Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a punch list

There is not much left to do. I don't know where the time went. When I started this blog I planned on doing much more in the way of process photos and explanations. But by the time things started to get really interesting, I went back to work and there just didn't seem like the time or opportunity. Still, as we get settled (in 9 days time) I am going to try and go into depth on some design elements and details.

The only things left to do are paint touch ups, replacement of a few items that were nicked, scratched, or broken, exterior hardware for three doors, screen doors...hmm maybe there are a few more things than I thought. But nothing that will keep us from being able to move in.

The shutters have been installed on the garage, the bean pulls are on the doors. It is looking like the carriage house we hoped it would.

The inside of the garage. I'm not sure if this gets a coat of paint or not. If it doesn't that is an easy enough job for me after we move in.

The tar and chip driveway has been installed. I was ambivalent enough about the driveway that I let John take the lead without really giving much input. I really like the way it turned out. It looks like a gravel drive.

The exterior of the mudroom door painted in Farrow and Ball Pigeon. Hardware is by Baldwin in unlacquered brass. The deadbolt is missing its rosette.

The library. Paint is a Benjamin Moore color match to Farrow and Ball's Hardwick White.

I think my books are going to be added this weekend.

I'm glad the driveway and retaining wall look so nice since the library (converted from a garage in the 1940s) looks out onto it.

From the Family Room at the back of the house looking through the Dining Room into the Living Room. The chandelier is Thomas O'Brien for Circa Lighting but the bulbs are without their shades at the moment.

The French window that leads from the Dining Room out to the screened porch. The knob and lock on the door still need to be swapped out.

The Family Room taken from the Kitchen.

The Kitchen from The Family Room. There will be a round table under the pendant light.

I can't wait to break this lovely in.

You can see why it was important to make the garage look pretty. It's right in my line of view from the sink. I can't wait to see it once John has his garden in.

We are quite happy with this light from Allied Maker of Glen Cove, NY. They seemed to have stopped making this exact version since we ordered ours this summer. It was pretty much the only light fixture we were really enthused about. Although I must say that most of other decorative fixtures that looked cheap online look quite nice in person. Which is a good thing because lighting is expensive.

I love the size of this sink. No problems getting pots and pans in this one. I also think it is really good looking. It doesn't have zero radius corners (really sharp inside corners) but I prefer the little bit of curve that they have. Especially since Franke sink was only about $380 when every other sink we looked at was two or three times that amount. And if you want this particular model, you have to buy it from a big box retailer. For some reason Franke doesn't sell this version to wholesalers/contractor supplier firms. And its better looking than the ones they do sell to wholesalers.

Sigh.

Closer and closer

 

The Butler's Pantry getting closer to finished. Can't wait to take the plastic off the walnut counter
and the hammered nickel sink.

 

The range has been in and out of place so many times. Can't wait until it gets put back for good. Hood enclosure finished, open shelving installed, tile backsplash installed.

We went with a matte subway tile for the kitchen. Didn't want any gloss on the wall since the room is open to the family room.

Fridge finally pushed into its final resting place.

The polished nickel knobs being installed on the master bath vanity.
Paint color on the vanity is Benjamin Moore color match to Farrow and Ball Shaded White.

Mudroom door starting to look closer to finished.

 

All of mitered joints have biscuit joints.

Lights! Camera! Wrong Bulbs!

A lot of our decorative lights are in but most of them don't have the right kind of light bulbs. Here is a random selection.

Master Bedroom hall. Thomas O'Brien for Circa Lighting.

Same as above.

Bathrooms. Thomas O'Brien for Circa Lighting. In polished nickel.

 

Mudroom light in brass from Cedar and Moss.

We have this same fixture in the basement in oil rubbed bronze.

Mudroom porch from Cape Cod Brass.

Two of three Thomas O'Brien sconces in polished nickel without their shades.

 

Master closet from Schoolhouse Electric. Again with the wrong kind of bulbs.

Guest bath, Thomas O'Brien for Circa.

 

Italian light from Ferroluce purchased through German store Manufactum.

 

We have these in three bedrooms.

Barnhouse Electric

Weekend Update: It's almost looking like a finished house from the outside

  I'm sure that headline must be trademarked by SNL, but I doubt there are any NBC lawyers among my readers, so I won't sweat a lawsuit.

Things are reaching fever pitch at the house. We are having a walk through with our architect and our contractor on Tuesday morning so they are trying to tie up all the loose ends. It is one of those situations where it seems to get messier and messier as things get closer to done. Today while we were there they were installing door hardware, painting, and putting in more retaining wall next to the driveway since the new finish grade is quite different from that of our next door neighbor. We saw most of the plumbing fixtures in place, most of the decorative electrical fixtures, the banister has been stained, tile is up in the kitchen as are the open shelves, the exterior railing is up...you get the picture, its just too bad we didn't actually take pictures of all of that. Maybe tomorrow.

So, in no particular order...

You've seen the railing before, but not in this location. It certainly helps anchor the old porch (still waiting for its screens) and helps balance out the house.

The shutters that we had made in 2011 have been painted and reinstalled. The door surround has been installed. The new copper scupper for the two downspouts on the right sure looks nice.

Good spot, if not the best shot, to see the relationship between the old screen porch and the new master bedroom deck over the new family room and kitchen. You can also spy the new Bevelo lanterns on the first and second levels. And there is no missing the shiny new copper.

Lanterns in place as is the hardware on the French windows.

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Can't wait for the construction junk to go away and for the board to come off of that window on the garage.

I'm not thrilled about this light. In general I liked it and was happy to choose it, but something about its location doesn't work so well for me. This may be something that gets swapped out in a few years.

Glad this light is on the back of the garage where we won't see it much. It will be useful however, as there will be garbage cans, a grill, and eventually pool equipment hiding back here that will occasionally need illumination.

Rail against the machine (these babies were hand made)

Just when we thought most decisions were made little things with big consequences keep popping up. And now that I am working full time, they are especially hard to take care of. Instead of worrying about it or going into more detail, I  am just going to show some pretty pictures.

As with most things on this blog, I will have more to say about these gorgeous Chippendale railings, but for now I will just say they are a triumph of craftsmanship. One attempt was made to procure these custom designed railing panels from a company that specializes in such things, but in the end the design was too particular for them to pull off. So our contractors put their carpenters to work making about 16 of these modules.

I thought the railings would be nice, but they are much more impressive in real life.

Even a portapotty can't distract from the beauty of these railings.