My First Curtains (And the Most Complete Room)

So I have never hung curtains.  I have never been inspired to own curtains - blinds were always enough.  I can't remember if I had curtains in my room as a kid; I remember blinds.  There are curtains now in what my mom calls the "blue room" but I don't recall them being there before I moved out. Most likely not.   

It only took 31 years for me to have curtains.  I didn't know where to begin. There are many styles and ways to hang curtains, I was lost.  I read blogs and other "how-to's" to get an idea of what I might look for in curtains.  I was still lost and confused.  However, to play off the inspiration I had for the exercise room, I knew I wanted something nature related.  Also do the nice view and the natural sunlight, I didn't want something opaque.  I wanted something sheer. 

I recently painted the room a bluish grey and accented it with three lime green stripes. Matching the lime green stripes was nearly impossible.  I was thinking white curtains with something.  I happened upon a bold pink color curtain from Ikea (which I can no longer locate to share), but I was steered in another direction and am so glad I was.

Side note about the paint. I went to Home Depot with a color in mind (I wanted what my sister painted her living room), and I found an Oops paint for $5.00 that was very close to the grey my sister used. So for $5.00, I took home the grey paint.  The green paint, however, I had to pay the full price because it was hard to find the right lime green and match it with any available oops paints.  Though I didn't need nearly as much green paint as I did grey, so the cost wasn't that much.

Unfortunately, the lighting does lend well for taking pictures of the window and its curtains.  Or I haven't figured out how to take the picture.  I've tried during the day and at night, but between the sunlight and the light fixture, I can't take a clear picture.  So I suggest you come see it in person. :) I swear to you, it's awesome.  These are from Target, and I also found them cheaper (and faster shipping) on Amazon.

The curtain rod is actually a tree limb from our yard that fell during the ice storm back in February.  While perusing Pinterest one day, I happened upon this idea, although the Pin had a white painted limb.  I didn't want white, and I wasn't sure about a bold color, so I left it natural.  I coated it with polyurethane to seal the limb.  No one wants termite bait.  Using the limb took several iterations of trying to put the curtain panels on, and realizing that another knot or smaller limb needed to be cut in order for the panel to pass over it.  It was relatively simple, and the limb really fits the feel I wanted for the room. Nature inspired and peaceful.



So do you want to see the rest of the room? Here are some panoramic views of the room:

And here are some close ups of the equipment in the room:

I use a lot of this equipment for P90X, but I have ventured into using the bands for P90x, but I have used them when I created my own routines.  I have the padded mat great for jumping on or doing push ups.  Then I have the yoga mat, well...for yoga.

The chair is used a lot, and I want to paint it, and I have an idea, so hopefully I'll work on that soon.  I want bolder, brighter colors.

I love to use the elliptical in the winter, but during the warmer months, I prefer to run outdoors.  The pull up stand can easily slide across the floor so the elliptical mat and elliptical extend backwards.  I use the pull up stand for chin ups and pull ups with the assistance of a band.  I also attach bands to the lower portion and do hip adductions and abductions.  The stand can also be used for dips and ab exercises.

My favorite, dumbbells

And the decor:

I wanted a plant in the exercise room.  It was part of my zen, my inspiration, my view for the space.  I like that this plant is growing straight up - it reminds me of the yoga routine where there is a lot of reaching up.  So the plant is reaching up.  The second great thing about this plant is Lowe's calls it the "plant of steel".  I'm not a good plant care giver - I forget to water them.  This is also my first indoor plant, too!  I was also fortunate to find a bold plate pot on sale!  Color! Hot pink - perfect.  Too bad there weren't more pastel pot holder/rolller thingy.  Whatever the technical term is.



So I perused Pinterest a lot to find ideas for sayings that I wanted to post in the room.  I didn't want to buy what someone else made if I could do it myself. Plus, I could have the colors I wanted.

 I searched for white or plain frames that I could paint purple, but I didn't find any locally or on Amazon that was a reasonable price.  So I made my own...but I had one mistake.  I was measuring the frames to frame out a photo that was slightly smaller than 8.5" and 11".  I measured the horizontal side correctly BUT I didn't want to waste any of the wood, so I split the remaining piece into two instead of measuring out for an interior dimension of 10.5".  OOPS.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize this mistake until after I assembled them, painted them and was ready to hang them. That's when I went to print out my sayings using my home printer and tried to fit the picture into the frame.  Too short!  So I ordered one from Vistraprint and the other I created with leftover craft board and letters.

