week 42: pavers, lights, wood floors, spiders, shade, and a condenser

A lot happened this past week, but there's still a long ways to go... With the second deadline for completion (June 7th) now past (the first was the end of May), we're now off to the 3rd deadline, June 14th. Neither of us believe that the house will be done by the end of this week, but we shall see (and rather than discuss a "more reasonable" completion date with the builder, we're happy to stick with this one. A "more reasonable" completion date would just invite procrastination. Human nature...).

pavers

As noted earlier in the week, the pavers have arrived. On Friday, they started putting them in! They're only installed in the rear entry area at present, but enough are installed to get a sense of how they look, and they look good. I was little concerned that the black was too black, but the bride thinks they look fine. Nevertheless, I dig the "digitized" appearance of the bricks. Mucho cool.

I'm little surprised the pavers are going in when (1) the horno is not yet installed (we don't want a big ole Bobcat carrying a 1,700 pound bread oven over newly installed pavers...) and (2) the tree in the middle of the patio isn't planted yet. Perhaps the builder has the timing down to the minute; nonetheless, something to discuss...

I was hoping they would understand random placement, and it appears that they do. If it was me, I would be rolling a die for each brick placement and then making a selection. But that's me!

What they look like at night.

What they look like out the living room window.

lights

As noted earlier in the week, the rest of the lights were installed. Here are some closing photos...

Master closet.

Laundry.

Powder room.

Work-out room (second upstairs bedroom).

Upstairs closet. 

the condenser in action

At first I was disturbed since the AC seemed to be running all the time. But then I remembered: It's supposed to run all the time! We were told that it would sound different than conventional condensers. Ours is pretty quiet with a slight high-pitched tone to it... Nothing irritating (you have to listen for it).

wood floor (and steps)

As noted earlier in the week, the wood floor is going in. Most of it is installed upstairs (except the trim) and they are now focusing on the stairs and landings. To some eyes this wood choice might look a little busy for a modern minimalist house, but it yucks up the cubist/neoplastic angle. And it's always good to throw in a few design curveballs to keep 'em guessing. Really liking how the blockiness of the wood floor complements the blockiness of the pavers outside.

shade

Been watching how the window shading works on the house, particularly with the large living room window. The photo below is about noonish where the living room is now completely in the shade. The architects designed the windows and eaves here to allow sun to spill inside in the morning and then be shaded during the more brutal afternoon and evening hours.

at least someone's moved in

Looks like she wants to start a family...

punch list

black = builder
orange = us
gray and crossed = done!

general items:

- touch-up paint
- touch up drywall
    - various locations
    - tops of doorways

- polish/finish concrete floor

- clean windows

- seal sills

- door hardware

    - knobs

    - doorstops

- pocket door hardware
- wood floor (partial)
- general clean-up!

master bedroom:

- art can (partial)

- seal outside door

- outside door hardware

- plugs in bedside tables

master closet:

- light

- hanger poles (partial)

master bath:

- faucets

- toilet

- tub

- shower faucet

- tub spout

- tub faucet
- plumbing connects

- mirror

- vanity lights

- above tub light cover

- drawer plug

- cab adjusts

- switch cover in toilet room

- touch up tile trim

master hall:

- thermostat

buds and suds:

- faucet

- LEDs

- backsplash

- plug cover

- counter plug electric

- light

- cab adjusts
- drawer interference with sill (bumper on sill?)
- plumbing connects

rear entry (hee hee!):

- CO detector

- art can (partial)

- level door?

- thermostat

pantry:

- hot water control

- cable/data hookups

kitchen:

- wood for peninsula
- reinstall drawers

- back splash (partial)

- cooktop electric

- cooktop gas

- fridge

- oven/microwave

- dishwasher

- LEDs

- cab adjusts

- sink faucet

- potfiller

- seal countertop edges

- hood

- hood top cap
- plumbing connects

dining:

- art cans (partial)

- paint pillars

- crystal

living:

- speakers

- art can (partial)

- LEDs

- touch up cabs

- cab pulls

- seal upper windows to wood?

- floor plugs

entry:

- light switch covers

- door bell chime

- door knob
- door bell working

coat closet:

- pole

powder:

- sink

- light

- mirror

- toilet

- toilet buttons
- plumbing connects

office: (done!)

stairwell:

- missing plug?

- treads (partial)

- hand rail

romeo landing and hall:

- railing (partial)

- floor plug

- thermostat

- gas to furnace

- ceiling switch covers

- cans

- pendant lights (partial)

- switch cover

guest bed:

- closet pole

- closet doors

- closet door hardware

guest bath:

- faucet
- plumbing connects

- mirror

- light

- tub faucet

- can light

- shower rod

- toilet

work out room:

- ERV cover

- closet bars

- light

- closet light

garage:

- garage door

- entry door paint?

- entry door hardware

- garage door opener

- stain floor?

- switch cover

- lights

- faucet

- back light

outside:

- faucet by master

- plug by master

- cable

- plug by condenser

- water heater
- wiring to stage  (partial)
- wiring to hot tub  (partial)

- gutters

- gas meter

- gas connection

- finish out sewer clean-out under cantilever

- wire to outdoor light on front wall

- window bottom trim at front

- window bottom trim at back

- entry plug

- doorbell

- seal limestone to door at front entry

- roof over limestone/bookshelf bump-out

- carport faucet

- paint eyebrows

- seal to cypress?

- clean roof
- holes for outside speakers
- install outside speakers
- house numbers
- mailbox

landscaping:

- north side fence Sol

- north side fancy fence (partial)

- gate

- south side fence Sol

- south side fancy fence (partial)

- rear fence (partial)

- white gravel in back  (partial)

- mulch in back

- pavers (partial)

- grasscrete

- black gravel in back

- black gravel in front

- mulch in front

- feather grass

- trees in front

- trees in patio

- tree on south side
- front walls
- horno base
- place horno

stuff we'll address later on our own:
- built-in shelves in the master bath
- gate beside the garage and property line (to hide trash)
- built-in shelves in the guest bath
- built-in desktop in the guest bedroom
- in-shelf shelves in the kitchen
- cat door
- stage
- planters
- garden
- shorter drop pole for the ceiling fan in the office
- upgrade plugs and switches
- upgrade outdoor plug covers
- upgrade outdoor spigots
- cabinets in pantry
- glass shelves for buds-n-suds
- wood for shelf in living room window
- plug cover for living room
- front agaves
- hedges
- rainwater tank
- solar
- wine fridge
- window treatments
- security
- clothes line