Another quick update! Solar panels!

The first out of what will be 13 photo-voltaic panels was set on the roof today. We expect these panels to generate enough electricity for all our needs PLUS give us a small monthly check back from the power company for the excess electricity we produce. That is, until we invest in an electric car, but even then we expect to be able to generate all the electricity we need. We'll see...

The tilers are just finishing up in the bathrooms. We found an old clawfoot tub that we had reconditioned and will put in the casita bathroom. They've moved it upstairs (it weighs several hundreds of pounds!) and will set it tomorrow.

The plumbers, HVAC and electricians are expecting their work to be inspected by the City tomorrow. Fingers crossed that everyone gets a gold star. :) Also, the outdoor kitchen should be complete by the end of tomorrow (Friday). Who knows...maybe I'll just have to give the grill a whirl this weekend!

Stair rails and countertops

Just a couple of quick updates...the stairs have been installed and sanded...oak treads. The metal, powder-coated rails have been manufactured and are now being installed.

stair rails installed

And they started the installation of the concrete counter tops today. Here is a shot from the main kitchen. Hopefully I will have more shots of counter tops soon! They look great with the IKEA cabinets. And we are very excited to see that we've graduated from a 1.5 butt kitchen (previous house) to a full 4-butt kitchen! :)

Lots happening now!

Just back from a trip to Champaign and lots of things happening at the house. First off, they started the roof. It will be a standing seal metal roof, silver in color.

Roof started

 
The front wall has had its first of two coats of stucco (brown coat). The color coat, which will match the house, will be applied once the brown coat has dried.

Wall gets first coat of stucco

You probably also noticed that the front gate shade structure has been installed. This will get stained the same color as the other outside wood beams soon. There will be a nice gate made from all reclaimed wood that will be hanging there soon.

Front gate shade structure

Looking through the shade structure

They also started to install flooring upstairs. In the main house we have cork flooring. Here is a nice photo.

Cork flooring upstairs

Then we went over to see our concrete-meister, Joseph Austin, who is busy grinding the concrete countertops for the kitchens and baths.  In a word...gorgeous! We love how the recycled glass and natural rock aggregate comes out with the grinding. And Joseph puts some loving care and pride into his work. See for yourself!

Main kitchen--cocoa with recycled glass

Joseph grinding away!

KP2 bath counter-black with natural aggregate exposed

We are still targeting getting our certificate of occupancy on Feb. 1 with hopes of moving in that weekend. It's coming fast now!

More cabinets, more tile, more lights!

Karin Lynn did more cabinet installation today. Below are photos of the pantry in the main kitchen (I've never had a pantry...and am so excited!!) and a book shelf and wine rack. She's heading back tomorrow to do more cabinets while I join the Women Riding Well gals for a ride. :)

Pantry main kitchen

book case and wine rack

Good tiling progress was made today as well. They are doing the floors of all the showers and the floors of the baths too. Here are photos of each of the baths.

Bath in casita

Guest bath

KP2 bath

And finally, more light fixtures were placed today. We got some great LED spot lights for our art work and the first outside light was mounted today. See below.

LED spot lights for art

Outdoor light fixtures

Isn't it gorgeous? :)

I am headed to Champaign next week for work so won't get to see progress on the house for another whole week. Here is what we expect will be happening: baseboards will be placed throughout house; tiling including grouting will be complete; all light fixtures in and out placed; roof to be started on Thursday; HVAC system installed; and lots more. I sort of hate to leave...but it will be fun seeing so much more progress complete when I return. To my friends in Champaign...see you soon!

Let there be lights!

Many of the overhead light fixtures were installed yesterday. We selected these months ago so it was sort of a surprise to see them installed. The good news is we still liked them and they looked good! here are a few photos of our lights.

guest bedroom light

dining room and kitchen bar lights

Light in KP2 bedroom

 

 

 

 

Casita bedroom light

Most of our lights are LED with a few CFLs. No incandescent which will save on a lot of electricity usage.

Here is another update on tiling. This is the casita bathroom. A real luxury we indulged in is heat mats in the bathrooms. So no more icy cold tile bathroom floors!

 We got a small, old clawfoot tub that will stand in the shower area...at least until we are all too old to climb into a clawfoot tub! then we will remove and it will simply be a shower.

Also, here is an update on Karin's kitchen cabinet installation. She is nearly finished with the casita kitchen (see below) and is moving on to the main kitchen.

Casita kitchen cabinets

Finally, there was good progress made on the front wall. This will be covered with the same Cottonwood color stucco to match the house. the wall is not all the same height, which we think provides interest, views, while still providing some privacy. Here are some progress shots.

front wall outside casita

front wall outside main house

So you can see there is a lot going on right now! Unfortunately the roof installation has not started yet which concerns us because once the roof is in, they have to install the photo-voltaic panels and solar hot water...which is quite a bit of work. But we remain confident that we will be moving in early Feb.

First kitchen cabinets fully installed

Many of you know that we opted to go with IKEA cabinets over custom built. Our good friends Bettina and Al remodeled their kitchen recently using IKEA and we were totally sold. Not only are they a great value, but they are solid, look good and are very "green."

Well, Karin Lynn and our friend and master craftsman, Pete, assembled all the cabinet boxes a couple months ago. Our contractors just got them all hung last week and now Karin (and maybe soon Pete!) is installing all the internal drawers, carousels and shelves and then hanging the outside doors and panels. Here are a couple of photos of her early work.

We selected some nice pulls and knobs in rubbed antique bronze that will be put on at the end. But I think they look fabulous! :)

Also the third/final coat of stucco (color coat) is finished and drying. Here is a good shot of it. You can see that it is darker where it is still wet.

And finally...although it has nothing to do with construction...here is a photo of me and my new road bike! A Novara Carema Pro...fits me great (XS frame) and I feel so fast! ;) When I am not riding the Bosque Bikeway, this will be proudly hanging in our bike barn (aka garage). :)

Progress on tile!

Our tilers made good progress on tiling the three baths this week. Still work to be done including grouting, but still it will give you an idea of how it is going to look.

KP2 bath tile

Guest bath tile - subway with glass tile accent

close-up of glass accent tile

Also, the kitchen is coming along. The concrete countertop wizard completed the templates and the framers built this nice arch that will go over the stove.

It's all still looking a bit ragged but we are encouraged that it is really coming together! Next week the roof goes on...tile will be done...and hopefully all the light fixtures installed. Stay tuned!