Finally, I saw many motivational sayings with pictures of other people on them.  I loved the saying, but I didn't really want other people hanging in my exercise room.  So I waited until I had the strength to pose for some of yoga positions before I set up a tripod and took pictures of me. (go ahead and puke, lol).  Once I did the photos, I turned them to black and white and used Picasa to add in the sayings.  Finally, I was able to print the photos off at home and add them to the frame.  For the larger picture, I had to send it to Walgreens.  On the screen, all of the text was visible, but I did not check the photo at Walgreens.  I realized after I hung it that some of the words blended in with my shorts.  So eventually, I'll replace the photo.


There are a few other things I want to add to the room as time goes on, but I'm also moving on to the next room.  I have some thoughts for the master bedroom, so I hope to work on it next.

The House - Top Ten

When we began planning the new house, there were things that stood out to me that I was really excited to have.  I thought a few keys things were on top of my list, but as we get closer (like preparing to move in), it seems like EVERYTHING is exciting.  So here's my top ten in no particular order.

1. Parking in the garage! - We currently have a garage, in fact, it is considered a two car garage, but we have so much stuff that I can't park in it.  I can't wait to park in the garage so that on days it's raining, I don't have to worry with getting soaked (I don't use umbrellas...I lose them).  Or when it's cold and there's frost on the window, which is the morning I'm running late and do not have time to let the car warm up/defrost the windshield.  Or the summer mornings when the windows are foggy, and you have to use windshield wiper fluid constantly to remove the fog and be able to drive. Or when the kid refuses to go inside, I can at least contain him in the garage instead of running into the street.  The street would be too far away, so how about Aidan running to the tractor or boat that's parked two football fields away.  Though the containment only lasts if Aidan cannot reach the garage door button. Oy, I'm sure he can't wait to learn where it's located!

Cubbies...almost complete when
I took the picture a week ago

2. The Mud "Room" - Okay, so it's two cubbies near the entrance to the garage, but it's where the boys can (hopefully) store their coats, shoes, and backpacks.  No searching for these items constantly wondering where Aidan took his shoes off and hid them (again, hopefully).

3. TWO Washers and TWO Dryers - Don't you hate it when you get into the laundry groove, and when you finish putting away one load, you have to wait for the second load to dry? And the third load to finish washing?  And the forth load is on standby?  Seriously, I CANNOT WAIT until I can wash two loads of laundry at once, and get the folding and laundry putting away in a timely manner.   I plan my days around the laundry being dry because I want to take clothes out as soon as they are done to prevent wrinkles...and redrying a load of laundry is wasteful.  So yes, this mom is excited for double the work power in the laundry room.

4. Storage - We have so many cabinets and closets, I'm excited to have a place to hide stuff.  In fact, I may need to buy stuff to fill those storage places.  I mean, how can I let it set empty?  For example, in the breakfest nook, we have a built in bench that the top lifts up and there's tons of empty space.  I'm thinking I'll store the kids art supplies and board games here.  I cannot wait until playing board games on the weekend is what the kids look forward to doing.  Between the boys' rooms there are built in book shelves.  I plan on storing the boys' books, common toys, and decorative baby keepsakes here. In our bathroom, there is a huge linen closet....I don't think we have enough towels, wash clothes, and bed sheets to fill this closet, so who knows what else I will find to store in it.  Maybe I can hide laundry baskets full of dirty linens...Speaking of laundry, the laundry room (that I love) has cabinets and shelves galore.  I guess I'll need to stock up on TP and laundry detergent to fill the shelves, I mean, they can't possibly sit empty!  Though I'll also need to find stuff to store in the pedestals below the washers and dryers.  What a challenge I have in store.

