We've been in our Ravenna for 3 whole months now. Our awesome PM continues to work on fixing some of the minor issues we are having and is always in touch with us about what he's working on. The second to last house is under roof - one more house and then Ryan is done with the 15 homes they built in this neighborhood. And we are done with dump trucks and early morning hammering!
We still have not met many of our neighbors, mostly I think because we were the second ones in and aren't directly adjacent to any of the new homes. And because everyone else moved in during the colder and dark months. I hope that as it gets warmer and the days get longer, we'll be able to get to know each other a bit better.
Yesterday, I washed my car in the driveway for the very first time. And realized we should have gotten an extra hose bib near the garage. :) I'm always realizing things like this.
Today, as I was cleaning the kitchen (how does it get so gross?), I realized that the house isn't new anymore. The cabinets have fingerprints and food smears on them, there are crumbs that I can see just under the stove that the vacuum doesn't suck up, there are dings and scratches on the countertops... These aren't major, but are in stark contrast to this picture of perfection I have in my head. The picture put there by that damn model house that always looked perfect and clean!
So, my question to my Ryan friends, what is the best way that you have found to:
Clean the cabinets? I am afraid to use anything for fear of messing up the finish.
Clean the hardwood floors? The vacuum is great, and we've got this little mop shiner thing, but I think its time for something a bit stronger.
Shine up the sink? Man, its already got those rust stains in it.
Did I mention that the elderly cat has also had several "accidents" (accidents in quotes because I'm pretty sure he is doing it on purpose) on the hardwood floors. A little Fantastic and Nature's Miracle has done the trick so far, but I am not a happy camper. Neither is BF. But the cats, they seem to be pretty happy.
Not so new anymore, but we are still loving our new home.
Showing posts with label interior progress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interior progress. Show all posts
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday, September 18, 2011
11 Days
Hello Everyone!
We've been in our new home for 11 days and we are both still trying to get adjusted. I never imaged how difficult it would be to adjust and feel "at home" in a new place. Its slow going, but we are making progress every day.
For the first time in my life, we hired movers, and they were absolutely terrific. Nothing was damaged or lost and the guys were hard-working and very friendly. If anyone needs a moving company recommendation in the MD-PA-DE-NJ area, I'd be happy to share.
We had people over a couple days after we moved in - probably not the best idea in the world, but it was nice to breathe some life into our new place. Official housewarming will happen way down the road, when the 2 front rooms aren't filled with boxes.
So far, I think my favorite part of the house is the front porch. If any of you out there are thinking about getting a porch and wondering whether to do it or not, don't hesitate. Get the porch!!! We are already planning for how to decorate it for Halloween.
Now that things have settled down a bit, I can get back to blogging and sharing our progress. Hmm, or maybe I should unpack a box or two?
We've been in our new home for 11 days and we are both still trying to get adjusted. I never imaged how difficult it would be to adjust and feel "at home" in a new place. Its slow going, but we are making progress every day.
For the first time in my life, we hired movers, and they were absolutely terrific. Nothing was damaged or lost and the guys were hard-working and very friendly. If anyone needs a moving company recommendation in the MD-PA-DE-NJ area, I'd be happy to share.
I spent the day after the move unpacking the kitchen - we tripled or quadrupled the kitchen space and I'm still struggling to figure out where to put things so that they are in the most useful place. I find myself walking around and around the island grabbing a spoon here, the walking around and grabbing a bowl there, then again for a tupperware.... Ah, the problems that come with that gargantuan island.
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| The kitchen, before we started using all the counterspace as a place to store things we don't have a place for yet :) |
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| 42" cabinets are great, unless you are 5'4 - and then only the bottom 2 shelves are useful. I seriously am in need of a kitchen stool |
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| I unpacked some of my great-great-aunt's china (circa 1929) and I intend to use it the next time I invite the girls over. Except for this, which I think is a butter warmer. Anyone? |
So far, I think my favorite part of the house is the front porch. If any of you out there are thinking about getting a porch and wondering whether to do it or not, don't hesitate. Get the porch!!! We are already planning for how to decorate it for Halloween.
Now that things have settled down a bit, I can get back to blogging and sharing our progress. Hmm, or maybe I should unpack a box or two?
