The first cable car took us to Gimmelwald. Don’t look down!

We were high above the ground. The car did not sway. I did not get motion sickness. I brought some snacks to eat. I snapped a lot of photos. I felt calm. The scenery got better and better with each cable car ride.

The purpose of my trip to Switzerland was to visit many hotels and ski areas in Grindelwald, Wengen, and Interlaken to propose to Austin Skiers a ski trip for the 2012-2013 ski season. Holidaze sponsored the familiarity (FAM) trip.

The tile installers were busy the 2nd week that we had the house under contract. They installed the kitchen and bathroom tile and the floor tile in both of the sun porches.

On the sun porches, I had asked the builder if he could use the largest tiles he could find. Alan reiterated that point. The builder picked out tile that I liked.

I like larger tiles for two reasons: (1) the look, and (2) less grout to seal and clean. I’m most concerned about the look, of course. Yet the less that I have to clean, the better. From experience I no longer trust maids to use the right cleaning products on the right surfaces. In the past, I have had shiny Pledge bedroom furniture that was not meant to have Pledge on it.

The group could not ski this trip: Not enough snow! This meant we went on a couple sightseeing excursions. The first sightseeing excursion was to the Jungfraujoch. The second sightseeing excursion was to the Schilthorn.

The trip to the Schilthorn requires 4 cable car rides. I had never ridden 4 cable cars in a row and I was excited. The scenery was dramatic.

The purpose of my trip to Switzerland was to visit many hotels and ski areas in Grindelwald, Wengen, and Interlaken to propose to Austin Skiers a ski trip for the 2012-2013 ski season. Holidaze sponsored the familiarity (FAM) trip.

The 2nd week that we had the house under contract was exciting. With all the work being done, one would think we would move in soon. We had the remodel under contract for 8 weeks from July 18, 2011 until September 13, 2011. Remodeling an entire house takes many weeks of manual labor, city inspections, our inspection, etc. The builder moved quickly.

The tile went up fast. I had told the builder I wanted tight grout lines for the subway tile and that is what he had his subcontractors do. In these photos, the kitchen tile is not grouted yet.

The tile looks beautiful. I am happy with my selection and the help of my interior decorator, Terri Rosas, on her confirmation of my ideas and how to install the tile around the bathroom vanity.

The best food of the trip was at the restaurant at the Hotel Metropole, Interlaken. Having suspected gluten intolerance, I requested special meals on this trip. This restaurant did it best. In fact, every trip participant commented on how delicious the food was. I highly recommend the Specialty Restaurant Bellini if you visit Interlaken.

The purpose of my trip to Switzerland was to visit many hotels and ski areas in Grindelwald, Wengen, and Interlaken to propose to Austin Skiers a ski trip for the 2012-2013 ski season. Holidaze sponsored the familiarity (FAM) trip.

For a small house, the builder had many excellent ideas to maximize the living space. The house is approximately 850 square feet, but it does not feel like it. The small kitchen is well designed for storage and functionality. The entertainment center is also well designed and provides plenty of storage space for a large TV, a receiver, the cable box, a subwoofer, etc.

I know that we will be able to grow into this space because I have not kept a lot of excess stuff from the suburbia house. It is nice to move into a smaller place and still feel room to grow and add. I planned and worked hard to make it happen. I am so happy I have no more consignment store stops, except to pick up checks for what I have sold.

After touring a few hotels, we walked through Interlaken. The group found something else green that matched my jacket. Another photo op!

Interlaken is a good size city for a ski vacation. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to visit when the group is not skiing.

Today, one would never know what lies beneath, except that I snapped many photos of the remodel process. Thank goodness I have not seen a ghost.

At least one wall of the front concrete platform, which has two staircases, was painted a hideous green. I think now, What was the original owner thinking? I only discovered this wall after walking around the property and having to make a decision on what color to paint the facade of the platform. Many painting decisions.

In the backyard, on the landing leading up the backstairs, the original owner had artfully placed his initials in ceramic tile into the concrete. Much more clever than how people write their initials in wet concrete today. The owner had to do a little planning.

Neither the hideous green wall nor the owners’ initials are visible today.

Check out the flashing around the base of the columns which are holding up the front porch roof. As I write this post, I notice this detail. Flashing helps prevent wood rot. I am a huge fan of flashing.

Walking into Second Bar + Kitchen for the first time and feeling the heartbeat of Austin

Hanging in the loft and people watching The gorgeous blonde swimmer confidently exposing her shoulders and figure in a tight black dress

Enjoying a glass of Rioja Nibbling on Avocado Fundido and Bacon and Eggs

Pork Belly is the best bacon

Strolling to Urban Outfitters and trying on glasses

Alan found his Pabst Blue Ribbon shirt!

Where to go next? How about Trace at the W?

I order the MacMurray Pinot Noir. Alan suggests exploring. I spot Gabe from Whip In and say Hello!

The Red Lounge spellbound

More walking to find dinner. Around 11PM.

I like a late night meal.

20 minute wait for a table

Bar Congress first, Langhe Nebbiolo, my new favorite area of Italy and grape varietal

Washington D.C. Terri and Ahmad invited us to share their bar table Thank you

I mention Meryl Streep and how she is one of several woman wanting to build a National Women’s History Museum on federal land in D.C. that does not cost the taxpayers anything.

National Women’s History Museum

It’s time for dinner.

Congress is my favorite restaurant right now. Jay our waiter resembled The Bachelor.

David Bull is a spectacular chef. Doctor’s orders: no caffeine, no gluten, minimal dairy. The waiter asked, “Do you want dishes modified from the menu or do you want the chef to use his inspiration? ” Inspire me!

Burgundy Pinot Noir

Perfect food, wine, and company. Heather and Alan Romantic.

Date Night. In the red lounge, Alan said, “This evening reminds me of when we were dating.”

He was happy. I was happy.

Repeat.

I firmly believe in hiring an interior decorator. Before we had a contract on our new house, we hired Terri Rosas, Owner of Interiorology Staging & Design, as our interior decorator. If you are in the San Antonio or Austin area, look her up. She saved us a lot of money, time, and aggravation.

During our 2nd week under contract, the next interior design color challenges that we had were: the paint color for the interior walls and the interior trim color.

Since it is a small house, I had a few choices: (1) one wall color throughout, (2) the same wall color throughout the house, except for the bathroom which would be a different color, or (3) the same wall color throughout the house, except for the two bedrooms (the master and Alan’s office). I chose option #1.

Our friend and realtor Sheri’s house has gray walls and a dark wood floor with wide baseboards. I really like this look. I have always liked how Sheri has decorated. The color gray is what I wanted. But which color gray?

Terri knows color. I do not. Now, I know more. When you look at the photos, you’ll notice, in many of the photos, that the gray to the left has a purple tone, the gray in the middle has a blue tone, and the gray on the right is more neutral.

Although I had a mostly blank canvas with which to work, the builder had picked out a yellow tone cabinet. The purple and blue tone grays would have clashed with the yellow tone cabinet. The neutral gray works: Sherwin-Williams Crushed ice.

The trim color was not as hard to pick out. Sherwin-Williams Snowbound.

I love the gray. Our suburbia house had yellow tone walls. The builder for this remodel wanted to paint the walls a honey beige. I needed a change: new house, new colors, new color tone, no yellow undertones on the interior walls.

Gray is the new neutral and is a hot color right now in decorating. I love how clean and modern it feels in our new home.