5. The Kitchen - We will have a large kitchen, or at least I consider it large especially compared to our current kitchen.  I have an island - I have always wanted an island.  The island will be great prep space, and I can foresee lots of mixing for baked goods happening here. I have a double oven, and over it is a REAL vent.  The vent is quiet, too...no more stupid microwave vent that recycles the air right back in your face.  But back to the oven; I'm excited that I can make small meals that need something put in the oven and NOT heat up the entire oven to do so.  I look forward to saving energy...so toaster oven, don't be surprised if you collect dust when we move to the new house. Speaking of small appliances, we will have an appliance garage, thanks to a suggestion by a friend.  All the (useful) small appliances can be conveniently stored on the counter for easy access, but out of sight.  Yup, there's an electrical outlet so everything stays hooked up.  Pull it out, use it, push it back - now you see it, now you don't!  We'll have plenty of counterspace, too.  Instead of fighting to find room when we have people over, there will be plenty of room to put the food out without reaching over three dishes to get to the one you want.  More counterspace usually means more junk piles up, though...

6. The Master Shower - We opted to not have a bath tub in the master bath.  Call us crazy, but the one we currently have is a glorified laundry basket. Seriously, dirty towels pile up in the master bath tub until it's laundry day.  We have used the bath maybe five times a year, and the most frequent user lately has been Aidan.  He likes to play in the bath tub on days we can't go swimming.  So in the new house, we will have a larger shower equipped with two shower heads and a nice bench seat.  The only question is - where do we put the dirty towels?

7. The Views - Sorry neighbors, I like ya, but I'd rather stare out and see beautiful trees, wildlife, and a running creek.  We are country folks, and we look forward to the privacy and sitting on our back porch looking towards the creek.  I foresee many mornings and evenings spent on the back porch just taking in the beauty of the outdoors while watching our boys play.

8. Exercise Room - I recently acquired a barely used elliptical, and I know I will love the convenience of being able to work out at home.  No worrying with gym hours/closures or needing someone to sit in my house while the boys nap, and I work out.  

9. The Dogs' Room - We have a sun room that is intended for our dogs, and unfortunately, we will only have one dog when we move out to the house.  Therefore, Bo has his own room.  Bo will have a doggy door he can go in and out whenever he wants, and the room will have A/C and heat, so he will be one spoiled dog.  It will be nice to not be woken up at 2am to let Bo outside because he heard something...though at the same time, we might be woken by him howling at a squirrel or deer.  Here's hoping Bo can keep his common sense, hah.

Almost There!

I thought once I was on maternity leave, the progress of the house would seem slower, but there were a couple weeks I missed going to the house and the progress seemed like a huge jump!  Further more, it's quite the opposite since Owen keeps me occupied, I feel like we're almost there.  There being complete, there being in the house, and there living the dream.

So the last post which was well over a month ago, was talking about the colors and the selections we made and had to make.  So here are pictures of the selections we made:

Master Shower and Master Bathroom Tile - We chose a dark tile for the shower and contrasted it with a light floor tile since the vanity was dark and there is limited natural lighting.  We liked the dark tile since it was close to a rock like feel.

 Sunroom, Laundry, and Remaining Bathroom Tile - We chose a more economical tile for the remaining areas, most of the tile being the 13" x 13" with the larger tile in the Sunroom since it was a larger space.

Sunroom and Laundry Room

Hardwood Floors, Wall, Doors, and Trim - We went with a dark hardwood floor, a dark beige color on the wall, a bronze door color and white trim.

Master Bedroom

Accent Walls in the Office and Master Bedroom - There were also stained dark and are similar to the beams in the living room, though different wood species stain differently.

Master Bedroom

Ceilings!  Some of the ceilings were left natural while others were stained contrasting colors.  Pictured below is the kitchen bead board ceiling, the dining room hitchcock ceiling, and the living room exposed beam and heartwood pine ceiling.

 So those are the color selections we made and are very happy with how they have turned out.  The painters have plenty of work left as there are interior columns to stain and the exterior beams and columns to paint and stain.  We think we know what those colors will be but are waiting for other painting activities to be complete before we are sure.  In addition, the carpet was picked out for the boys' room, but it won't be installed until near the end of construction.

Also, do you remember the mantel piece I mentioned many months back?  It was a piece of pecky cypress wood AJ acquired.  We had the cabinet builder finish the mantel, and it is gorgeous.

So what are we waiting on?

Well the cabinets have to go in so the plumbing and electrical can be wrapped up.  The insulation has to be completed (boooooring :) ), the painters have staining, minor painting, and touch up to do, the grading has to be completed, and appliances have to be installed.  There are probably more smaller items I'm not remembering, but these are the big changes upcoming.

