toilet from a woman who just told me I need to practice using the toilet and then confessed she has trouble sitting on it herself?
1) Meet the Royal Granada 1018 Contemporary Toilet.
This was our first toilet purchase and will be in one of the half-baths. At the time of purchase it was most competitively priced by Overstock.com, who also offers Club O Members free oversize freight shipping and reward dollars toward future purchases. Being that we have not installed this toilet yet, I am unable to tell you how it makes me feel at this time. Please stayed tuned for future updates.
For additional information about this product please visit the following web address. http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Royal-Granada-1018-Contemporary-Toilet/2923549/product.html
2) Introducing the Porcher 97010-11 Solutions 1.6 to 0.8 Wall Mounted Dual Flush Toilet.
This fine specimen was purchased for the basement half-bath. I made the decision to purchase this model based on the reviews and the instillation video on YouTube. I was impressed. I would tell you how I really feel but I am sure my true feelings will be better expressed after I get to use it. I purchased it online from Build.com who at the time offered the most competitive price and free shipping.
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| Porcher as seen on the Build.com website. |
For additional information about this product please visit the following web address.
http://www.build.com/porcher-97010-11-solutions-1-6-to-8-gpf-wall-mounted-dual-flush-toilet/p1379427
I can hardly wait to buy the next three toilets. Today I identified several possibilities but none of them has made me feel the urge . . . to buy. I still have reviews to read, prices to compare and special features to learn about. In the end the search will have yielded five stylish, low-water usage toilets of various heights (because you never know when a tall person is coming to visit).
 |
| All-in-one sink & toilet. http://dornob.com/space-saving-sink-and-toilet-combined-design/ |
Ciao!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
River House Introduction
After two days of paint some of you may be wondering were I am going with the blog. The better question is where is all the paint going. In May of 2010 my husband and I bought our first home together. It was marketed as "move-in-ready" but . . . other than us I don't know who would have bought it. Basically we bought the property and they threw in the house for free. I remember the conversation where I stated it would be two years before we would live in the new house. Naysayers thought I was exaggerating. I was almost wrong. Everyone likes to be right but this was a time I wish I was wrong. Fast forward to August 2011. The house is ahead of schedule and if we push hard we might just be in for Christmas. Everything is coming together. Then we had an unfortunate visit from Irene. (Not to discriminate against all those wonderful women named Irene but I may not feel warm and fuzzy if you stop by for a visit.) Some house guests leave you with lasting memories and Irene was no exception. For those not "in the know" Irene was a hurricane. The large tree through my roof was a house warming gift I would gladly have returned. After this happened I realized how Blessed I am. We were not living there yet and were fully insured. We were safe at our current house. We lost no personal belongings. There are people whose homes were destroyed who still have no where to live. It will be years before everyone in this region is fully recovered. The good news is we are recovered from our storm damage and moving forward. We should be able to move in this Spring.
The journey has been amazing. I am sure there are lots of folks who have experienced everything we have experienced. I know our story is not unique. Then there are those who may benefit from our experiences. Finally there is our family and friends who have been waiting forever to see the pictures. I like to think that at the end of our journey Marston will look at me and tell me he would do it all again. At this point I would still answer me too!
Remodeling a house is a full-time job. Maybe it isn't if you hire a general contractor but we didn't do that. This is my second house remodel and by far the more aggressive of the two. Walls will fall. Surprises beyond your wildest dreams wait for you behind the drywall and under the sub-floor. Things a home inspector is never going to find because they cannot see inside walls and just when you think there is nothing left to find - surprise more bad news. In the beginning there should have been a bulldozer party to raise our "Dream Home." The reality is we fixed it.
I know what you are thinking, "It looks like a nice house."
Update: For everyone who was disappointed about me not discussing paint - this is for you! The paint started going on the walls today and it looks fantastic. So far we have a red bathroom, a purple laundry room and we will be able to add a pink bathroom to the list before the day is over. I was hesitant to use bold colours because they were not popular. I have never been accused (nor will be) of being popular. I don't shop for the latest fashions and I don't by trendy furnishings: I buy what I like. This includes the 50 cent blue jeans (church sale) I am currently wearing. Deciding to rising above the negativity of everything associated with "popular" is freeing. Ironically I didn't even realize I was being influenced. Reflection is such a luxury.
Ciao!
The journey has been amazing. I am sure there are lots of folks who have experienced everything we have experienced. I know our story is not unique. Then there are those who may benefit from our experiences. Finally there is our family and friends who have been waiting forever to see the pictures. I like to think that at the end of our journey Marston will look at me and tell me he would do it all again. At this point I would still answer me too!
Remodeling a house is a full-time job. Maybe it isn't if you hire a general contractor but we didn't do that. This is my second house remodel and by far the more aggressive of the two. Walls will fall. Surprises beyond your wildest dreams wait for you behind the drywall and under the sub-floor. Things a home inspector is never going to find because they cannot see inside walls and just when you think there is nothing left to find - surprise more bad news. In the beginning there should have been a bulldozer party to raise our "Dream Home." The reality is we fixed it.
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| May 2010 River View |
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| May 2010 - We had 22 trees removed in June. (Orange tape marks trees to be removed.) We were worried that future hurricanes would blow them over. Ironically it was our neighbour's tree that hit the house during Irene. |
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| Close-up May 2010 |
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| April 2010 |
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| May 2010 Close-up of window and balcony. Where one stops the other begins. |
Update: For everyone who was disappointed about me not discussing paint - this is for you! The paint started going on the walls today and it looks fantastic. So far we have a red bathroom, a purple laundry room and we will be able to add a pink bathroom to the list before the day is over. I was hesitant to use bold colours because they were not popular. I have never been accused (nor will be) of being popular. I don't shop for the latest fashions and I don't by trendy furnishings: I buy what I like. This includes the 50 cent blue jeans (church sale) I am currently wearing. Deciding to rising above the negativity of everything associated with "popular" is freeing. Ironically I didn't even realize I was being influenced. Reflection is such a luxury.
Ciao!
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