A couple months back, I introduced to you our new house that is in the works. In proper "Nikki Fashion", instead of following up a little at a time, I have let the pics pile up.... We still aren't finished yet, but we're getting closer everyday. People have been asking me, "Are you sooo excited?" and "Is it hard waiting?" The truth is, yes I'm excited but no it hasn't been that hard waiting. I have been laid back and just fine in this trailer through the whole building process. But just recently, in the last few weeks to be exact, I've been getting a little anxious. I guess because it's a huge life change and it's practically here! But anyway, I want to document as much of the process as possible...
So here ya go:
First of all, a quick snap of my girls.
Neva 6, Nori 5, Mili 3, Maxx 18mos
Bob Cranford from Morgan Brothers (now he is on his own) came out to measure for cabinet doors and drawer fronts.. I didn't have to think too much, which is always good. He was very helpful and guided me through the process. I basically just nodded.
Josh added some detail to the island.
Cabinet doors in!
Paint on the walls... Basically its varying shades of khaki through the whole house... Went with a dark shade in our room, the living room and the dining room (pictured)
unrelated, but it was too cute to not show you
The paint looks green in pictures. Actually, the electrician referred to it as green. It truly doesn't look green (to me) in person.
The trim color was an issue. I wanted a creamy warm color. Not too white. Not too dark. I chose once, and as reported in a previous blog, it was PINK. The color I ended up going with is called "panda white" from Sherwin Williams.
Chalk board at the bottom of the kids hall. Hooray for sweeping chalk dust 24/7!
There is more space upstairs, but where you can see in this pic is as far as we are finishing right now.... Budget constraints!
Oak on the stairs to be stained a dark walnut
glass finally in the side lights after dogs kept making their way in and ultimately chewed up some window sills ;/
We went with a teardrop etch for a rustic look
LIGHTS
This was very intimidating. The last time I posted I reported how ridiculous the cost of lights are. I kept looking at all the home improvement stores and here and there..... there were things that I liked, but I fell in love with nothing. Confiding in my friend, Whitley, about wanting something unique and rustic, she began to send me pics of DIYs from pinterest.
And while we couldn't find one that was hands-down perfect for us, we DID get inspired to make our own!
Some floor joists that came from underneath Michael's childhood home (the one that was totaled in the recent tornado) were piled up behind the barn.
Michael found one he thought would look great!
This light still isn't finished.... it will hang over the "formal" dining table (note: I'm not sure what to call it but "formal" just doesn't fit us..perhaps just "dining room"....??)...
HINT: I ordered EIGHT of these suckers:
to be continued.
We had been bitten by the creativity bug at this point!
We wanted a homemade light over our island too!
The idea was a rustic pot holder...
In the beginning, the idea was something like this....
but somewhere along the lines we changed it...
We wanted a flat bottom instead, and filled the whole thing with mason jars...
A few of which light up. The light, we hoped, would bounce beautifully off of each jar....And luckily, it does!
blood, sweat and tears, right?
the part folks cant see.....
I get that it's not everyone's style...but WE LOVE IT!
My husband is so talented! It's so nice having a man that knows his way around a tool shed and can make things with his hands.
#oldschool
We've already had folks asking if he can build them one!
These old lights hung in my moms house forever. I was a young adult when she finally replaced them with something more modern and I was so excited that those old wagon wheels were gone!
I remember her saying that she was going to save them, in case one of us ever wanted them.... I thought to myself "never!"
Funny how getting a little age on you changes your tastes and somehow ranks sentimentality above trendiness. This wagon wheel will hang over our breakfast nook and it is beautiful, if I do say so myself. It's like a piece of my childhood and a gift from my mom hanging in the one room we will use the most.
Just plain ole flush mount lights in a few places.
This is the foyer light... the one light we got from a local lighting shop. It was under $200 but by far our most extravagant lighting purchase.
Worth every penny...The light is centered.... the pic is not
Just went with plain sconces to light the stairway and highlight the barnwood ceiling (that I second guessed forever). I love it now!
All of our lights, besides the ones I mentioned otherwise, came from Lowe's or Home Depot
Simple vanity lights in the bathrooms
Ceiling fan kits in the bedrooms
Bought a couple 6 packs of closet lights for the closets...
Cheap cheap cheap
Recessed lighting in the kitchen, living room, and hallway
Jeffrey Stuart is our light guy. He is in high demand, but I can see why.
Carpet time!
I get that carpet isn't cool anymore... But neither are me and Michael (not sure we ever were, really)....We wanted to have the soft, homeyness and warmth of carpet in all of our bedrooms. The original idea was something light.... But literally at the last minute, I started thinking of how impossible light carpet was going to be. I mean, if I'm being realistic, the way I keep house...... light carpet doesn't have a chance. So, I talked to Deana at city Home Center (yes, we LOVE Deana in case you can't tell) and I told her that I'd like to see something in a chocolate... Something that would match our espresso stained concrete floors.
I fell in love!!!!!
Mr. Murphy the installation guy
We got the kids a lesser quality than what we put in our room. I love the smell of new carpet. I laid down in it and made carpet angels....Then I got Michael to help me up.
Copper sink is in!