We hope to be in the house by Christmas, which is sooner than the original contract duration, and we're excited.  Let's hope there's no major hiccups, especially with the bank and it not having its act together.

COLORS, Colors, colors!

When I first received the selection spreadsheet from the builder, I was quite overwhelmed with all the selections AJ and I would have to make, but it seems like we are closer and closer to being done.  We feel like we have made some great choices, and it appears everything is meshing well together.  And no, that's not garnet shake, it's barn red.



These next few weeks should really be telling of our decisions and whether we made the right one or not.

We recently chose the the exterior paint color, the finishes on the beams, columns, wood paneling, bead board, ceiling, trim, interior doors, and wall color.  Picking some of the colors required buying numerous samples, staining wood samples, and running back to the store for more colors.

We're really excited with the exterior paint color since the painters have begun the work outside, and it makes a tremendous difference to the overall appearance of the house.  The color really helps the house come alive.

I believe the only exterior color left to choose is the front door.  However, the front door needs to coordinate well with the floor, ceiling, and columns inside.  So we have a lot to consider.

Here's a look at our vaulted ceiling with only a few of the beams installed.  The beams were installed because they penetrate the drywall, the others are going to be sanded and stained prior to installation.  The next picture is the bead board ceiling in the kitchen and breakfast rooms.

The office will have a ceiling like the kitchen and an accent wall like the vaulted ceiling.  The dining room is a hitchcock ceiling, and the foyer is like the kitchen, only vaulted.

So here you see the bead board choices (top left), the accent wall choice (top right), the paint colors (bottom left), and the door stain choices (bottom right).  Not pictured is the vaulted living room and the beams/columns color.  We'll show you those choices as the house progresses. :)  For now, you'll have to guess what we chose.  :)  You know how some people have opinions on baby names when you're set on it, and then they make you feel bad for your choice?!  Well, if you don't, there are people like that, so we'll let the house come together and share it.  You can always share your thoughts and maybe we might consider changing out minds.

The front and back porch will also have stained concrete.  The porches were placed this past Thursday, but it will be stained near the end of the job since a lot of foot traffic is still expected.  Staining it at the end of the job will allow it to go undamaged, at least until we become the official homeowners.  We are really excited with the concrete and how it really adds character to the house.

I can't remember if I shared tile samples or not, but soon the tile work will begin - we've heard right behind the interior painting.

We chose a dark tile for the shower (top left) and paired it with a lighter tile for the master bathroom floor (top right).

The other rooms will go with a more solid, lighter tile.  Some of the rooms are smaller spaces without windows, so we couldn't have a lot of dark colors without worrying about adding lights or something to help the room out.  So the guest bath, laundry, boy's bath, and the sun room will have something like the bottom left tile.

I think from an interior standpoint, we need to choose the hardwood floor color and the carpet for the boys' room.  The timing to be done with most of the major selections is perfect since I am near my due date and will have limited time to run around town looking at different things.

We're really looking forward to all the exciting changes! So stay tuned and find out what we selected. :)

the Routine and the House

It's Sunday morning, and my early bird riser is up at 6 AM ready for the day.  After eating breakfast (or throwing it to the dogs), I dress myself and Aidan.  As I am putting his shoes on, Aidan looks at me and says "House?".  Yes, Aidan, we are going to the house.

Our Sunday Routine - Eat breakfast, Ride out to the House, and Go Grocery Shopping

Visiting the House is Aidan's favorite, in fact, he use to tolerate a long grocery shopping trip while riding in the car cart, but now, he's done halfway through.  He wants to walk and run all over the store like he does at our property and the House.

It's the House I want to focus on...right now it's shaping up to look like one, and one day the House will be our Home, and I can't help but think of all the memories we will make living there.  I can't wait until we can walk out our back door to play in the the large yard or run to the creek. Or sit on the back porch in the early morning drinking coffee and listening to the sounds of nature. Or walking the long driveway on the weekend to check the mail. Or taking the dogs for walks though the woods. Or teaching my boys how to shoot a bow and arrow. There are many things the country living will offer us, and I am excited to watch my boys experience it.  

