More Rendiitions

Rhode Island Design Center's website has a great little gadget that lets you plan out a room. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at working the colors or getting the windows plumb and level when I play with it. As long as the framer figures it out, it doesn't matter much how well I do.

I inherited the basement (dungeon) for my office space and I couldn't be happier. It's a huge space with two Bilco wells attached to the windows. That will let in plenty of light. I think we'll be going with blue and gray tones in here, and you'll just have to trust me that all this periwinkle blue and prison gray won't be the final outcome.

Along one wall, we'll install a countertop with cabinetry underneath for my files and and other "junk" that grows in offices. I can't stand to have the clutter on my desk, so we'll add three tall bookcases with doors to hold office supplies and what-nots.

This room will double as a "hobby" room for my photography and for Frank's ship-building.

A table in the center with chairs will come in handy.

The floor will be ceramic tile anchored with an area rug in a better shade of blue than what I came up with.
Below is our guest bedroom on the second floor. This room has windows galore on three sides and a pocket door in the center which leads to a private bath. Again, my RIDC limitations prevented me from placing the silly door where it goes. That "armoire" in the corner is really a closet. More limitations.... what can I say?

Frank has a wonderful bed that is as contemporary as the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

I didn't care. I like that bed, and I like the blanket chest he got from his grandmother years ago. He has an easy chair that will work beautifully in here in a lovely shade of pink. Drapes and bed linens in sage and pink will pull it all together.

I suspect we'll be using this room for some time while we try to figure out what we're going to do with the master bedroom.


Below is the Chainlocker. That's what we've come to call any space that is definitively Frank's space.

This room was a bit of a challenge for me in my head.

I had certain things that I had to incorporate that I was less than crazy about, starting with an old, old rug that Frank picked up in one of his travels to Pakistan.

My problem with the rug is that it is RED. Red has no place in a home or garden. Red belongs in shoes, lipstick, and nail polish.

But the rug is important to Frank so I knew we had to incorporate it in a way that would satisfy him and satisfy me. (Laying it out in the garage was not an option, although the thought did cross my mind.)

Frank also has a wonderful table that his mom gave him that he likes to use as a desk and a leather couch that is worn and comfortable and masculine.

Add some of his prints that he's collected over the years, and the space will be complete.

Because having a television in the living room was not an option, we've decided to use this room as our TV room as well. He'll have the best view from the main level since he has windows all around and will see the courtyard and pond from his desk.

If I can get him to keep the clutter to an absolute minimum, we shouldn't have a problem.

All that's left to figure out is the master bedroom, and of course the three bathrooms.

Some may think it premature to try to think this out so early in the game, but we think it's the best approach. This way we know what to keep, what to toss, and what to donate.

The less we have to move, the better.

Art

I have absolutely no appreciation for fine art. Frank and I have been to the Met and the Guggenheim, both in New York City, and we spend most of the time staring at stuff on the walls wondering what in the heck people are oohing and aahing about.

I am extremely partial to photography, black and white. Frank likes all things related to the sea.

God deliver me from having seascapes in this house. Or boats. Or ships.

This Picasso has great sentimental value to me. My dad is from Spain, as was Picasso. My dad's favorite book in the whole wide world is Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra, and I gave him a copy in 1969 for Father's Day. He still has it and it is worn and mangled and held together with a rubberband. I was nine years old when I gave it to him. He was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack and my brother and I went to see him with our mother. I don't remember what Wesley gave him, but I know I signed and wrapped this book and he was thrilled to receive it.

God knows I am not a Picasso fan. Elias draws better pictures.

But this one I must have.

In the living room, bigger than life, matted, and framed in black.

Why have a television in your living room when you can have this?

Vettriano's Singing Butler is another favorite. I think this would look smashing in our bedroom.

Dance and music are very important to us, and we find rain to be soothing and comforting and serene.

The Issue of Doors

Now that we've decided on all the structural issues, it's time to focus on the details.

So many decisions to make.

Door knobs and door hinges, baseboard mouldings, recessed lights, floor and wall tiles, cabinet pulls, paint colors and finishes, not to mention the general decor.

Our front door is going to be difficult to find, I suspect. We need French doors that make a statement, create impact, contain glass, and fit with our contemporary style. Frank would like a wooden door and I would like it stained black. I think all the doors should be stained black, or at the very least, an espresso color which is black mixed with dark brown.

