Week 12

The granite was placed in this week. Finally, it's beginning to look complete. The kitchen, especially, is looking great.

The black backsplash makes for a nice contrast to all the pale wood.

Detail of the main counter, showing how it overlaps the dividing pony wall to the back room

The island. Until the counter went on, I didn't realize just how much space there is on there.

2 shots showing the diamond insert above the sink and range

Cut outs behind the sink for the faucets. From left to right, air gap, soap dispenser, main faucet, shower faucet and filtered water faucet.

Cutouts for the island sink.

Not much happening in the downstairs bathroom. The granite table for the sink was put in. It's the same granite as used for the kitchen backsplash.

Granite table ready for sink

Similar lack of progress in the upstairs hall bathroom. This counter is made from the same stone as the tile in the master bath. The same tile is going to be put in on the floor in this room.

Counter. A whole slab just for this one piece.

The master bath shows most progress. The grouting has been done, the tile baseboards are almost complete and the counter top went in. There's still a little tile work to be done.

Counter top. Same black granite that's used downstairs.

Shower stall.

Floor

Just a little bit of work left to do

Week 11

Not too much to show this week. The electrician came and put in light switches and sockets in the kitchen. I'm a little concerned that the sockets for the microwave and fridge in the island aren't where the appliances will be. I'm hoping that they'll be space made inside the cabinets for the power cords. I need to call IKB to find out. No pictures of light switches, you'll be pleased to hear.

After the great progress last week, the tiler's seem to have slowed down. Most of the tile in the bathroom has been laid - including the river rock - but it hasn't all been done and the grout hasn't been done either. I was hoping for better progress. Ah well, the tile for the hall bathroom is not going to show up for another week yet, anyway. It does look really good, though. You'll notice that the tile on the floor is not as shiny as the tile on the walls. That's because I had it "honed", which removed the shiny surface. Shouldn't be as lethal with wet feet.

View of the master bath showing the river rock coming down the wall

Shower Pan

View from the shower showing floor

Week 10

Good progress again this week. Most of the activity has been in the upstairs bathrooms. According to my neighbor, the sound of tile cutting has been prevalent all week.

In the kitchen, the handles have been put on and a couple of outlets have been placed on the center island.

The kitchen is taking shape!

Another view. Still a few handles to go on.

Detail of the island showing one of the two outlets that went in.

The downstairs bath has had some little progress. The cabinets are on the wall. The gap to the left of them will have the on-demand water heater. This will be placed behind a false front which will look like another cabinet. I had a little panic that they were too low and would get in the way of the washing machine lid when it was opened. A little measuring showed that there's all of 1" gap between the top of the washing machine lid and the bottom of the cabinets. Phew!

The plinth for the sink is in. A granite box will go on it and the sink will be placed on the box.

Cabinets

Sink goes here!

Not much activity in the hall bath. The cement floor is in. The heated pads sit on this and then the tiles are set on top. Toasty toes - lovely!

Cement floor

The master bath shows the most progress. Tiling in the shower stall is almost complete and the floor has the concrete laid down. Once again, heated floors should make those cold mornings a little more bearable. Only one b00-boo noticed - the step into the stall is supposed to be river rock on the left. I left a little love note for the tiler :-)

Concrete floor

Shower stall is almost complete

Detail showing where the river rock will be placed on the shower head angled wall.

The shower pan looks great!

Detail on the step showing the boo-boo. The left two tiles should be river rock.

Update! While composing the blog, Dennis the foreman called me. I guess they're working today. We talked about the step and have increased the width of the river rock to 28" so not the leave a 1" gap requiring the cream tile. He'll make sure the door is cut slightly wider to match. We also talked a little bit about the step on the outside of the door. I've taken some measurements and have a few designs in mind. He gave me the code I needed to follow (minimum dimensions) and I'll make sure my design meets them.

Week 9

Quite a delay since my last post. I've been out of town (visiting the family in cold, snowy England) and as I left mid-week and came back mid-week it's meant three weeks since the last time I had a chance to post.

Despite the holiday season, quite a lot of work has been done. Before I left, the oak floor in the kitchen had been mostly laid down and the cabinets were starting to be installed. In addition, the concrete base for the tiling on the shower walls had been done.

When I got back, the kitchen floor and cabinets were in, as were the upstairs bathroom vanities. Only two minor problems. There's supposed to be a sliding trash can in the cupboard beneath and to the left of the main sink. Instead, there was a plain cupboard. Fortunately, this is easily fixed. The breakfast bar on the island is supposed to have a curved edge, not the straight edge with rounded corners it is right now. I've communicated what I want to both Julie (the designer) and the counter top fabricators. Hopefully, between the two it'll get sorted.

I spent some time this week at the granite fabricators. They're the folk who cut the granite slabs and then install them. They wanted me to go down and decide on exactly which parts of the slabs would be cut for what. A surprisingly tricky thing to do. Fortunately I was expertly guided and that's all done.

Not quite sure what, other then the master bathroom tiling, is going to get done this week. The guest bath tiles won't be arriving until the following week.

Now, what you've all been waiting for. The pictures!

Kitchen cabinets

Another view of kitchen cabinets

Shelf in the island for the microwave

The new oak floor (still in needs finishing)

Sliding door in kitchen showing molding

Cabinets in downstairs bath ready for installation

Vanity in guest bathroom

Tiling in Master Bath has begun

Master bath vanity. Covered in paper to protect it during tiling

A pile of tiles for the master bath

Close up of the river rock tiles. These are dusty. Actual color is black