But I don't always have time to daydream what living in the new house will be like...nope, we have selections, selections, and more selections to make.  Choose a color, a texture, a material - make a change, envision a layout, add and delete...the house changes so much it seems in a weeks' time that I would be crazy to miss one Sunday of taking pictures and walking through the house.

So what have we chosen?  Well, we (errr, I) knocked off a big portion of our list with finalizing plumbing & electrical fixtures along with the appliances.   Big decisions, such as the stone cap color, roof shingle color, cedar shake color, soffit color, brick color were made, too.   Color, color, color.  We attempted to have Aidan help choose when we couldn't decide between two colors, but he offered no help by choosing both.  Sometimes we went to the builder and had him weigh in, too.  In addition, we found a granite slab that we really like and will go well through out the house.  Finally, we made some selections for floor tile and shower tile colors, textures and layouts.  Making all these selections was very time consuming, and we are still pursuing bids so we can ensure we're getting the best price and value.

In addition, we've had electrical outlets moved, lights moved, lights added, and hvac vents relocated (when possible).  We try to imagine how we will use a space so that the layout of electrical, plumbing and hvac won't interfere and is convenient to what the need will be.  In addition, we opted to go against a trapezoidal column and go for a straight, rectangular stone column.  The top of the column was 2' by 2', and it would be massive by the time it was angled and reached the bottom.  We like the looks of the column, but we do not want them to overpower the front of the house.  These changes and decisions means there has been some great progress, right?!  So I'll share where we're at.

The framing crew worked to finish out the exterior while the plumber and electrician began roughing in their perspective trades.  The HVAC guys began installing the duct work and vents, and the masonry guys have begun the stone work.  The roof is complete and most of the windows are in - unfortunately one was broken during shipment, so they're waiting on the replacement.  The county inspector came out to approve placing the concrete for the garage.  The inspector also gave the go ahead for insulation...so I made sure to get pictures of the studs to show where plumbing and electrical is running - ya know, for future reference.

Up, Up and Away!

After signing the last piece of paper to finalize the construction loan, we have officially allowed ourselves to be excited about the house!  But signing that last piece of paper was not without drama or stress.

Three weeks into the construction, we were STILL waiting to finalize the paperwork with the bank...the bank kept messing something up or needing additional information or clarification.  So while we were excited to finally sign the paperwork on June 21st, things did not go as planned.

On Thursday, the closing was moved from 11AM to 1PM, but we were hopeful.  On Friday, as I was running late to closing, AJ called me to tell me that the bank hadn't sent over the paperwork so take my time.  I arrived 15 minutes late...still no word from the bank.  So I went to lunch, constantly checking my phone waiting for AJ to call.  AJ called, only to ask where I chose to go to lunch.  Bummer.  I return to the lawyer's office, and AJ checks in on the bank since he hadn't received a call yet.  Supposedly, the paperwork would be sent over in a few minutes.  Fast forward to 3 PM, AJ receives a call - a computer is down, give them a few more minutes.  At 3:30 PM, the bank told us that we could close at 6:30 PM on Friday.

We left Aiken at 11:45 AM, and the bank wanted us to stick around until nearly 7PM.  This meant I would have to return to Aiken, pick Aidan up and drive him back to the lawyer's office 1.25 hours away.  We would waste 8+ hours if we agreed to the later closing.  Oh, but I had a card to play...I never use the pregnancy card, but hey, this was a desperate situation needing an alternative that fit MY schedule.

So I told AJ, after we were offered the later closing or some time next week, to hand me his phone.  He asked why, and I replied that I was calling the banker back.

So the conversation went something like this:
Diana: <Banker's name>, this is Diana, Willis' wife. I'm not happy.
Banker: Yes m'am?
Diana: I'm pregnant, it's the first day of summer, and it's absolutely gorgeous today.  Instead of enjoying the beautiful weather, I have sat outside of a locked attorney's office for over 3 hours plus I drove an hour and a half.  Now you want me to drive back to Aiken, pick up my toddler, drive him back to sign paperwork that will supposedly be ready by 6:30 PM.
Banker: Well...
Diana: I'll be a hungry irritable pregnant woman, and my toddler will be hungry and full of energy. So this is how it's going to go down.  You're going to pay for the attorney to drive to Aiken either tonight or Monday afternoon.  I don't care what it costs, but I'm tired of the incompetency your bank has displayed during this process over and over again.
Banker: Yes m'am. What time do you want attorney in Aiken on Monday.
Diana: 3 PM
Banker: Where do you want him to meet you.
Diana: My house
Banker: Yes m'am. He'll be there with the paperwork...at no cost to you.
Diana: Thank you.
End of conversation...

