Construction Update

Family and Friends,

We have been having some technical difficulties with our camera, which does not bode well for photographically recording our building adventure. However, we have been very busy with finish work in the cabin. I will post pictures as soon as I have them, but for now a written summary will have to suffice:


• The flooring is in. It was a long and arduous process, but we finally finished the installation.

• We have purchased carpet for the loft and tile for the kitchen and bathroom floors. Though we have not installed them yet, we are on the cusp.

• The kitchen cabinets are assembled. This was a significant accomplishment, not so much on the part of assembling, but more due to the fact that we finally planned, ordered, and received them! In order to reduce shipping costs, we picked up the two pallets of boxes in Spartanburg, SC (about a 2 hour drive from the barn). While it was certainly out of the way, we used this time to visit a building surplus store close buy where…

• We purchased granite tile for the kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities! While this is not as fantastic an accomplishment, they do provide a more complete picture of what the kitchen will ultimately look like when it is completed.

• The interior doors have been installed and all framing is finished. A huge thank you goes out to our fantastic carpenter, John!

• The floor joists were reinforced in the downstairs portion of the stall to keep the upstairs floor from continuing to sag (an unfortunate result of poor workmanship when the structure was built in 2003).

• Collier and I began construction on the “butcher block” bar that we will eventually fit over the half wall above the kitchen sink. This was a very unlikely project until we collected remnants of oak from our flooring venture and realized that we had the materials and vision for a very unique piece of fashionable yet functional art (if a counter tip can be considered such!)

• As I write this update I am in town (using high speed internet to its fullest) and just received our Rennai heaters from a UPS deliveryman, who was so kind as to meet me here rather than at our usual drop off location at the Pilot truck stop. I love meeting people, and this kind gentleman was no exception. We made each other’s day.

• Pine treads and kick plates have been purchased for the stair case. They are a beautiful contrast to the oak flooring and we anticipate them staining quite differently when we reach that point in finish work.

• Grandma (bless her) decided to order some beautiful iron stair rails. I cannot even envision what it will look like with the newel posts and hand rail; pine treads and the contrast of oak on the floor and faux on the walls. It is coming together beautifully and I believe that it will be a lovely representation of our rustic, eclectic style.


While there are still many projects uncompleted, we are coming along and the end is almost in sight. Our next major undertakings are to finish sealing between the wood slats on the exterior of the whole house and then to paint. We have already pressure washed in preparation. Aside from that (it is always a work in progress) we are essentially ready for our final inspection. Fixtures must be set and heat must be installed as well for this to occur.

Which reminds me...we have light! We are now able to work late into the night, thanks to our fabulous electrician. It seems that we are surrounded by talented, kind men in this regard. All of our hired helpers have been so refreshing to work with and they welcome our questions and inquiries. We feel like a team rather than helpless bystanders with a checkbook. Specifically, the inspector, carpenter, sheet rock engineer, and electrician have given us far more advice than we could ever pay them for.