Ready for Everything to Die

Brian got 12 bags of recycled rubber "mulch" for the front landscaping last week, and we got another 8 bags today to try to round it out (in reality, we could probably use 4-6 more bags, but we will wait until spring for those).

Here's the final product:


Before and after pictures:


We'll have to replant most of it in the spring, and then move on to the other side of the steps (under the tree) and the back yard.

Landscaping Almost Done

We spent most of this morning making trips back and forth to Home Depot to get the landscaping done. First, we pulled the weeds and moved the irrigation out of the way, then headed to Home Depot for fill dirt.

I realize we could have gone to get fill dirt a million places, but it was cheap enough and convenient enough, so we just got bagged dirt (market topsoil replacement) at H.D.

First trip:

• 12 Bags of Generic "Topsoil Replacement" (1 cu.ft./bag)
  
• 6 Bags Miracle Grow Garden Soil (2 cu.ft./bag)
  

That barely put a dent in what we need.

Second trip:

• 12 Bags Miracle Grow Garden Soil

That did better and we got things leveled out, but still about 4" too shallow, so we needed more. We discussed the number to get - and since 12 bags fit nicely in the SUV we just settled on that.

Third trip:

• 12 Bags Miracle Grow Garden Soil
• Garden Rake
• Garden Weasel
• Ground Cover & Stakes
  

In all, that pretty much did it - we do realize we'll need to fill in more once things settle after winter, but overall, it looks pretty good. (We got a few compliments from the neighbors - even at this stage.)




Next up was to move all of the mums to one location - we'll fill in with something that blooms in Spring to ensure there's SOMETHING here.

Last, we went to City Floral and got a few things that should last the winter (we'll see - we're planting REALLY late) and a few sale items (the purple tall things in the back) that were $4.99 and will likely die in the next 6 weeks. But overall, it looks pretty good.


Only thing left to do is get the recycled rubber mulch replacement (instead of cedar or wood chips) and layer that in. That will have to wait until next weekend - unless Brian gets ambitious tomorrow while I'm traveling to Chi.

Project Update - Front Landscaping

We've been playing around with the front landscaping for a while now, but finally made some progress.  You can see the "before" pictures from a few weeks ago in this older post.

After a bit of scratching our heads, we read a few things online and then headed to Home Depot to get a few things.  We're not finished yet, but we have the new retaining wall up.

It's actually 3 stones high (18") but doesn't appear so due to the depth of the first stone behind the grass.  We're debating adding one more row to it for height, or waiting and putting in another row behind it (in the Spring, we're done for fall - or close to it) for a terraced effect - which might be kind of cool.  Then we can put our perrenials in the upper terrace and our annuals in the lower one - for a two-tiered effect.  Just have to make sure the irrigation works out.

We're having people over in a bit, so we're done for this weekend - but next weekend we have to back fill it with topsoil (which also helps us not have to worry as much about the horrible clay soil here in Colorado) and then move around the mums and yellow shrubs we have there now - no need for them to go to waste!  After that, we'll probably just plant some annuals so it looks nice until everything dies in the next month or two.

Project Update - Doors on Cabinet

We finally got the glass on the doors for the cabinet next to our wine fridge (where we keep the booze).  Unfortunately, the top 3 designs we wanted all couldn't be tempered - and given this is RIGHT behind the sink, we felt it important to use tempered glass.  We still used a cool grid pattern, but it wasn't our first choice.

Only thing we have left to finish the kitchen is the new backsplash and some fresh paint.  Maybe we'll get that done before Spring!

Three Projects In the Works

So we have 3 projects in the works.

1. Redo front landscaping
2. Finish the glass on the 2 cabinet doors (next to the wine fridge on the island)
3. Get the backsplash up.

The kitchen woman came and got the doors for the glass yesterday, so I'll be able to post pics next week.

Today, I spent most of the day in the yard tearing out the weeds, overgrown grass and general disarray that was our front flower bed. We're going to tear the rest of it out next Saturday - and try to put in as much of the retaining wall as we can to build a planter - and then likely fill and plant in 2 weeks.

Here are the pics of the current state:

Wide shot.

Close up of the sidewalk.

Close up of the center (we'll put the mums & yellow bushes in somewhere).

Close up of the left side by the neighbor's yard.

Much to do!

Artwork.

One of the things about having a house (vs. an apartment) is the overwhelming need to decorate. This requires artwork, of course. We have a few pictures framed that I took - and some old posters we haven't put up yet (and may not), along with some unique prints that will eventually go somewhere, but we're more or less art-less.

Our first venture was a with allposters.com. It's an old Chicago & Southern airlines poster redone as a high quality print. You can order just the poster, or matte and frame it and have it shipped. We did the latter. It hangs behind our couch:



The second major piece came as a gift from my Mom. She's recently gotten back into painting (watercolors mostly) and wanted to do something for our house. It seems a bit frightening to get artwork from a relative - if you see something in a gallery that you hate, you don't have to buy it. Art from a family carries a certain obligation.

Fortunately, my Mom has been doing some really great work, and I really like her style. She used the color scheme in our house as a base, with an abstract frame of our front porch - and some brown-eyed susans for color and interest. It turned out great!

Mom and Dad brought it with them on their last visit - and we took it in to be framed. I just got it back today and hung it up. It looks fantastic. Here are two views:





I'm so proud to have her work on display - hopefully she'll give us more down the road :)

New Dining Room Light!

We've been talking about this light since Christmas 2006, so I figured we should order it. I found it on Amazon.com for $333.00 and free shipping (through a 3rd party) so I just went for it. It came in about a two weeks ago and last weekend, I put it in with Brian's help (it's really quite easy). The hardest part was figuring out which circuit breaker shuts off the ceiling lights in the kitchen/dining room!