We actually signed the paperwork on the back of the attorney's car in a grocery store parking lot.  Our witness was also a paper weight since a storm was quickly moving in.  All we needed to cap our luck was the paperwork to blow into the busy intersection we were parked near. The attorney was pleasant and very understanding; he said he had signed paperwork in odd places, but never on the back of his car in a parking lot! 

The paperwork wasn't without errors...the last name was misspelled for AJ several different ways, but it was spelled perfect for my name.  In addition, the loan amount was higher than what the bank said they would loan us due to the farm "losses".  We were happy to see this, but it was one more thing the bank couldn't do correctly.

With the paperwork signed, we all breathed a sigh of relief...then moved full speed ahead.

We've decided on a stone color and pattern, received another quote on appliances, signed a contract with the cabinet maker, and began the selection for the plumbing & electrical fixtures.  In addition, we had to pick the roof shingles' color and also contracted the cabinet guy to make our front door.

So as the framing crew works to finish out the exterior, the plumber and electrician will work on roughing in their respective trades.  In addition, we will probably see the roof start since all the rainy weather will hamper the construction if we can't get the house dried in.

In the mean time, we'll make more selections such as the marble and quartz countertops, plumbing and electrical fixtures, and possible the color of the shakes, trim and soffit. Lots of color choices.

So 1 month down 7 months to go!

Engaging in Risky Business

Not that I have ever watched the movie, Risky Business, but as I was thinking of a blog title, I felt like it was familiar.  A quick google search confirmed my thoughts...

Anyway, you have to wonder what kind of risky business we would engage in seeing how AJ works in Law Enforcement.  If you have been following the blog, you might guess the risky business is house related.  If so, you are 100% correct.

The construction loan was supposed to close by the end of May, then it was pushed out because they misspelled my name and needed me to resign documents I signed back in April, which I had volunteered to wait around in April to sign.  Then they wanted the HUD statement for our land and a letter about our farm expenses.  So we waited and were told we would close by June 7th.  Well....the underwriter is a little backed up so she couldn't process the paperwork in time. Then on June 7th we heard that they were cutting the loan amount because of the farm losses (um, this is mortgage interest and tractor depreciation, both payments are accounted for) - the loan would be for a few dollars over the contract with the builder, thus limiting any additions we might want.

But work began on the house June 3rd.  The house site was scraped to remove the top soil, then the footings were dug and placed, and finally block for the foundation was laid.  All in the first week....and work continued the second week because we are suppose to close by June 14th.

So the next week came, and the builder finished the foundation, we had the surveyor complete the foundation survey, and the builder started and completed the foundation framing.  AJ also picked up lumber from a mill near Savannah, GA, which was used for the foundation framing. Soooo....work progressed, but what about the loan? The builder needs his first draw by June 21st.  We did receive the "good to go" notice on June 14th that we could close, so we are combining the close with the first draw next Friday, June 21st.  The bank couldn't help us cut any closer of a deadline...could they?


In other news, we met with an awesome cabinet builder that beats Lowe's/Home Depot and other builders hands down - quality and price! We are extremely excited about the cabinets.  He gave us a tour inside of his house, and look at the work he does!  These are all hickory cabinets - the main cabinets are left natural while the island is stained an espresso and distressed.  I had originally wanted a deep red cherry wood cabinets, but I was worried with the kitchen being too dark and coordinating too many textures and colors in a small area.  Plus, AJ was in love with the natural hickory cabinets. 

I have also mentioned previously that AJ had picked up our interior columns and beams, but never shared a picture.  I went by the warehouse after meeting with the cabinet guy to scope them out.  They are currently plain, but we will most likely stain them to contrast against the ceiling in the living room, which will be a natural wood.

AJ came across some pecky cypress wood, and this piece below will become the mantle piece.  The cabinet guy we met can plane it and possibly cut some decorative support pieces.  It will also be left natural, but as you can see, it is a darker wood.

