New Blog - Almost Done

Sept. 20: Happy Birthday to my Brother Rob, and in celebration of his aging.... I thought I would catch up the blog. The last few weeks in and around the house can only be described as slow chaos. There have been few really big changes, but each week several small details that needed getting done are marked off the list. We are unofficially moved into the main part of the house - out of the guest suite with room to stretch. To make the house liveable, bathrooms needed to be functional, and stairs needed to be safe. We also had our laundry machines installed in the main laundry room which turned out to be quite an event. Our shipment arrived this week, so the house is still in a mess but this too will pass. 

Completed staircase in the great room. The glass guards still need to be installed. Notice that we still don't have a front door. We have thought of polishing up the chip-board for a modern look!!

Staircase from the upper floor. The treads are solid oak, stained to match the flooring. 

Upper landing prep'd for glass installation

View of the back staircase with oak trim on the half walls. 

Concrete stairs to the mechanical room

Short stairs on the West Side of the house from the (potential) patio to the (potential) sidewalk.

My completed ensuite..... or spa as I refer to it. Thanks to Lorin (Interior Designer) for a fabulous space!!!

Dryer in - we had to place this appliance first so the plumber could hook up the gas. Now the struggle is to get the washing machine into a just-big-enough space. 

Bringing in the washer. The plumbers had to get a motorcycle lift to move the machine and place it in the space provided. Then the door of both machines had to be removed as well as the backing to the washer. 

Someone had to get behind the washer to replace the backing and hook the thing up. The problem was that once the task was done, there was no way to get him out again!!

An escape hole is cut.....

And we can now get him out!!! Thanks to a great team from WestBay. 

Moving in day early September. 

There are piles of boxes and stuff everywhere.......

And piles of waste that the company assured me they recycle.....

After work and stress - we took some time to meet the neighbors! 

A few missed details

August 2: It has been 12 months since we started this project, and we are truly looking forward to the build's completion so we can make this house our home. I realized I have not included a couple of details - so here goes. 

The dining room table from Live Edge Design looks good under the light. The lighting fixtures that were soo difficult to choose accent the great room well.

View from the outside in!!

Our newest piece of art!!

The treads for the lower part of the staircase are now fitted. All treads are now off to the painters for staining. 

The tides are amazing this time of year...... This is the first time I have seen the water out East of our lot line. When the tide goes out the birds come in including blue herons, gulls and geese. 

This evening the tide came back in, well past the lot line, and up to our sea wall. Our own little "Bay of Fundy".

And More Bling goes in....

July 29: Months of choosing, planning and hoping I have done the right thing is coming together.... Whether it is right or not is yet to be seen. In the last 10 days or so, the appliances in the kitchen have been installed, along with the some more bathroom fixtures and tile in the kitchen and kitchenette. Love the Miele Appliances... and the feeling like our living space is becoming well, livable. . 

The guys from ASAP Appliance Repair installing the Miele appliances.... His head is in the oven space in front of the refrigerator. 

The heart of the kitchen, gas range top and all his buddies!! I can't wait to cook!!

My husband's favorite toy... a coffee maker and mug warming drawer. 

Stair treads, fitted, and ready to be stained. Note the steel stringer is no longer rust red, but a wonderful shade of gun metal grey... cool!

One of two amazing pieces from live edge design. The bar that will be installed on the island - a solid piece of maple found with the right natural curve to suit our purposes..... 

The other live edge piece is our new dining room table - from rough wood to this piece of art... 

Backsplash in the kitchenette.... love the tile.

Ensuite bathroom almost completed; tub in, towel warmer in - just need wine and candles.

Light fixtures and towel bars installed on the vanities.... 

One of the hottest days of the year, and Dan is digging a trench to service our outdoor living space.... Thanks,

A month of Details missed....

July 18: So much happened in the house build while away... as expected. Interior doors (and door handles) installed, exterior doors removed, some appliances in (and functioning) and most of the plumbing fixtures in place. Siding has been completed on three sides of the house, and the exoskeleton removed (no more scaffolding). The same day the counters were installed, the fireplace in the great room was finished - a wonderful design statement.... Thanks Lorin.

Interior door between the front entry and the mud room. 

