May 3rd

Some great progress since the last update. Siding is finally going up and wow, do we like it. We (or at least I) was always concerned we were taking a bit of a risk going with a more "old school" arts and craftsy style (dark windows, light window trim, darker siding) but it looks real good.

Been fighting the rain/t-storms the past week - so hopefully we make up some time this week (lost 4 days, the last 7).

Drywall starts on Wednesday, so have been making sure anything we want "in" the walls is done (things like any speaker holes, cut outs for alcoves, cut outs for soap/bottle ledges in showers, etc). Am also going to throw in some insulation in the interior walls seperating the master bath from the bathroom, bedroom 3 from the 2nd bath and some of the laundry room walls. At $25 for 100sq ft...its a no brainer. There was nothing I hated worse in our old townhouse - being able to hear the shower/hairdryer plain as day, even when the door was closed.

Pretty sure we are going with a Jatoba (brazillian cherry floor) - it will be one of the only areas not true to the arts crafts style - but adds a nice contemporary feel. Had looked at rift and quartered white oak - but doing that on the staircase gets pretty pricey - plus we would need to stain it to get it darker, and that is somewhat of a crapshoot. With the Jatoba - its dark enough right away.

We are going with Stile and Rail type doors - meaning they have squar sticking - or in other words - no molded sections. All lines are straight and clean. http://www.builderonline.com/Images/0808shelfCMI_2_tcm10-80517.jpg
Very much like these, but 2 panel - not 3 a the pic shows.

The molding/trim work will also be very arts and crafts - much more squared off and straight lines. Our rental house (built in 1920's) has the basic design we are going to do (s4s molding with a back band around it).


The small areas of copper roofing are on...I am not at all a fan of the way it looks now...it should patina to a deeper maroon color within a couple months...

I am knocking out some of the insulation in the shower areas to create ledges (for soap, bottles, shavers, etc.) Basically, these will be tiled, so there sould be a 3-4 inch ledge for stuff once all is done.

The siding is going up...a prefinished custom job from a local supplier.

I love the look - exactly what we were hoping for...can't wait to see the front, where some additional details will come into play...the gables (peaks) will be staggered shakes, bottom 4 feet will be a stone.