First: The Land. Now, the house on "The Land"

[Golfgar4]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Hi Bill! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Great to hear from you again!

Wow! That's going to be a really nice place when you're finished. How many acres do you have there?

I know what you're going through, as we've done the same thing twice! It's frustrating, exciting, tiring, exhilirating, wearisome, fun, troubling, etc., etc., all at the same time. But like Paul said, it's SO nice when it's done! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Remember, my wife is a home designer and an interior designer, so if you need/want any advice or suggestions, let me know. I'd be happy to pick her brain for you! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Keep us posted as to your progress. We'll be looking for those updates! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

But there's just one thing that you could do just a little bit better. I only saw one picture with your tractor in it! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Remember, this is T B N! We EXPECT to see tractors in pictures! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Thanks, Paul. A great mental image of you and the dogs at dawn. I have never been to my property without feeling better! We'll have two decks plus the screened porch and the pavillion -- think we like the outdoors? Also, we spent a good chunk of our budget on windows to bring The Land inside as much as possible. Congratulations on completing your home. Give the dogs a pat for me.

Bill

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Ken,

You're right; lumber smells great - it's the cost of that wonderful smell that is staggering! Appreciate the comments. I'll keep posting as we progress; let me know what you think. By the way, we LOVE wood and will have LOTS of trim in the house and all of the finishes will be natural - just sealers, no stain. should be interesting.

Bill

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Egon,

The Land will be a combination of manicured and "wild." Around the house, I'll mow, but plans call for restoration of the Oak Savannah, something that is little known but is garnering a lot of interest these days. We'll have sedges and wildflowers around the trees -- I'm breaking my back eliminating the prickly ash, multifloral rose and other "understory" unwanted grown so that the forest will be as it was before the grazing stopped and the fires were all controlled. We'll probably burn in the spring to release even more natural growth.

No, not a golf course. The footpring of the house is large because it's one level. My goal is to be dragged out of there some day (hopefully AFTER I'm dead) and be tossed on the burn pile! We've designed the master bed/bath with 3' doors, in case a wheelchair is in the future -- plans call for staying as long as we can.

Leave it to you to talk about memories -- we already have them. It's quite a thrill to stand in front of that 8'X8' window frame and look at the "picture oak" that I designed the house around. I have a beloved dog (Edgar) and cat (Romeo) already buried there. The flower meadow we named "Romeo's Garden." We aspire to be part of this place and good caretakers of it. Attaching to the land is only good.... But I know that you know that already! (I still want you to bring my rocks!).

Bill

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Thanks, Pete. Will need to talk with you in the next year or so about Goldens again. We'll be ready. We're thinking about a female this time. My two boys broke my heart (and filled it before they were gone). Keep New England beautiful for us -- lots of TBNers are doing their part. I'll keep you posted on progress. Trusses next week and it will really start looking like home, then.

Bill

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Thanks, Mile. I see from your bio that you live in the hardwoods. I think you'd love some of these oaks. Our "grandpa oak" is over 300 years from DNR estimates. We're blessed that the families who owned and farmed nearby land didn't cut the timber. Let me hear from you again.

Bill

 

[s1120]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

<font color="red">I have a beloved dog (Edgar) and cat (Romeo) already buried there. The flower meadow we named "Romeo's Garden." We aspire to be part of this place and good caretakers of it. Attaching to the land is only good.... </font>

There you go. I could not say it better myself.

I had went in to building my house the same way. I loved the land, and wanted nothing more to spend the rest of my life here. Well, that was pushed to the side for awile by a group of people that called there selfs builders. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I will never forgive them for what they did to my famley, but now that the dust is starting to settle,[not done yet, but working on it] those good feelings are comimg back. So all I can tell you is to enjoy it. It allready sounds like you are having a good building experance, so make that part of your good memerys. I hope you the best, and enjoy every minnuit you have there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Rob,

After consulting in good faith with 4 builders, we decided to act as our own GC. We'll be saving in excess of 100K based on prices we were given. I may need to take on that second job at McDonald's but I'm trying to avoid it!! Costs we were given were absurd. For example, our second garage, identical to the first is 24X30 with Hardie siding and some nice detail, but nothing fancy - two insulated doors, etc. One builder said he would construct it for $38,000! After arranging subs, materials, etc., we will be paying around $18,000 for the identical building. I do believe in profit, but not to that extent. We actually have had the design of our home firmly in mind for nearly two years. We've waited in order to manage costs. We did find a wonderful gentleman, semi-retired and honest who was a builder for years (152 homes among other buildings). He is coordinating subs for us when we can't.

I have done site work up to a point and we will be painting the house -- maybe with some friends help. We had an estimate of $20,000 for painting! I've really started to enjoy the idea of painting after that! In brief, we've been patient and sometimes frustrated, but we're rarin' to go now.

Bill

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Thanks, Gary. Will do.

Bill

 

[blurrybill]

Re: First: The Land. Now, the house on \"The Land\"

Good to hear from you, Golfgar! I'll be interested in your wife's comments, too as things progress. We're planning on some bold colors for a change in this house, including in the exterior -- earth tones, but 3 colors on the Hardie plank siding -- you'll see it maybe next spring when it's warm enough to paint. All our hardware will be sating chrome -- wanted satin nickel, but haven't won the Lotto yet. Mission style doors and three woods. White oak floor with slate behind a free standing wood burning stove (Vermont Castings, if Pete is reading). Cabinets will be natural maple with walnut tops. There is 2500-3000 lineal feet of oak trim banding windows together and we have 3 light troughs for accent lighting. Hard to describe but a dream come true for us. I'm sure that blood pressure medicine will help when the bills come in.

I'll keep you posted. By the way, let me know if you see some of the guys in person on your vacation. Didn't I read about that somewhere?

Bill