French doors with the handles on... and the protective paper on the glass. Sigh

Closet and bathroom door in the den... the glass door is a pocket door....

The front door was in, and now removed for rehabilitation.... Sigh

Door to the powder room under the stairs.....

Small powder room... What else do we need as we rush in from the garage???

Bosch Laundry installed in the mud room... 

Freezer in the pantry.... finally.

East side of the house with completed siding and no scaffolding!!

Ocean side of the house.... again, no scaffolding. The concrete cap for the pillar is framed, to be poured next week.

Fireplace stone installation completed.....did I say love the design? 

Kitchen Counters

July 18: Big Day last week - the long awaited, and somewhat surprising, stone for the kitchen counters arrived. While away, we were informed that the quartz stone chosen last fall was not going to be available until the end of July or perhaps the end of August. Without counters, plumbing cannot be finished, and appliances cannot be installed. The domino effect prompted us to look at other options. On suggestions from our interior designer (I cannot take credit for this one!), we reviewed granite and quartz options online, and in pictures supplied by the local installer, Stone Age. All the home building literature advises that you should actually go to the supplier and view your individual piece of stone prior to purchasing, but being on the other side of the Atlantic, this was not an option. So with faith in our design team, we made a long distance decision, and we do not regret it at all - the stone (granite) looks amazing. We should have a real kitchen in a week or so. 

Giovanni and team getting ready to lift the island counter top.... 

Sliding the single piece of granite into place.

In place; The counter top is actually 2 pieces, with a seam in the middle of the prep sink insert. 

View of the counter from the hallway.

East side counter with the stainless steel farm sink; It is also in 2 pieces, with the seam at the center of the sink insert. 

The 'waterfall' edge where the kitchen and dining room meet....

Counters surrounding the range top, which is 'dry fit' here to size the counters..... 

Close up of the Virginia Mist granite....

Soooo close.....

The Blog was not Abandoned.....

July 18: It has been a long time since I last blogged.... it seems that moving internationally, re-establishing residency and getting through jet lag (for the last time?) took more time, energy and focus than I had planned. It was exciting to see the build after being away for almost a month - we are getting close to having a habitable space. 

A celebration lunch as we settle into the guest rooms above the garage - All we need is something to sit on, something to watch, and a carpet to make us feel at home. Thanks for the food and good company!!

Photos from Friends

June 25: As we pack up our lives overseas, my dear friend Janice has been visiting the build and (along with contractor Martin), sending photos of progress. It seems lots of the house jewelry is being installed right now; lights, appliances, interior doors and staircases! Thanks so much for keeping us updated!!

Granite bowl on the powder room countertop.......

Adjacent to the powder room is the den shower/vanity with the newly installed marble countertop and trim

Now that the steel stringers for the staircase are bolted to the floor (and walls, and upper floor), the rest of the hardwood is glued down. 

Giovanni, the master of all things stone, is applying the stone wrap on the fireplace. The product is called Neolith - a compact, nonporous surface made from super heating a combination of glass, quartz and porcelain. It is thin, perhaps a 1/4" thick, but nearly indestructible and well suited for high temperatures.... like the fireplace! He is putting in the hearth and trim, and will be back in a week or so with the rest of the fireplace and the granite counter tops.... I hope.

Pendant lights over the island.... need to turn the last one....

A/C installed but not working yet.... 

Dutch door between the kitchen and the mud room....

French doors into the den from the front hall.... it really is starting to look like a home with door installation.

More doors! this one between the ensuite and the walk in closet.... the rest of the wall will be similarly panelled. 

Completed countertop in the kitchenette.... This counter is a solid core laminate.

Ceiling lights in the spare bedrooms....

And a fan in our bedroom .....

Stone Counter tops

June 17: So exciting to see the bathrooms take shape, but at the same time we have slowed down with kitchen development.  The quartz countertop material that we had selected for the kitchen 'is not available'. It means we need to select again..... Thankfully I have support from Lorin, Interior Designer, Zebra group, to help match a new material with the cabinets, backsplash and general decor in the great room. In the meantime I can enjoy the marble in the bathrooms, and the solid core laminate in the guest suite.. Additionally, the elevator installation moves forward as does the siding installation.

