Heather Lucier Stanley

I asked the builder if I could select the house numbers and mailbox.  I knew what I wanted.  Alan had some sales points (dollars) which I used to buy the house numbers and mailbox at Restoration Hardware.  I picked out the Oil-Rubbed Bronze to coordinate with the patio railing, front door (eventually) and window mullions and sashes.

I noticed that the house numbers were put on the post crooked at first. The builder fixed them at a later date.

The Entertainment Center finally got completed. Similar to the exterior painting, the entertainment center caused conflict. The builder and the carpenter had several misunderstandings on how wide the individual compartments should be. Alan brought over his receiver and subwoofer one day which allowed the carpenter to visually see how the bookcase needed to be finished. Thank goodness he did.

The entertainment center not only looks good, but it is functional. Functional is important. It would have looked silly to have Alan’s stereo components sitting on a small table outside of the entertainment center.

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Many little things got accomplished throughout the remodel process. These little things are important, but are often ignored. Having visited the remodel on a regular basis during construction, I noticed when things changed. For example, (1) the sewer access pipe was cut down to be even with the ground, (2) dowels were added to the master closet, (3) the builder labeled the electric meters after I bought and provided the stencils to him, and (4) the grass died in the corner next to the master bedroom sun porch deck.

For the dead grass, the builder adjusted the sprinkler head and replaced the dead grass near the master bedroom sun porch deck.

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The builder chose a stainless steel stove, ventilation hood, and dishwasher. A white stove and white dishwasher would have been perfectly acceptable to me! At our suburbia house, I learned that stainless is more upkeep. I think now, Why Stainless? I still don’t get it. Although one person told me, “When it is clean, it looks really sharp.” I do know it sells a house fast.

Brand new stainless applicances before fingerprints! Enjoy!

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The painters finished staining the back decking. The builder could not build a big deck because the progressive Austin law to protect the heritage trees prevented it. Alan wanted a larger deck, but it ain’t gonna happen here.

The builder intended to tile over the concrete stairs. I liked the idea, but before he started, I asked, “Are they going to be slippery?” He said, “No.” Our inspector felt differently and suggested that we put adhesive strips on the stairs. I did not like this idea at first because I felt the adhesive strips would take away from the aesthetic beauty of the stairs. However, as I look at the stairs today, I realize that they are not beautiful. Or I could say and think, The stairs are beautiful in their own way. Aren’t we all?

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A few friends had asked me, “Is the builder going to power wash the chimney?” The upper portion of the chimney looked dark and dingy. During the 7th Week that we had the remodel under contract, the builder power washed the chimney. He also finished all the landscaping. He added a soaker hose in the area near the chimney, mulched and mulched and mulched, and added two shrubs to the front yard. Although, the builder did not plant flowers, he spent serious money on the Zoysia grass which is more permanent. I forget how much the grass cost per pallet, but it was a lot. The Zoysia grass makes Alan really happy.

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At the end of the 6th week that we had the house under contract, I saw a lot of progress. The builder personally trimmed the bushes; he loves to landscape and prefers to do it himself.

The builder also installed foundation vents himself at my concern. I had read up about foundations needing to breath and realized that the foundation skirting needed 6-7 vents for proper airflow under the house. He did not argue with me and installed the vents. Our inspector felt that an adequate number of vents had been installed.

The builder’s fence design is pleasing. I appreciate the horizontal design and the different size slates throughout.

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The builder picked out the stove, the dishwasher, the stove vent and the microwave. The stove and dishwasher arrived, but could not be installed for 2 more days until the floor had more time to rest and set.

I said to the builder, “I’m OK with waiting.” I did not want the floor scraped in haste.

The builder was proud of the stove. I have never seen such an expensive stove in person. “It’s an NXR.” he said and added, “They are $2,000.” My thoughts: A $2,000 stove for me, a person who does not devote a lot of time to cooking. Too Funny.  But it is a selling point.

The fact that he had to tell me the price when I gave him a perplexed look at his mention of NXR confirmed my ignorance. I am ignorant about stoves and I could not tell you which is the best. The stove looks cool and I like it. Another thought, For $2,000 a pop, it better look cool.

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After the floors were completed, the painters had touch up. The carpenter had reworked the entertainment center, the sheet rockers had to straighten the seam where one wall met another in the master bedroom, the builder noticed other imperfections and so did I. Painting was such a hard task on this project. I thought, Painting is easy. What is the problem?

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During the 6th week under contract, the hardwood floor had finished drying. The builder did not let us in the house for a week while the floor dried. Instead, I focused on everything going on outside the remodel. I was, however, curious about the floor. I thought, How is it going to look?

Fabulous! The right color stain. Perfection!

I’m in love with the hardwood floors really. The dogs have already scratched it, but I’m OK with it. I love our dogs more than the floor. I am excited to entertain friends and family in our new pad.

A new pad. Old House! A new beginning. Mature companionship! New Energy. Old Friends!