Repainting the house to a color we like will cost about $850, provided only a single coat of paint is added to what is already there. Since the house is nearly white now, covering it with something bluer seems very doable with a single coat. Tomorrow we meet with the builder, his agent, and our agent to view samples of the two blue(r) colors we think will move the house to the color we envision.
We are also slated to view and make final decisions on the various tiles, carpets, and floor coverings in the house. We met last week with the tile store manager and the builder and picked tile for the master bath, hall bath, and half bath, as well as for the master bath back splash. At that time the kitchen counter top choice was still up in the air. We have since learned that the hoped for source for the black granite with blue flakes that we had originally picked out isn’t going to work. So we have to choose a new kitchen counter top color.
Once that decision is made we can revisit the provisional kitchen back splash tile and hopefully sign off on that too. They also want to show us the carpeting for the upstairs bedrooms, stair case, and studio space (the down stairs). With these choices made and written up we’ll have completed most of the interior design choices.
Still left are faucets and lights. For the most part we are okay with the fixtures mentioned in the builder’s specification sheet for the house. Due to an email snafu we only just received this document over the weekend. The one selection we want to change is the kitchen sink faucet. The builder has selected a “pull down spray faucet” which neither of us likes or wants. We prefer a separate spray wand – which will likely mean a different sink, one with a cutout for that fixture.
The specification sheet doesn’t say anything about lights or ceiling fans. We know that the corner bedroom does not have a ceiling fan included. However, we paid for more recessed lights than were used in the studio space, so we are hoping to trade in that surplus for a fan in the corner bedroom.
I am also curious what kind of light fixture is slated for the dining room. The trend these days is for some hanging monstrosity. Hopefully we can find a less ornate one for our space that fits in the allowance.
This morning while visiting the house, Sibylle got to see the patio being poured. While we were both there at noon the finishing touches were being applied to that concrete. Out front the cement crew was preparing the ground for the driveway. From previous conversations with the builder we knew that there is some city code about how wide your driveway can be in the city easement. Most of the driveways in the neighborhood that are attached to 3-car garages have a pronounced curve on one side to bring the 3-car width at the house down to a 2-car width at the street.
Not only does the sharp curve look odd, it seems like it would make accessing the 3rd bay difficult. We asked about having a wider driveway and were that the city would fine the builder for going over. Today we talked to the crew and they said that the fine wasn’t much so we called the builder to talk to him. He explained that it isn’t so much a fine as getting permission from the city to wide the drive in their easement. The city (apparently) cuts the curb to allow for the drive. Adding to our situation is the location of a large storm drain.
At last word from the builder this afternoon a city inspector will come to the property first thing tomorrow to approve of a wider drive way, and we’ll get something that more gracefully widens from the curb to the house. At least that’s the plan.
And, as we say to each other every day, “Is it done yet?”