I have to mention Ms. Tina from Southern Pipe. We went in there in the very beginning and talked to her a lil about the look that we were going for. Next thing I know, that sweet lady had put together a portfolio of sinks/faucets/tubs/toilets etc. that she felt would work. Let me just say, that girl knows her stuff! She made mine and Michael's life soooo much easier! And her taste is beautiful. If you're looking to redo your kitchen or bathroom, go talk to her! She's amazing!!!
The whole house is coated in dust right now from the guys working,
so try not to focus on that too much.
Cypress mantle
I'm telling you, Josh Johnson is the bomb.com
He seriously can build ANYTHING
Added ledger stone, which Michael and I have become addicted to.
speaking of cypress,
which color stain do you like for the exterior?
CUE THE GRANITE!!!!
Cody Sims from G&G Granite....
Super nice guy and very talented. Actually ALL the folks from G&G were wonderful and took their time with us.
Rough edge in the master bath
Went with black sinks in the master bath... A little 70's? possibly...
But I couldn't picture any color that would work.
Told you it was dusty
A little back splash and a white sink have been added since this pic, but I couldn't find the proof to show ya.
By the way, Josh and crew built these vanities! 4 to be exact-- one for each lil girl. We shopped and shopped and trust me, there was nothing out there as beautiful as what he built on site for us!
If you look down at the bottom of the fireplace, there is a space for a hearth.
The idea was to use hearth stone....
When they came in Josh called me.
He knew.
And he was right.
No thank you on the ugly gray fakey hearth stone.
So, after Cody and Josh told us about him, Cody actually led us out there to see Mr Lewis at J&L Stone Supply.
This place is amazing! He goes to the the mountains to get his own stuff! Cool, huh?
Nicest man EVER!
We both wish so badly that we had know this place existed BEFORE construction began. Lots of cool stuff out there. Something tells me this wont be the last time we deal with this guy.
We looked around at some beautiful stuff that makes the man made stuff look ridiculous. Our minds were blown! And sitting right there in a pile, under some debris was the most beautiful natural stone hearth we could ever imagine...
Can't wait to see it in!
MUDROOM!
I've bragged on our bench that Josh made, but I wanted to talk about our ONE glass cabinet door. I love that sucker. It's so pretty. And initially, I wanted more. But seriously, who has dishes pretty enough to have glass doors? Not me! We drink out of Dickie's and Newk's style cups and lots of plastic wal-mart specials and none of our plates match and some of our nicer bowls are Country Crock or Cool Whip brand china. So, we saved the glass doors for the more sophisticated folk.
Built in bookshelf down the kids hall
My end of the closet....
We intend to put an island in the center of the closet at some point.
His end of the closet.
Neither one of us have a lot of clothes, so I guess we will just keep these empty shelves dusted.
My "tub room"
(remember I told you there is a wall partially enclosing my tub?)
Originally, the plan was a claw foot tub in there...But we've had a change of heart.. More on that later.
This door leads into our closet from the bath. From the closet, there is then a door into the laundry room.
The lil door to the left beside the tub enclosure is the "throne room" (as Michael and Josh refer to it). The other door leads to our bedroom.
Another custom vanity by Josh and crew
Two words...
MATT. FOSTER.
He is a freakin genius.
Impeccable.
Went with a black grout and it's just phenomenal. We love it so much!
Soon, Michael will be the cleanest guy ever.
I don't think I'll be able to get him out of here!
View from living room
View from kitchen
Back porch
The porch isnt rounded... I did a pano pic so you could zoom in and see the whole view.
I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but that extra door there leads to our bedroom.
Another pano from the front porch
The stone we used on the front porch
The ledger stone I'm obsessed with and WISH we had used on the front porch (my big toe photo bombed)
I don't think it's realistic for someone to say they have made no regrettable decisions when building a house. I mean, I suppose there are folks out there that nail it and get everything right.... We're not them. I wouldn't be being honest if I made it out like I was 100% confident about every decision we've made.
This stone decision has been eating me up for a few months. This is the ONE thing I would change if I could. We didn't discover the ledger stone until after the other purchase was made. I don't think Michael regrets anything. He, like me, likes the tightness and design and all around natural look of the ledger stone. But he is fine with what we have. Me? I've been online looking for time machines.
back wall
from living room into the kitchen
Back splash!
It's not even close to being finished. The tile isnt done and still needs grout...
And the wood will soon be stained a dark walnut and sealed.
Pull out pantries
Canned goods on top and TWO trash cans on bottom
:) yay for being trashy!
That's oak on the back splash too. Right now it doesn't really match that well. Very pink.....Hopefully it's going to stain up really dark and pretty!
Ms Deana (once again) at CHC, designed this back splash.
She chose a mosaic that would tie in the cream of the cabinets, the darkness of the floor, the silver of the appliances and the the copper of the sink. Then she framed it in an oil rubbed bronze frame...
I think she was spot on!
That's it for now!
I would love to hear what some of you guys think!
As soon as there is more to show I will be back with more pics!
(please forgive all my typos. I usually try to dbl check a post right after I publish it and I find all kinds of mistakes. I waited a few days before checking this one and I'm so embarrassed!)