So what are the hiccups?

Well last time, we were waiting on the appraisal, negotiating the land from the other bank, and finalizing our bank loan.

So 2/3 of the above is complete.  The appraisal came back, and we have a current loan to value of 80%, thus no PMI!  This is GREAT news. Moreover, due to the appraisal that included the value of the land, the bank who we have a loan with for the land is releasing the 7.22 acres home site FREE AND CLEAR.  No loan attached to it...did I mention the land doubled in value since we bought it.  Talk about a return on an investment!

In order to keep the good news rolling, we need to close on the construction loan, which is scheduled. Thus, we are hoping to see the subflooring go down early this coming week and the beginning of the wall framing.  Meanwhile, AJ and I are scouring the internet for a front door we like to see if the cabinet maker can duplicate what we like within the budget.

Almost Groundbreaking News...

The Builder's sign at the front entrance!

It's been over a month since the last update on building our dream house. We are so close to groundbreaking, I can taste the dust of the shovels throwing dirt! Fortunately, no hiccups, just playing the waiting game.

Here's a quick summary on what's been completed:

• Subdivided the land
• Met with the POA
• Agree to New Easements
• House Plans and Site Approved by POA
• Builder Chosen
• Bank Chosen

Here are our show stopping To Do's from the last update:

• Record the new parcel with the county - 100% Done, though they reclassified the zoning, which AJ went back to the county to ensure only 1 acre was a homesite and the rest was listed as a farm.
• Finalizing the bank application - We signed a lot of paperwork April 19th so the bank could move forward with the land and house appraisal; the bank needed the contract from the builder before we could proceed. The appraiser called the same day to schedule a visit the following week. In anticipation of a quicker appraisal, the bank has begun it's process and it's so close to being able to send everything to the underwriter. Let's hope the appraisal comes back soon, and is a great appraisal. We need some positive luck!
• Pay off the Land Loan - Since we subdivided the land, we are hopeful that we can take the 7 acres free and clear, but this will be based on the appraisal.  This might be our biggest hurdle for the closing on the construction loan.
• With the contract signed with the builder, there are lots of things we now have to decide/pick out, but we are waiting on the list from the builder. In the meantime, we have been making choices for the color, style, material, etc for the kitchen cabinets. We have also been working on other things. We also picked out our favorite hardwood floor and cedar plank sample and gave it to the builder. Progress, one color at a time.

If you look closely, there are stakes for the house (hint the green, grassy area)

Behind the Scenes progress:

• Well installation - The well is installed along with its motor. We sent the check in last week to pay for this, so now we have running water!!Just no where to run it to, ya know, minor details
• Interior Exposed Beams and Columns - Our beams and columns have been cut and cured. AJ is scheduled to pick them up Friday, and they will be stored at the horse farm he works at.
• Timber and Wood Ceilings - No progress than this, other than we chose to go with the higher grade material that AJ can get at the same cost as the lower grade material commercially available.
• Construction Permit - Minutes after we signed the contract with the builder, the county called him and told him the permit was ready for pick-up! Quite the timing, so with the permit in hand, all we need is the bank!!
• Address - With the construction permit came the address. Our land feels so official now that it has a place to receive mail, though no mailbox. I need to order more checks, and I think I will use the new address.
• Power - The co-op utility company came out and installed the power lines, security light, and meter box. So now we have electricity and water. Some of the power is above ground (boo) but a lot was able to be run underground (yay!). Now I need to figure out what foliage I can line the driveway with since this is where the power is run above ground.

Security Light, Electrical Box & Meter, Permit Box, and the covered well

Our Next Steps:

• Have the appraisal on the house and land complete
• Negotiate with the land loan bank how much land it will release free and clear

Groundbreaking!!! - Hopefully by the end of May, the foundation work will have begun. Cross your fingers and toes for us! 

And for those interested, here's my long driveway...can't wait to plant some trees to line it.  The power lines weren't as ugly as I expected, but due to them cross back and forth across the driveway, it will like my selection in the trees since I don't want anything branches to threaten the power line.