Vancouver Island Marble on the vanity in the powder room... just need the granite vessel sink. 

Marble counter top in the guest suite bathroom with the undermount sink installed. 

Elevator cab installation

The floor will be covered with the marmoleum product. 

Siding complete on the ocean side, lower level - hope to have the East side done soon, so the scaffolding can be removed - less exoskeleton is good. 

Catch Up

June 12: It has been a week since I published, and I need to catch up with all the events happening in the house. As noted, the elevator parts were delivered and installation is in progress. (this large appliance was a 'wish' for our older age in the design, but here goes!). The cabinets are almost complete, with CJ putting in handles, counter tops and kick plate details. The flooring is being laid, light fixtures mounted and my wonderfully exciting appliances delivered. Finally, the stringers for the stairs in the great room and upper landing  have been installed. Lots happening in one week!! 

Parts for the elevator cab ready for installation

Business side of the cab - has a 'nick' on the side to be repaired.

Cab installation in progress

Pantry with countertop and handles installed.

Laundry room with counter top and sink - waiting on plumbing fixtures!

CJ installing the 'kick plate' on the island in the kitchen... love his attention to detail!

Applying the hardwood floor in the dining room and kitchen... yeah!

It goes in fast!!

The lower level flooring is a complete glue down.... guess you cannot put nails (or staples) in concrete.

Dining Room and Kitchen done... the blue tape is stabilizing the boards while the glue drys overnight. 

The Nana walls uncovered.....

Finished in the kitchen..

The flooring is covered to protect it during the rest of the build....

Installing hardwood in the den.....

Working on tile in the entry-way....

Self leveling concrete is put in the mudroom to bring the level of the floor up prior to installation of the recycled vinyl flooring... marmoleum. This ensures the floors are level from one room to another. 

Stair installation... part 1

Part 2 going in - they tell me each stringer weighs approximately 700 lbs.

Stair stringer on the upper landing. All three will be painted in place. 

Siding complete on the street side..

And on the ocean side this is the highest tide I have ever seen!!!

Elevator??

June 3: Originally we planned to stack two storage closets between the first and second floor of the house so we could install an elevator later in life if we needed it. BUT our contractor found a small cab elevator that Federal Elevator was offering on sale  prior to price change due to the dropping Canadian dollar. Sooo we took the plunge. Rationalization: it will be great way to move 'stuff' from the lower to the upper floor - but we are dedicated stair users until we can't. 

Cool, the elevator parts and the guys to put it together arrived today. They told me it will take 5 - 7 days to install the whole thing. More pics to come. 

The parts arrive and are muscled into the house. 

Starting the installation......

11 months and counting.....

June 2: We are going into the 11th month of the build, and it is now conceivable we will be living there soon!! Again, it is a week of small changes. Cabinet handles installed on the drawers in the kitchen, doors hung upstairs, and trim applied to baseboards and door frames in the guest suite. Of course, the siding continues to crawl up the exterior walls, and I saw painters working on the East wall that is mostly covered in siding. I took a quick trip up to Duncan this morning for another brief visit to the Live Edge Workshop to collect the 'off cuts' from the wood slab that is our dining table. I also got a brief look at the bar, while it was being hand sanded by the craftsmen at Live Edge. Sooo beautiful.

Handles installed on the island - really finishes the look.

And on the 'appliance' wall 

Upper cabinets with handles... you can tell I am a bit obsessed with this kitchen......

Cabinets surrounding the sink, .....

Finally the stack of drawers between the dishwasher and the dining room...

Vanity in the powder room with the doors and handles applied. - coming together.

Vanities hung in the ensuite ready for counter measurement...

Love the storage in each vanity. Note the wonderful detail on the end of each vanity....

Laminate glass door installed on the water closet door in the ensuite. 

Doors installed on the master bedroom and closet. 

Hall closet door and the laundry room without a door. Paul has raised the floor in the laundry room so the vinyl flooring is the same height as the hardwood. 

The door to the guest suite is on!!!

Paul is installing trim as baseboards and surrounding the closet doors. Nice and Clean

The siding on the street side should be done by the  end of the week. 