Monday, August 29, 2011
4 Days Until Closing
Well, it appears that our new house is hurricane and earthquake proof. I can't tell you how very glad I am that the week of East Coast destruction happened the week before we close, and not after we close. We haven't actually gotten into the house yet (Final walk-thru is Wed) but we inspected it from the outside yesterday. No siding was off, no shingles were laying around, and it looked like the basement was dry. That's pretty damn good - there was over seven inches of rain there on Sunday.
I'm pretty brain dead right now - there is SO much going on. We close on Friday. We have showings this week starting tomorrow. I've started changing addresses. BF is making appointments. Work is totally annoying. Insurance company is being a pain in the ass. Paperwork is flying. Email box is cluttered. You get the picture, and I know you've all been there too (or are going to be there very, very soon.)
So, because I have only a few brain cells left, here are some final pictures!
I know that we were really fortunate to not suffer any damage to either one of our homes. I hope that all my blogger friends fared as well - and if you didn't, I hope that your insurance company and PM resolves it quickly and painlessly.
I'm pretty brain dead right now - there is SO much going on. We close on Friday. We have showings this week starting tomorrow. I've started changing addresses. BF is making appointments. Work is totally annoying. Insurance company is being a pain in the ass. Paperwork is flying. Email box is cluttered. You get the picture, and I know you've all been there too (or are going to be there very, very soon.)
So, because I have only a few brain cells left, here are some final pictures!
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| She's done! Just waiting for that grass to come in |
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| Landscaping in |
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| More landscaping - with natives! |
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| Dining room. A little dark, but you can sorta see the floor and lighting |
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| Living room |
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| My bare footies in the silky new carpet |
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| Bathtub. I guess its time to get some bubble bath. |
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| Shower & private bathroom. |
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| Master sink - i'll try to get some better pix |
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| Family room. Shiny shiny. |
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| Wood Steps - it wasn't quite dry, but the PM ripped out the caution tape and let us go up anyway |
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Less than 2 weeks to go
We have less than 2 weeks to go until we close on our new home. I'm in total denial. It doesn't seem real.
On Friday after work, we went up to see the house. It had been several weeks since I had been able to see the inside of it and I was really excited. I hadn't seen the wood floors, or the carpet, or the appliances.... Unfortunately, my PM called right as I was leaving work with some mildly bad news. The tradesmen had just put a coat of stain on the steps and had taped it off - so we could still see the downstairs, but upstairs was off limits until the stain was dry. A day later. :(
So, I still haven't seen the upstairs with carpet and finished plumbing! But regardless, here are some updates from the first floor perspective:
Driveway and sidewalk were poured early in the week. BF was there when it was wet and neglected to carve our initials in! Boo. The shutters are painted, the electricity is on, lights are working and its like a real house!! They also painted the concrete at the bottom of the house to match the siding color.
Wood floors are in, and they look great. Right now there is vinyl down on top of them all, we had to peel it back here to see what they look like. Its still a bit difficult to see how the floors and cabinets are going to look together because of that, but its really nice that they are taking such care to make sure the floors aren't damaged as they finish up all the other details.
Pantry shelves are in! I'm assuming shelving has been completed throughout the upstairs too, but couldn't check.
This is the alternative placement for the built in microwave if you get a gas range. I think it will actually work out well here - its right next to the fridge and I can nuke something while BF is working at the stove or vice versa. With the microwave right above the stove, sometimes things get a bit hectic (note vinyl covering right up to cabinets). We also got a microwave upgrade, by 2 levels. Apparently, GE had run out of the standard microwave that comes with the stainless package, and the first upgrade after that, so we got the 2nd upgrade.
I'm starting to warm up to the laminate color, but its still not shiny and fancy. We are still holding out to upgrade to quartz. Someday.
Gas range is in, dishwasher is in - all we need now is the replacement door for that one in the corner there...
Stained steps! They look a bit messy right now - they still have to finish up the details and put the white paint on.
Next week, the landscaping will go in (more about that later) and some final inspections. We'll have our final walkthrough the wednesday after next!
I wanted to do a top 30 countdown, but have been way too busy and distracted. Perhaps I'll try a top 10 over the next 12 days.
On Friday after work, we went up to see the house. It had been several weeks since I had been able to see the inside of it and I was really excited. I hadn't seen the wood floors, or the carpet, or the appliances.... Unfortunately, my PM called right as I was leaving work with some mildly bad news. The tradesmen had just put a coat of stain on the steps and had taped it off - so we could still see the downstairs, but upstairs was off limits until the stain was dry. A day later. :(
So, I still haven't seen the upstairs with carpet and finished plumbing! But regardless, here are some updates from the first floor perspective:
Driveway and sidewalk were poured early in the week. BF was there when it was wet and neglected to carve our initials in! Boo. The shutters are painted, the electricity is on, lights are working and its like a real house!! They also painted the concrete at the bottom of the house to match the siding color.