 

An Overdue House Update

About two month ago, I gave an update on building our dream house.  At this point, we had hoped to have a loan in place and the builder preparing to break ground.  However, we had more hiccups along the way, but they weren't exactly due to the builder or the bank.  Nope, I can thank our wonderful Congress folks who let the Sequester come into affect.  For almost a month, we were extremely worried that I would be on a reduced work schedule (20% reduction in pay) with an imminent threat of a full furlough.  Thankfully, one of my projects I had been working on was approved early and is not affected by the funding disaster brought upon by Congress.   While we were going through this crazy situation, we continued to move forward with the house plans, but could not go further with the bank because the appraisal is only good for 3 months.  Well, the Sequester affects the fiscal year through September 30th, therefore, we didn't want to waste money on an appraisal if we had to wait until October or later to build.

So here's an update to the last list posted two months ago:

• Subdivided the land - 100% Done and paid for
• Met with the POA - 100% Done
• Agree to New Easements - 100% Done and paid for
• House Plans and Site Approved - 100% Done
• Bids Recieved from the Builders - 100% Done
• Chosen a Bank - Application is in process.
• Completed the Refinance on Our Current House - 100% Done

 To Do's from the last post:

•  Record the new parcel with the county - Deeded with the county, paid for, and official! We now own two plots of land.
•  Finalizing the bank application - The builder has submitted his paperwork, we submitted are required paperwork, however, we still need to send in a final contract with the builder to the bank so the appraisal can be completed.  There are also some outstanding questions the bank has to answer so we can determine if we need a licensed surveyor to complete the foundation layout or if it can be approximate.
• Choosing a builder - We have chosen a builder!  We have been hammering out details since the costs were over our budget, but we are practically ready to sign the final contract. 

Behind the Scenes progress:

•  Samples, samples, samples! - Hardwood samples, cedar plank samples, stone veener samples.  We are trying to get a feel for what we like and piece together the textures and colors that will be near each other.  Colors and textures are not my strong suit.  I want a dark hardwood floor with a little cherry color, but I want the same for my kitchen cabinets!  Will they clash? Also, the beams in the living room and the terminating beam at the kitchen will be a natural wood color...will it clash?! Gah, we need help with this. So hurry up Lacey and post pictures of your hardwood floors in your KITCHEN. :)
• Well installation scheduled - We are opting to put the well in outside of the contract, so AJ has been working with the installer to set up the date.  They have a two week lead time, but we hope to have it in by the end of April.  This is one of those items that could be relatively cost friendly or expensive, but from the soil reports and the DHEC analysis, we shouldn't have an issue reaching the water table.
• Exposed Beams - AJ will travel to the low country to oversee the cutting of our interior exposed beams.  His dad harvest timber and will be cutting the hardwood we will need for these beams, so we are paying the mill's processing fee.  This is another out of the pocket expense since we can get a better beam at a lower cost.
• Timber and Wood Ceilings - Much like the exposed beams, there is timber and wood ceiling panels (not panels, but that's the best word I have for it), AJ can get equal or better would for a lower or same cost (as the cheaper stuff), so he already has an agreement with a supplier that they will hold their prices.  The savings is offset by the other wood costs going up since the original bid, but the higher grade paneling will be the same cost, but much nicer.  So it's a win win.
• Construction Permit - The permit is being applied for, which can take a few weeks, but it doesn't have to be paid until the builder picks it up.  By the time it's approved we should have a signed contract.

 Our Next Steps:

• Have the appraisal on the house and land complete
• Negotiate with the land loan bank how much land it will release free and clear - Any land not released free and clear will come out of our pocket or be rolled into our new loan based on the appraisal value. We have a max amount the bank will loan us, which happens to coincide with what we are comfortable loaning.
• Sign the contract with the builder
• Well Installation
• Exposed Beams cut and delivered -  These need to dry for 5 months!
• Groundbreaking 

My hope is the house's foundation will begin in May, but who knows how the rest of this process will go.  We have less than one month, and it feels like there is still a lot to get done!
In the mean time, I am preparing the house for two kiddos, which means cleaning up our closet aka big storage closet for Aidan so that the nursery set up can be used for the new baby.  I mean, why do twice as much work, when only one room can be affected.  Plus, this would give Aidan more space in the room.  I have a long list of "to do's" for this undertaking.  It'll keep me busy and make time pass quickly.