We have seen dozens and dozens of doors and Frank found ONE that he liked.



The Jeld-Wen door above is Frank's favorite, without the transom or side panels. I don't know if I like the circular pattern or all that etching. Maybe I do. Maybe it's a good thing to have a circle here since there is absolutely no curve of any kind anywhere in this house.

But for some reason, this just doesn't grab me.

The search continues.

Second Thoughts

Frank is wishing he had asked for a walk-in pantry.

I don't know what we would do with a walk-in pantry except fill it with junk we don't need, want, or use.

Our new kitchen will have more than enough cabinets for our one set of dishes (never understood having two sets), our pots and pans (all we need is one more skillet), and our small appliances (can't stand to see "stuff" on my countertops).

The food we buy is perishable so the refrigerator needs to be big. But a walk-in pantry? Nope. Don't need it.

Our 18-inch pantry will suffice.

Six-ounce cans of tomato paste don't require much space.

And I store oatmeal in the fridge after it's been opened.

Living, Dining Room, Kitchen, and Breakfast Room

Decent renditions. The silver "bar" between the living room and dining room doesn't exist. It's the way the program "read" an opening.

Our New Family

The "package" was delivered to Chelea-Groton Savings Bank this afternoon.

Dee, the branch manager, gave me a hug and thanked me for not bringing this to her in a paper bag or cardboard box.

Dee is also an avid Red Sox fan, and if that isn't enough, she also knows what she's talking about in the construction loan business.

Fifty-four quotes, fifty-four licenses, fifty-four certificates of insurance translates to approximately one hundred bids, interviews, and estimates.

This process has been exhausting.

I was the one to work with the contractors, discussing plans, negotiating costs, and calculating their time on the site. Frank delved into the technical issues, particularly with plumbing. We spoke with THIRTEEN PLUMBERS and found ONE who was willing to work with a Warmboard system. The others were clearly on a different page.

I found the plumbers to be frustrating: I couldn't engage them, I couldn't understand their fees. Frank couldn't either, but at least he could make eye contact. The plumbers are an issue. The rest are not.

Todd and Carl, of T & C Excavation, are gems. They are so different. Carl and I can talk on the phone forever about a million different things. Todd has a marvelous sense of humor and clearly knows his "stuff". They make an excellent team. One's weakness is the other's strength. And when I call them, we always end the call laughing. I trust these guys completely. They're honest, fair, good communicators, and enthusiastic!

Our foundation guy, Phil Fustini, is married to Nicole who has become my ally in all of this. My God!!! I have never laid eyes on her and look forward to meeting her and her children. Phil built our garage on our current home and the builder on our garage marvelled at how well he built that foundation. Even the inspector was impressed, and we know that's not an easy task. Phil understands 90-degree corners, scheduling, commitments, promises. He didn't disappoint on the garage, and I know he won't disappoint on the new house. Nicole is simply someone who gets that paperwork taken care of, and has a clear understanding of what's involved in this project. She also makes me laugh, and let's face it.... if you can make me laugh, you're my friend forever! Phil also referred us to the Todd & Carl team.

Our builder, Dan Atkinson of Atkinson Builders in East Lyme, has a mop of hair that would make any young man envious. I met Dan years ago in my real estate career and forgot all about him until, Carl, the excavator, recommend him. Dan is a high-energy New Englander who is sooooo busy that I wonder if he'll even have time for us. Every reference I checked assured me that this will not be an issue. I'm not sure Dan sleeps. I know Phil doesn't, but wonder about Dan.

Dan led me to Matt Vernotzy, our electrician. Matt is a young, calm, laid-back kid (anyone under 30 is a kid to me) who actually shops out electrical supplies to get us the best price. Matt answers his phone and when he can't, he calls me back within ten minutes. Is that not the ideal contractor? I had a real estate deal that required electrical work, and Matt was all over it, took care of it, and spared me the details.

Matt led me to Scott Harris, the plumber. Scott is a character. Understatement. But man, does he know his stuff. This guy wasn't twisted about the Warmboard, didn't try to sell us fixtures, called when he said he would and provided estimates on time. I could sit on my patio with Scott for hours on end and have a ball with him. Word has it that in the industry, Scott is second to none.

