rox,
Boy, you really studied those pictures! And you bring up some valid questions/issues. I'll try to address them all.
<font color="blue"> I took a pretty close look at the tile in the kitchen and it looks to me like hand made tiles. I could be wrong but they look that way. They are very nice. </font>
Thank you, but they are off the shelf. And I think they came from the discount tile place. Can't remember for sure because my wife did buy some tile at the local tile store (read paid full retail price), but not much.
<font color="blue"> Please don't take this wrong, but were you planning on leaving those posts in the front door that seperate the door from the side door windows white? </font>
I agree and don't know what I am going to do (well, I do know- I'll do whatever my wife wants /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I'll ask the decorator what he thinks and then we'll make a decision. We like the stained door, but the white trim does present a little more contrast than I'd like. I guess the best way to answer you is that the jury is still out on this issue.
<font color="blue"> Like the faucet int he kitchen and was wondering if it gets any type of sprayer at the end of the faucet where the water comes out. Also noticed that the handle to turn the water on an off is on the left hand side of the faucet. Is your wife left handed? </font>
There is no sprayer on the prep sink. There is a seperate hand-held sprayer on the main sink. The reason that the handle is on the left is that the hole in the granite for the sprayer on the main sink was placed to the right of the faucet. If the faucet handle on the main sink had been placed on the right, we would have rapped our knuckles on the sprayer evertime we turned the water on. So, on the main sink we more or less had to place the handle on the left. We then decided to do the same thing on the prep sink for consistency. Once we get used to which direction is hot and which is cold, I think it will be easy to use our left hand. In fact, now that i think about it, we currently have a single lever faucet in our kitchen and although it comes toward you (parallel to and above the faucet instead of on the side) I think I usually turn it on and off with my left hand, particularly if I'm holding a glass or something in my right hand. In any event, hot and cold will be the same hand movement on both sinks and, by having them the same, one won't look like a mistake.
<font color="blue"> I do like the firepalce a LOT. It will be fun to see what your wife comes up with for a surround of the tile. </font>
Thanks. I think we're going to have the trim carpenter make a surround that is similar in style to what he did around the windows and doors. Maybe with some vertical fluting on the sides. We've been very lucky when we've told the subs to "just make it look nice" or "do what you'd do if this were your home". And I think they appreciate the trust we place in them and I think they take more of an ownership attitude and do their best work.
<font color="blue"> Almost forgot another faucet question. In your outside faucet betwen the garge and the service door, is there some kind of chain hanging down form the house exterior to the faucet What is that, and what is it for, I have never seen that before. </font>
Its actually a chrome rod that is a brace for the fixture. Purely for support/strength, not an architectural feature.
<font color="blue"> I LOVE the color of your daughters bedroom, there are tons of colors that can be played off of it. </font>
I'll be sure to tell my wife you said that. Its funny, many of you regular contributors are familiar to my wife as I've passed on your comments and suggestions. For example, she knows Eddie as "Eddie, The RV Park Guy From Texas". You are "The Olive Lady From France". So, I will tell her that The Olive Lady From France approves the pink color selection.
<font color="blue"> What is left n the to do list for full home completion. What is the Punch List? </font>
I'll try to make a list from memory. Outside- set the propane tank and run the gas line, add siding to the half wall of the screened porch, add support posts to screened porch, finish the rear dech/steps, finish exterior painting, install exterior flood lights, install garage doors, pour concrete patio, sidewalk & parking pad, final grading, landscaping.
Interior - Finish painting, install back-ordered electrical and plumbing fixtures, finish grouting tile, change out the aforementioned electric outlets, sand and finish wood floors, install carpet, tile the screened porch floor, install the screen on the porch, complete installation of central vacuum, intercom, home network and security system, install appliances, add timers for hot water circulating pump and radiant floor heat in master bath. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that's pretty close.
The builder is thinking about another month to finish this.
<font color="blue"> What are you doing with your existing house? Do you have it up for sale, or is it already sold? </font>
We have not put it on the market yet. We do have a couple of people who have expressed an interest and we will show it to them first. Hopefully, we won't have to list it. If we do, I'm hoping that we can wait until we move out. I hate having people come by in the middle of dinner to do a walk through.
As always, rox, thanks for your comments and questions. If I failed to answer anything, just ask again.