Note how the siding is cut to trim the slanted windows. 

The street side of the house is looking good. 

Sneak Peak at the table in the Live Edge Workshop...

Craftsman hand sanding the bar....

Dennis's pile of off-cuts and our guide to the process, Amber..... 

Safely nestled in the crawl space - thanks to Jeremy and Leighton...

A family of geese moved in with the tide!!

Cabinet Crafting and other stuff

May 31: Great weekend had by all - Sean, Renée and Amanda were visiting - the ladies are dedicated athletes who were participating in the Shawnigan Lake Triathlon (Amazing!). They all gave their seal of approval to the build - I love the fact that my son and his significant other like what we are doing.....

Today was all about cabinets.  CJ and Ray have installed the third piece of the fireplace facade - no small job. On the South side of the fireplace at the top is a grill that allows for fresh air return and venting the large linear fireplace. Hobson's cabinets are currently making a bespoke piece to cover the opening that will be flush with the rest of the cabinet. Lovely. The unique cabinet fronts for the den bathrooms are here and they are beautiful; crafting of teak with maple accents. Laminate countertops are going into the pantry, as well as the kitchenette and laundry room. Unfortunately there was a problem with the kitchenette countertop, so it was sent back. The cabinet installers are perfectionists! (love that). 

Other stuff going on around the house include hanging closet and interior doors, re-locating the electrical access for the patio heaters and continued installation of cedar siding outside. Also, I was informed by my brother (and husband) that although there was a gas meter installed beside the house, the gas was not actually 'hooked up'.  This was rectified yesterday, and I was told the plumbers actually had the suite fireplace working. This means the floors will be warming up later this week, in preparation for installation of the hardwood. 

Finally - the third piece of the fireplace covering....

View from above.

The South side of the fireplace with venting.

With the scaffolding removed, the fireplace is commanding some presence!!

I am looking forward to the tile installation in a week or so. 

The front of the powder room and den floating cabinets is a teak veneer with maple inserts.

I love this cabinet - we are installing the cabinet pulls so they will be virtually invisible. 

The laminate countertops in the pantry are set, but need adjusting to complete installation. 

I was surprised as to how much counter space a 12" cabinet can afford - Awesome!

Random image of our front door - almost exposed!!

First of the interior doors - this one from the sitting room to one of the guest bedrooms.

Solid closet doors in the guest bedroom.

Closet doors in the other guest bedroom.

This is the paint ready door for the 'water closet' in the master ensuite. It has a laminate glass insert, currently covered....

Pete, from Amped electric, has re-located the electrical access for the patio heaters... looks much better, and will be complete once the carpenters fix the soffit. 

A much cleaner look. 

Working on the siding above the garage.

Siding almost to the roof!!

I am assured the gas is now hooked up! Yeah.... all utilities in. 

Go Figure

May 28: I withdraw the previous disparaging remarks regarding the gas service in  BC. Right now I am thinking they are pretty awesome. Between leaving the site yesterday evening, and going to the site this afternoon, the gas company has installed the meter, and I assume, hooked up service. Today is Saturday, and it is raining... go figure.  

Gas meter in!! 

Marked trench to gas meter.

Yeah - gas hook up!!

Okay - enough with the gas hook up....

Inside rockwall without scaffolding... love the look.

A sneak peek at the smooth bowl of the granite sink to be placed in the powder room.  

A few notes

May 27: It was a short week, but there was progress evident on the build and a couple more decisions to be made. Everytime I think we have made the last required choice....lots more crop up. This week stair guards and treads were the topic. We investigated 'frameless' vs. 'topless' glass guards (you can only imagine the google hits with the word 'topless' Sigh). We are reviewing guard options for both inside and outside spaces - lots to consider. Additionally, we need to choose stair treads for the inside, great room staircase. Options include fir vs. oak / engineered vs. solid wood. Again, lots to investigate (but definitely safer online).  We believe we have finalized another couple of choices.... for this week anyway. 

Front Door!! Trimmed out and visible! Paul installed a wide trim to ensure symmetry with the  windows above. This is the first time I have seen the door we designed. And the colour - I love it and know it will look great with the flooring. 