Carl also led us to our drywall guy. Russell Laetris has a new baby (he showed me pictures) and I'll forgive the fact that the boy was wearing a Yankees jersey. I forgive it because this guy came in dead-on with his quote. I saw his work at Groton Long Point and couldn't spot a seam ANYWHERE. Everyone knows that the drywall is the jewelry of the project. One bubble, one blister, one blemish and I am going to be a cranky old woman. Russell wouldn't do that to me. Personable, licensed, and insured... every General Contactor's dream!

Nick of Coastal Construction is our roofer. I love this guy! I love him because he's not a salesman. He just gives me the facts and lets me decide. I call him Joe Friday. Nick is in New London on Connecticut Avenue and is the EPDM master in the area. He came to me via Dan Atkinson and for that I'll be forever grateful!

Frank, my husband and partner-in-crime, is stuck with much of this work. I have promised to help although I didn't sign anything to that effect.

But the truth is, that if you want to build your own home and save money, you have to be willing to do some of that work yourself.

We are installing our cabinets, tile, and wood floors; we are staining the doors and painting the house ourselves (a contractor wanted $9,300 to paint only the house... what???); doing our own patio and pergola in the back; creating the perennial and water gardens ourselves; and finishing off the workshop in the garage.

Frank will be exhausted. I know this.

But I have a plan to make it worth his while.

In the meantime, I have exhaled.

And I'm going to enjoy this time off.

All two weeks of it.

;-)

Forward Thinking and Inspiration

Above, you'll see our upper stainless steel cabinets and cherry lower cabinets. We're going for a lighter floor (natural maple).

We like these riser-free stairs with the maple steps.

Cable railings are a must-have in this house.

We haven't decided on a backsplash just yet but stainless steel (above) is an option.

I took this photo (ab0ve) in Pattaya, Thailand before we even suspected we might be building our own home. We're not crazy about the sink, but the glassed-in shower to the left of the tub was a big wow factor for us.

We are rather partial to the gray-tones and found this tile (Avenue One) that we think would suit us just fine for the master bath.

House Plans

These images are not what I would have hoped to upload onto this site and I will try to do better. But for now, if you click on the photos, you will be able to see what our exterior and interior will look like.
This is a photo of the the elevations from all sides.

Front elevation.

First floor.

Second floor.

Loose Loose Ends

Excavators and Frank trying to understand the electrical installation madness! For the record, Frank is NOT the guy with the beard. That's Todd, the excavator, and we love him dearly!

Todd and Carl, the excavators, listen intently as Frank (flailing arms) makes his point.

Loose Ends

It's always the nudgy stuff that'll getcha.

No different with this project.

We're trying to tie up the loose ends before we can present our "package" to the bank.

We still need quotes for painting, a flight of stairs, deck railings, and for electrical and telephone connections.

I called the Town of Stonington this morning and learned that our plans have not yet been reviewed. This is frustrating, to say the least, since we don't even know what our building permit will come to and the bank needs this information as well.

I spoke with the lender this morning and she says that if we are willing to cover the costs of these "loose ends" ourselves, she'll accept our package and get this ball rolling.

That's what we intend to do.

So tomorrow morning, I'm dropping the package off and keeping my fingers crossed.

I won't exhale until we've broken ground.

With any luck, we'll be good to go by April 16.

No better way to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Let There Be Light

We drove out to the lot this afternoon to get a look at how everything turned out after the trees had been cleared. Heavy snow kept us away, but today we had a sixty-degree thermostat reading and an hour to kill.

I was so afraid that we wouldn't have enough sunlight with all the trees around, but was pleasantly surprised to find out that this won't be the case. There is plenty of light, at least with all the leaves off the trees, and the clearing wasn't as big as I feared it would be.

From every window (there will be thirty-one windows), we will have views of trees that go on forever. That's all we wanted to see: habitat for wildlife.

I am directionally challenged, but Frank was able to "place" me in the living room and dining room. We got a sense of where the two water gardens and perennial garden will go, and we're thinking that 10,000 bulbs over the septic system area would be better than grass.

I don't know if Elias would appreciate that.

I'm sure he would prefer a lawn.

With a kiddie pool and sandbox.

Over One Hurdle

The Zoning Department called me on Tuesday to tell me that our zoning permit had been issued.

Frank and I went to Town Hall this morning and filed the application with the Building Department. No telling when we'll get the go-ahead since they're seriously understaffed. With any luck, it won't be more than two weeks.

In the meantime, we're still tying up loose ends so that we can present our package to the Bank.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that we'll be able to break ground mid-April.