Wood floors are in, and they look great. Right now there is vinyl down on top of them all, we had to peel it back here to see what they look like. Its still a bit difficult to see how the floors and cabinets are going to look together because of that, but its really nice that they are taking such care to make sure the floors aren't damaged as they finish up all the other details.
Pantry shelves are in! I'm assuming shelving has been completed throughout the upstairs too, but couldn't check.
This is the alternative placement for the built in microwave if you get a gas range. I think it will actually work out well here - its right next to the fridge and I can nuke something while BF is working at the stove or vice versa. With the microwave right above the stove, sometimes things get a bit hectic (note vinyl covering right up to cabinets). We also got a microwave upgrade, by 2 levels. Apparently, GE had run out of the standard microwave that comes with the stainless package, and the first upgrade after that, so we got the 2nd upgrade.
I'm starting to warm up to the laminate color, but its still not shiny and fancy. We are still holding out to upgrade to quartz. Someday.
Gas range is in, dishwasher is in - all we need now is the replacement door for that one in the corner there...
Stained steps! They look a bit messy right now - they still have to finish up the details and put the white paint on.
Next week, the landscaping will go in (more about that later) and some final inspections. We'll have our final walkthrough the wednesday after next!
I wanted to do a top 30 countdown, but have been way too busy and distracted. Perhaps I'll try a top 10 over the next 12 days.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Incredible Progress
Things are happening so fast, I just can't keep up. I have well less than 30 days to go and way more than 30 days worth of stuff to do! It also feels like there is way more than 30 days worth of work for the tradesmen to do on the house too, but PM is confident that they will meet the deadline.
We are scheduled to do our final walkthru on Aug 31 - we will have our independent inspection that day as well. Closing will be on Friday, September 2. We'll have labor day weekend to get our ducks in a row, and the movers will come on September 7. If all goes well...
Its been a while since I've posted any new pictures for you, so check this out!
Last week, they finished tiling the master bath, installing the new unbroken tub, and laid the very unexciting vinyl floor in the office/mudroom, bathroom and laundry room.
We also got cabinets!!
We are both fairly unthrilled with the laminate. The color is ok, but a little grey for my liking. The square corner cut looks cheap and/or industrial. It will be fine for a while, but I suspect we will upgrade sooner than later if we have any money left over after paying the movers, and our property manager, and for our washer/dryer and for our fridge, and for the deck... Hmmm... Maybe we will be living with the laminate for longer than I thought.
They also installed the railing for the steps last week - it still needs to be stained, but it looks really nice. I can't wait until they can uncover those hardwood steps!
Later this week, they are supposed to lay the hardwoods and the driveway and sidewalk. Its really starting to look and feel like a house. Like OUR house!
We are scheduled to do our final walkthru on Aug 31 - we will have our independent inspection that day as well. Closing will be on Friday, September 2. We'll have labor day weekend to get our ducks in a row, and the movers will come on September 7. If all goes well...
Its been a while since I've posted any new pictures for you, so check this out!
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| The vinyl siding is finished! Just waiting on the shutters. The color is Delray Sand. We like it - its happy and cheery, but not ridiculously bright |
Last week, they finished tiling the master bath, installing the new unbroken tub, and laid the very unexciting vinyl floor in the office/mudroom, bathroom and laundry room.
We also got cabinets!!
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| Cherry Cabinet (forget the name) and Brazilian Brown laminate counter |
We are both fairly unthrilled with the laminate. The color is ok, but a little grey for my liking. The square corner cut looks cheap and/or industrial. It will be fine for a while, but I suspect we will upgrade sooner than later if we have any money left over after paying the movers, and our property manager, and for our washer/dryer and for our fridge, and for the deck... Hmmm... Maybe we will be living with the laminate for longer than I thought.
They also installed the railing for the steps last week - it still needs to be stained, but it looks really nice. I can't wait until they can uncover those hardwood steps!
Later this week, they are supposed to lay the hardwoods and the driveway and sidewalk. Its really starting to look and feel like a house. Like OUR house!
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