Dec 18

Another picture-less update…Site was backfilled the other week – and WE DID, indeed, take it on the chin and put in a change order. So we are now back to what we originally had – we are just a bit lighter in the pocketbook. Now the first floor great room, breakfast area and kitchen will be 10ft ceilings. It is hard to describe how much impact 10ft makes over 9ft – but once you are in a house/room with it – it really changes the entire feeling of that area. Something we should have just kept in all along. Oh well, as long as this is the first and last change – we can live with it. Better to take it on the chin then regret for years to come.

Things have slowed a bit due to the change order – however, I was able to get the architect to do a quick turnaround and it is already approved through the city of Naperville – so we are pretty much back on track within 10days – pretty darn efficient considering 9 of the 10 pages of the blueprints had to be modified due to the 1ft change. It means on the 2nd floor – the kids area – bedrooms 2 and 3 and the 2nd bathroom – are now kind of set off from the others – as to get to “their” area – you need to go up two steps (as it is 10ft below those areas). That was the original intention when I drew the plan out – just glad it worked out in the final plan. The roof also becomes a bit taller now and thee master bedroom , because of the way the lumber lays out – gets a 1ft boost, virtually by default.

Elsewhere – we are finally – after 3 months of looking – narrowing down to the final window selections. I would have never imagined it to be such a complex decision with so many options. We are leaning towards going w/ casement windows that mimick the look of a double hung (via a grille pattern). This way, you get the best of both worlds – the clean look and efficiency of casements – and the more craftsman look of a double hung. Also, casements will allow us to integrate blinds to be flush with the wall. Double hungs will create issues with depth and we would need to get creative w/ blinds. I think the finished product will be a unique feature of the house - something you don’t see every day.

Also – we are planning on replacing the windows in the front dining room to a 4panel French door – this will allow the front covered porch to become more a part of the house. The two middle panels open up, to create a wide opening. You can see this feature on the pic I posted previously of the house being built up the street from is (yes, we stole another idea). Another reason for this change is we are unsure what that room will ultimately be used for – with the breakfast room probably becoming where we eat 99.9% of the time – this front room may transition to more of a multi-use room. I don’t know – we shall see. We will also be ditching any idea for a chandelier or hanging light in this room – we will go with recessed in here – again – to leave the options open for what this room will be. I think our (or at least my) concept for this room is it becomes a transition to the large 8x17 covered porch – and March through October – with the 4panel French door – really merges outside and inside together (Ok, I am veering to far off into HGTV land now).

Sewer and Water folks were out yesterday and today – meaning the house will actually be hooked into the sewer and water grid. Then, all that is left to do underground is the electric and the gas….which should come sooner than later.

Hope is to get the framer up and running asap – and start making some “above” ground progress – that is much more visual.