Anyway, here are a few shots of the cleaned up dining room and new light. Enjoy!





There are four 100-watt bulbs in it (they're full-spectrum compact flourescents though, so they give off a LOT of light but don't take a lot of energy). It really improved the look of the dining room dramatically. It will definitely be an 'exclusion' when we sell the house.

Not finished yet, but oh so close.

So we're still not finished yet. I'm not sure if someone at Home Depot isn't bothering to order the final things we need or what - we finally got the panel for the island (to make the blank spot less blank - it will be a false door). But we're still missing:

• Broken deep drawer needs replaced
• Double-layered silverware holder for top drawer
• 3 roll-out shelves (had 2, were the wrong size, one is still missing)
• Faucet still leaks a little bit
• One shelf needs to be planed down so it fits

Some of that (last 2) are just waiting for the REST to get here so they can come finish at once. This whole thing has gone on for over 2 months now (was supposed to be 'less than 2 weeks').

So, in the spirit of spinning this to a POSITIVE post - here's what it looks like ALMOST finished (dishwasher is in finally!)

















Oh yeah - the glass for the two doors next to the wine fridge isn't here yet, but that's our fault. We're custom ordering it ourselves and just haven't called the guy yet. Soon. Very soon.

So close...

The rest of the countertops are in - and I LOVE them. Brian will too when he gets home, I'm sure. I sent a pic to his Blackberry but it doesn't do them justice. In fairness to Home Depot, it WAS roughly 48 hours after my tirade about the wrong sink that this got done. Kudos to keeping a deadline.

Shot of the sink base and adjoining counter:


Close up on sink:


Call my crazy, but I think that dual-sized bowls in the sink really make an impact and class up the joint. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

We called our HD contact last night to confirm the plumber. You'll recall on Tuesday that it was 'either Thursday at 4pm or Friday morning at 7am.' With a promise he'd call us on Wednesday to confirm.

No call. So we called Home Depot. Of course, our guy is up in the mountains on 2-days off and won't be back until Friday. So the guy we spoke to called him, and said "I couldn't quite make out what he said but I think the plumber comes at 4pm." Lovely.

After the sink was installed, I called our contractor (unfortunately the only number I had was the owner's cell, but he was gracious). He's checking with our lead guy to confirm the plumber. I think if it's NOT tonight at 4pm, I'm going to explode. Still waiting to hear.

We also got 5 boxes from Kraftmaid via FedEx this morning - presumably all of our missing doors and pieces. So I let them know those are here and hopefully they can find time to install and get things finished.

Right now, I could care less about 3 damaged and 1 missing door. I want a sink. I want a dishwasher. Those are priorities!

Countertops - only 1/2 way.

Unfortunately, there was a f*ck up with our sink. I don't know any other way to describe it. We ordered what's known as a "bishop" sink. It has two basins, but one is larger than the other. We confirmed 4 times with Home Depot® that the right sink would come.

So today after they go the island done, and the countertops to the left of the stove, they brought in the countertop for the sink base and the sink. The conversation went something like this:

"It's the wrong sink."

"This is the one we have on the order form."

"I believe you. But it's the wrong sink - let me make a call."

From there I had a "conversation" with our designer at Home Depot. In the end, there was apparently some miscommunication between him and Silestone® about the sink - so they will work out the $1500 cost to cut a new piece for our REAL sink.

After a bit of discussion, we will have the new sink & the rest of the countertops put in between 10 and 1 on Thursday. We felt 48 hour turnaround was acceptable.

The plumbers will then come EITHER 4pm on Thursday or 7am on Friday to hook up the plumbing and dishwasher.

For now, enjoy these photos of the two pieces that ARE done:







No word yet on the 3 replacement doors (damage), 2 missing doors, missing silverware inset or kick-panel finishing. On top of getting them re-doing the microwave venting so it actually VENTS to the outside, fixing a few shelves and other finishing touches.

As soon as those parts are in, we'll get a date scheduled.

We can cook again!

As we were thinking about the countertops being installed - and a 1" bullnose end on all of the exposed edges, we measured the stove and realized that odds are it wouldn't fit. It would have about a 1/2" of clearance - if that.

We called John at Home Depot and after much discussion, the contractor sent over 2 guys to put the stove in place this morning (at 7:30) before the countertop guys get here at Noon. To ensure it will fit. It was quite an ordeal, even without the countertops in - but it's in. Looks great. And it works. If it wasn't 9:40 in the morning, I'd go make a pizza or something.



Now we wait for countertops.

Countertop Update

While I was in Chicago yesterday in agency meetings, I got a voicemail from the countertop installers. The short of it - they're coming on Tuesday at noon to install our Silestone® countertops!

I have to say - not a moment too soon. If all goes well the last remnants of replacement doors and kick panel will be here by then, and by Friday we'll have the kitchen 100% finished. With working oven, dishwasher & new sink.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Kitchen in stages.

Before:


During:






Today (waiting for countertops & finishing touches):

Kitchen - End of Day 8

This is how our kitchen will sit for around 10 days until:

• counter top comes in and is installed
• replacement doors (3) come in and are installed
• finishing touches put on (once the two above are done)

Pantry & fridge on the East wall.


Left corner.


Right corner.


Sink base.


Island.



(Glass for the doors will be installed once countertops are in).

Kitchen Progress - Day 7

Some photos of the kitchen taking shape.

The pantry being framed & completed.




New microwave goes in.


Contractor mounting doors.


Sink base complete.