Could not help myself - had to peal back the plastic to see/touch the door... did I say I loved it?

The welcome to our home.......

CJ and Ray (cabinet guys) have assembled the scaffolding and are working to set the last piece of the fireplace cladding. Too high for me. 

The cladding is set with a 'french cleat'.... and the grate for the air return will be cut into the side. 

Gables in to frame the laundry machines... I am loving this room. 

Pete has set the garbarator switch to be just inside the cabinet door under the sink ... cool. 

We are waiting on the gas guy ... or are we?? Fortis (gas company) was to come this week and hook up the gas.... There is no evidence of a meter on or near the exterior gas line (do they still use home based meters?) but today this indicator stake showed up. Not sure what this means, but hope we are not being held hostage by another provincial utility. 

Siding progress today.

I am getting excited and impatient to live in this house. 

Details, details,

May 26: We are back with multiple trades working on the house at one time. Paul is focusing on finishing the trim and other wood details. There is light! and other cool electrical accessories. And cabinet installation continues progress on the great room TV cabinet and laundry room. Finally, the floor installers cleaned the second floor and protected it with cardboard.  

Trim was installed on all the end grain fir windows, and then each nail hole was filled with a colour matching putty. Once dried, Paul sands down the trim, and the nail holes disappear! Next the trim will be stained.

The lower two windows surrounding the fireplace are trimmed, and will be stained later this week. Great feature.

Pantry all lit up!

Front hall recessed lights on... I am looking forward to seeing the front door.... soon.

This is a pop-up plug that will be installed on the finished counter top. It is sealed  so that once down, it can tolerate water, flour or anything else I muck with on the counter. I love toys. 

The patio heaters were installed and not pretty. Now the electrical outlet for them is being moved to the end of the heater to minimize the need for conduit. New pic coming when repaired. 

TV cabinet assembly continues... the doors are in and the trim is glued on.

One bi-fold door open.

These doors are awesome - I love the way they disappear beside the cabinet.

I saw these ladder drying racks on a DYI site - Hobson's have made a beautiful set that mount well on the wall opposite the shelving. 

And there is light!

All installed flooring is protected. We need to wait for another week before Steve and his team can work on the lower floor - which should take about 3 - 4 days.... they are fast. 

Garage Doors

May 26: I came round the corner today, to see Harbour Door installing our garage doors. The doors are bronze aluminium frame with laminate glass. Two are 8' X 9' and one (Dennis's workshop) is an 8' X 8' door. yeah.....

First door in. 

The doors came in panels, and were 'clicked' together.... it is amazing how much of the fittings in the house seems to go together like Lego....

Door 2 in progress.

All three doors have motorized openers and will communicate with the house.... We will be able to lock/unlock from afar and will be informed when a door opens.... awesome. 

The inside of the garage is noticeably brighter. 

All three doors in....

View of the street side of the house - wonderful! Check out how far the siding is coming!

Details May 25

May 25: it has been a short week, but there is progress in several areas. CJ has clad the pillar in the great room and completed a number of details in several areas of the house. Pete has installed many of the recessed lights throughout the house. Paul has trimed several windows on the lower level. And the siding continues to crawl up the East wall.....

CJ working on the installing the cladding of distressed, reclaimed fir.

Close up of the pillar.

All dressed up....

Working to set in the mantel and trim surrounding the master bedroom fireplace. 

Completion of crown molding in the laundry room.

This piece of wall board is concealing a fan hose in the kitchenette. Once the glue dries, it will be painted off-white like the surrounding walls. 

"Kick" molding on the kitchenette cabinets.... nice finishing. 

The lighting trim and bulbs are inserted in much of the recessed lighting..... These are in the mudroom. 

Recessed lighting above the stairs. The trim is essential white, similar to the ceiling colour, with a chrome interior for better reflection. There are 118 recessed lights inside and out...

Trim applied to the window next to the pantry.

Trim applied to the kitchen windows. The electrical receptacle has been placed in gable beside the refrigerator. 

Trim on the kitchen windows. Once the countertop is applied along with the trim, there will be very little space for a tile backsplash..... 

The siding has wrapped around the North wall from the East side.... 

