Weeks 47-48: Plumbing, HVAC, and Exterior Structure

In addition to the framing and HVAC, some of the interior rough-in plumbing is happening.  Also, we are in the process of trying to make final decisions regarding the exterior surfaces of the house. This includes the style of the siding, the finish of the block, and how the windows are installed in all situations.  Because the house is so big (so long, really) it is a challenge to make each part interesting without making it look disjointed.

Meanwhile, on the interior design front, much progress has been made with selecting tile for the bathrooms as well as the faucets and other fixtures.  We have decided to use wall mounted toilets from Toto (except in the basement where it won't be possible) and most faucets and shower fixtures are from La Cava.

It is difficult to determine which design decisions need to be made next, so we just keep plugging away at getting everything tied together and perfect.  It is nice to see the house begin to come back together.  I'm ready to move back in already!

The drop ceiling in the basement has been adjusted to properly tie into the
belly band design in the lower entry.  We are very happy that this was a
solvable problem!

Both windows in the theater have been eliminated.  Chris is so happy!

An access window was not required in the wine cellar after all, so it has
decreased in size in order to match the adjoining window.  Of course, Chris
would prefer to have no windows whatsoever, but we kept some so that the
house would look right from the outside.

Yes, please.

The full HVAC trench in the lower entry way.

The future kitchen.  It looks so much closer to the living room now that
there isn't a seven foot wall in between.  The glass railing that will take its
place will keep the areas much more open.

The sliding glass doors in the great room are some that will be receiving
special treatment - a system by Vitrocsa that will open all the way up.

Starting to look like a house again!

Little by little...

A lot of grading and drainage still needs to happen in the front, but it is
shaping up.

The trash can area will eventually have a gate to disguise the bins.  We are
happy to have eliminate the window to the master bathroom that used to be
here.  Who wants a window to the trash??

Pretty pepper tree, the area that used to be (and shall be once again) the
herb garden.  We added a couple of small vertical openings into the
master bedroom's courtyard to add some depth and interest to the area.

Saving my rocks! Yay rocks!

Developments in the bedrooms:  The hallway outside of Tim's room needed to have the soffit rebuilt (the one we originally installed when creating the hallway in order to have access to the guest room).  For some reason, rebuilding it properly has been much more difficult than the original building was.  I still can't quite figure that one out, but as long as we end up with a good product, everything is cool.  The first picture below shows the beginnings of it...prepare to be confused!

Soffit in the hallway outside Tim's room.

A drawing in the dust of Andrew's closet shelves.  :)  The closets in Andrew's
and Audrey's rooms had been saved, but it looks like they will need to be
taken out in order to install the HVAC in the best possible manner.

Melinda's room has such a nice, open, loft feel. It's been a fun room to
design!

The other corner of Melinda's room: she has a large,
blank wall that we are planning on treating with a
special treatment for our in-house artist.

The master bathroom will be so different than it was before!  Very open, as
opposed to the labyrinth it was before.  One of the problems in this area,
because it didn't not previously have an open ceiling, will be how to make
the white paint on the tongue and groove revert to its natural tones.