August 30, 2012 - The stairway is done and we are very happy with the work.  Cedar is a true craftsman and very meticulous with his work.  He not only did the stairs but the built-in cabinets in the master bathroom as well.  Next week the floors are scheduled to be sanded and finished.

Built-in cabinets in the master bathroom.
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Stairs are installed and look GREAT!
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I love the look the the front walk and the small curves.
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August 26, 2012 - This past weekend Donna and I worked at the house.  Donna had primed the balusters for the stairs and then after they dried we both sanded them so she could paint them.  This week Cedar will finish the built-ins for the master bath.  The guys are suppose to come out later to sand/finish the floors.

Donna spray painting the balusters.
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Thom and Issa went to church with us today and we visited the house afterwards.
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Last night Thom and Issa spent the night, went to church with us and afterwards we visited the house.
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Upstairs bathroom vanity.
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August 23, 2012 - Well, the rest of the driveway was poured today along with the sidewalk.  We had ordered four stair treads that were specially cut but they weren't delivered with the original order.  I had to go to Campbellsville to pick them up so Cedar could install them tomorrow.  A lot going on inside and I will post more pictures tomorrow.

Driveway poured today.
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Sidewalk is also done.
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August 21-22, 2012 - A lot has happened in the past three days.  Cedar and his helper who are doing the stairs, fireplace and some other trim are coming right along.  Also the pad in front of the garage was poured today and the sidewalk and driveway will be done tomorrow.

 

Fireplace finished.
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Stairs before.
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Stairs as of Wednesday.
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Donna talking with Cedar on what she wants done.
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Sidewalk is ready for concrete.
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Concrete poured for the pad in front of the garage.
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August 19, 2012 - If you remember from the last post the granite tops were delivered and installed.  They really look nice and Donna got a very good deal.  She knows how to work those numbers!  This week the driveway and front sidewalk is supposed to be poured which will add a lot to the outside appearance.  The materials for the finish work on the fireplace were delivered and that job will start next week.  We anticipate the stair materials will be delivered this coming week and that job will be done as well.  The same guy is doing the stairs and fireplace.

The painter took all the doors off and used the basement to paint them.  All done
and just waiting for them to fully dry.
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Materials for the finish work on the fireplace.
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I built 24 shutters and Donna is in the process of painting them.
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August 16, 2012 - Donna called me while I was on my way home from work and said the granite installers were on their way.  Donna looked at a BUNCH of places and was able to get some good prices. As you can see from the pictures the counter-tops were installed.  The painter finished all the doors today (he and his two sons did all the trim earlier this week) and wants them to sit in the basement for a couple of days and let the paint set before he re-hangs them.

This is the top for the kitchen island.
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Close up of the granite for the kitchen.
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Kitchen counter-top.
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Island top finally installed.
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Different pattern in the laundry room.
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August 13, 2012 - Painting going on inside so not too much to see there.  On the outside the yard is graded and looks better than I thought it would ever be.  We are expecting the granite counter tops to come in this week and be installed.

Panorama view of the front yard.
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Panorama view of the backyard.
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August 8, 2012 - Most of the work right now is happening on the house.  Grading of the yard, laying out the sidewalk and driveway.

Progress on the driveway.
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Sidewalk at the front of the house.
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August 6, 2012 - I hear that in every building project you can have problems with a sub-contractor.  Our track record so far has been very good but yesterday I had to fire the trim guys.  Their work was fine but they were not showing up or even calling if they couldn't make it.  Tried to work with the boss for two weeks and it came to a head last weekend.  After not showing up for the entire week with an excuse they were working on another job they promised Donna they would be working Saturday/Sunday.  However, they never showed up nor did they call.  I called their boss on Monday and told him to have them pick up their tools...we would work out what we owed them, but they were fired.  They didn't pick up the tools on Monday but DID show up today and started working!  I called the boss and asked him what was happening? He said he had told the site supervisor that the guys were fired but it must not have been relayed to the workers.  I told the boss I would NOT pay for any work today and his employees should get their equipment off-site.  He said he would call them but when he called me back he indicated he was unable to reach them...he did say any work they did that day would not be billed to us.  The main boss was very apologetic and we talked at length about the problem.  When I called Donna later in the day she said they had left but the tools would be picked up tomorrow by someone with a truck.  Our contractor has another team who will start on the rest of the trim tomorrow or Thursday.

On a positive note some of the topsoil is spread in the front yard and the driveway and sidewalk are being worked on.  The concrete guy should be out sometime towards the end of this week.

Donna and James figuring out where the sidewalk will be put.
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James setting up the flags for the driveway.
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August 3, 2012 - Stuff now happening outside.  Grading started and some additional top soil delivered.  I think it's going to take more soil than we have here.  The driveway is also kind of in the beginning process right now.  Trying to figure how much room we need so we can turn and park in the garage.

Top soil in the front yard.
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Top soil in the back yard.
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Driveway in pre-planning stage.
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August 1, 2012 - The guys are still working on the trim, Donna is painting and I am making shutters.  However there are some new developments as well.  As you can see from the pictures some top soil was delivered today and grading is scheduled for tomorrow.  A couple of other things you will see happening via the pictures.

Donna is also in the process of selecting the granite counter tops for the kitchen.  She has some samples here at the house and the kitchen table is filled with small granite samples, paint chips and cabinet samples to see how they all match up.

Nice clean top soil.  Doesn't seem to be enough but we will see.
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Light switches of course.
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Wainscoting in the entry off the garage.  It will be painted white or similar color close to white.
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