Siding on the East side has reached one roof line with another roof line close.... The window is in the laundry room.....

By the end of Wednesday, the siding has moved up the North facing bedroom windows a bit more. 

The Second Floor get a Floor

May 25th: The studio, hallway, walk-in closet and master bedroom have had flooring installed over the last two days.  This floor was installed slightly different that the other part of the second floor. It was installed over a 'paper' like wrap, to prevent movement and noise. The individual panels were glued together and then stabled down to the sub floor. The lower level will have flooring in a week or so, but that will be fully glued down (can't stable into cement). I am very happy with the flooring ..... good thing. 

Flooring in the hallway outside the walk-in closet and bedroom.

Starting the flooring over the front entry.

Paul, site supervisor, installs guard rails for safety. 

Laying the floor in the walk-in closet.

Starting in the master bedroom.

Walk-in completed!!

View from the front entry upper level.

View into the studio and interior rock wall.

Upper hallway with hardwood floor!

A couple of views of the master bedroom....... with a floor. It really makes the space larger.

Joining of the hardwood and the tile ensuite floor.

View from the studio (upper landing) into the walk-in closet and towards the upper entrance. 

The tides have been amazing this week. During the day, it is out... way out and the local heron population finds good eating.....

New Details.... May 20

May 20: To celebrate my Aunt and Uncle's 40th wedding anniversary (YEAH), we had a wonderful dinner at the Sea Glass Restaurant, and then had a look at some new details in the house. The build has been fairly quiet this week; the mason finished up the interior rock wall on Wednesday, trim has been applied to most of the end grain fir windows (upper and lower floors), and the siding has continued to crawl up the East wall and round to the North wall above the garage. The street side of the house has been cleared up of garbage and stone (which has been distributed around the ocean side of the house for application on the patio wall) in preparation for gas hook up early next week. Oh - the garage doors should go in next week as well - cool!

Fireplace and mantel without the scaffolding. The porcelain product Neolith, in a grey/black colour will be applied to the front of the fireplace and below the fireplace opening under the hearth. We were hoping for a completely floating hearth, but we needed to support our very heavy fireplace.... I can live with that. 

The floating hearth is solid and a great design feature. It will be covered in the Neolith product as well. The venting outlet below is for A/C. 

The air return vent for the great room is at the top of the fireplace on the South side. Generally, it will not be seen........ The third piece of teak facade will be applied on the top next week. 

South wall of the kitchen with the final column complete. I am very happy with the blend of white and teak.... It is fresh and warm. Appliances will arrive early June....

Under cabinet lights (LED) are in. 

Vanity under cabinet lights are also installed - here in the den bathroom

.... and on the floating vanity in the powder room next to the den.

Floating vanity in the guest suite - all the under vanity lights are turned on with a motion sensor. 

Cabinet and sink in the powder room under the back stairs; very efficient for this small space. 

Finishing up in the laundry room. 

The drying racks, sitting here on the counter, will be mounted on the opposite wall. 

Window in the master bedroom with trim completed.

Detail of the end grain fir trim - it will be stained the same colour of the existing window trim. 

Fir trim on the windows above the entrance.

Detail of the fir trim on the studio windows.

Siding on the East Wall. 

Almost to the soffits...

Jeremy installing siding on the street side of the house; another mitered corner. 

I believe the 'exoskeleton' will be on the house for another month or so...

Quiet Week 2

May 19: It continues to be a quiet week on the build - no tile or cabinet installers onsite. Paul has cut a template the size of our bar over the counter. It is a large piece, and we spent some time positioning it on the island. I think we finally got there. Outside the siding is going up well, the carpenters have made some significant progress in the last couple of days. 

The actual wood that has been selected for the bar is a wonderful piece of maple with the required curve that we need!

There is only two legs to the actual bar; the righthand side rests on the top of the raised cabinet (with glass door), the left two legs will be intact and made of metal. 

The righthand side of the bar will rest on the raised cabinet, the left hand side will levitate off that end, supported by a metal leg. There will be an additional metal leg in the center of the bar. (the third leg is there to hold the 'floppy' card template)

East side of the house

Siding has crawled up the east mudroom door wall... almost to the soffit!