White vinyl low-E windows with prarie caming

Interior doors

Pocket door handles; bought this one; need 5 more NON-latching

Bricks will be Acme Highland Gray, similar to this.

Stone siding to be used outside the fireplace, and as quoins at most of the corners.

Woodburning fireplace with gas lighter will have red herringbone refractory panels, glass doors with platinum frames, and forced fresh air from louvers. There will be fake stone inside; real stone outside; no hearth extension; no TV mount; and the mantle will probably be made locally from cedar that grew on our property.

Floor tile Marazzi Harmony Pitch 6x36" everywhere (1177sqft) except bedrooms & their closets, stairs, office, and master bath.

Master bath tub: Fleurco Aria Harmony (bought)
Master tub faucet: Kohler Refinia K-T5325-4-BN & K-5328-BN Trim, K-302-K-NA Valve

Her tub spout Kohler Refinia K-5328-BN

Guest tubs will use the popup version of this spout Kohler Refinia K-5327-BN.

Her tub handles Kohler Refinia T5324-4-BN

Master shower will have a glass wall on the Left above the tub (24"), then a 1' wide inoperable panel on the front across from a 3' outswinging door hinged to a 1' wall on the Right. The control, fixed head, and adjustable wand will be on the right, below an accent strip that continues into the niche at the back.

The master bathroom & shower walls (209sqft) will be 18" Italian Carrarra Bianca marble (we bought 120pcs - 270sqft) laid at 45° to the celing in the shower, and 2 tiles high (~51") in the rest of the bathroom. At the height of the shower niche (~53") only inside the shower, there will be an 11.5sqft accent band of Bliss mosaic. The 24sqft shower floor will be the same marble but in a basketweave pattern with black marble dots called Trenza mosaic.

The master bath floor will be gray 12x24" tile that remains to be chosen.

There probably won't be enough marble to do the 61sqft of wall in the toilet stall.

Tub surround tile for both guest baths will be Florentine Scabos porcelain.

Toilets

Vanity sinks will probably be trench style; white in the master, and biscuit in the guests.

All vanity faucets are Moen Zarina L84533SRN withOUT base plate; Bought 5

Kitchen sink undermount Revere RCFU3119R

Faucet w/o baseplate centered behind divider
Soap pump behind Left curve
Disposal button behind Left sink
Pullup power strip behind Right curve

Granite layout: faucet should be centered withOUT base plate; soap pump should be behind the Left corner

Kitchen faucet Brizo 63255LF-SS Vuelo (no base plate) Bought

Kitchen granite Cosmic Black

Kitchen cabinets will be cherry slabs with brushed arc pulls

Kitchen cabinets will be cherry slabs with brushed arc pulls

Pulls will be 4" Brushed Nickel Arcs throughout the house

Laundry & utility sinks' faucet is a no-brand pull-out mid-rise; bought 2.

Possible kitchen stools: Amisco bar-height with Dayglam finish on the steel frame & Stratus upholstery.

Microwave GE PSA9240SSFS; bought
Slide-in stove GE PS920SSFS; bought
Refrigerator GE PFE28RSHSS; bought
Diswasher GE PDT750SSFSS; bought
Washer GE GTW680BSJWS; bought
Dryer GE GTD45EASJWS; bought

USB outlets will be provided in most rooms, though NOT this style; bought 8

Entry light will be Layla 3; bought

Dining room light Layla 9; bought

Kitchen island light Vaxcel Helsinki 4 pendant; bought

Bathroom vanity lights Vaxcel Helsinki 3 sconce; Bought 5

Possibly for laundry & other

Possibly for vaulted ceiling & other

Surface LEDs look like recessed lights for kitchen, fireplace, & rear wall; bought 1 pair; need 4 more pairs

Possibly for laundry & others

Possibly for attic & others; bought 1

Bought

The master patio retaining wall should look something like this one near Clayton Bank.

The weather has been reasonably dry for a few days now, so I called a container company & ordered a 40' single-end.

The weather has been reasonably dry for a few days now, so I called a container company & ordered a 40' single-end. The driver had a little trouble making the turn to get off the pavement, but once he was on the grass, he had no trouble.

The weather has been reasonably dry for a few days now, so I called a container company & ordered a 40' single-end. It's now tucked out of sight, but where my neighbors can see the doors. My next investments will be padlocks, and a ladder to attach to the inside of the door.

I started collecting some of the brush I've cut, and moving it to a clearing to burn later.

I started collecting some of the brush I've cut, and moving it to a clearing to burn later.

Several stumps had to be pulled out.

Several dead trees came down.

The road crew brought in some equipment June 19 to start clearing the next day.

Pace made much faster progress June 20 than I had been doing.

Pace made much faster progress than I had been doing.

It didn't take long for them to widen my trails into a road by June 23.

This is the clearing for the house on June 24.

The burn pile is getting big...

After the road bed was cleared, a trench was dug June 30 for the underground power & gas.

Skelton Electric & Somerville Gas arrived July 1.

When the electrician & gas company left July 1, the trench was packed by a radio-controlled roller, and then grading began.

After the road bed was filled & graded July 9, we cut in the culverts.

Header walls were poured August 14 to protect the driveway entrance and anchor that culvert.

The driveway surface during construction will be chert rock, which was brought in August 26 from a quarry at the Tennessee River.

The driveway surface during construction will be chert rock, which was brought in August 26 from a quarry at the Tennessee River.

Gotta keep the gravel from growing too high.

I had 2 number plates plasma-cut from 1/4" stainless steel, and hung them on the headers September 29.

There's some erosion where this flow meets the ditch, but it appears to be slowing down as it gets to the harder clay.

This was caused by an obstruction on the other side forcing rain to flow across the driveway.

The last floorplan (downstairs only) in DraftSight. There were a few minor changes, but this is essentially what we're building. Turns out we didn't need a 2nd A/C, and the electrical panels ended up in the hall near the master bedroom door. The pull-down attic stairs got moved to the office, and the master toilet will have dual inswinging doors.

Click the image to supersize.

The Paynes are building the house & shed pads. They started on the house March 16.

Most of the filenames from here forward will be from my phone, which uses the format "IMG_YYYYMMDD_hhmmss###.jpg".

The Paynes are building the house & shed pads.

The Paynes are building the house & shed pads.

The Paynes are building the house & shed pads.

The Paynes are building the house & shed pads.

The Paynes are building the house & shed pads.

The house pad survived its first heavy rain March 24 fairly well.

The Skeltons are setting the meter base March 16.

The Skeltons are setting the 400A 1Ph meter base, and this small 100A outdoor box which will remain permanently for any outdoor circuits I bury around the property. The house will have a 22KW standby automatic generator and a 200A panel; and the shed will have a 200A panel.

Chickasaw brought in power on March 29-30.

Chickasaw brought in power on March 29-30, but Somerville won't connect the gas until the house is up.

This is the first junction box along the driveway.

This is the second junction box along the driveway.

The transformer is close to the meter & extra panel, between the house & shed.

Water Well Solutions drilled about 190' near the transformer & meter April 6, and returned to set the pump ~160' a few weeks later.

They came back April 22-23 to install the pump 160' down, the tank, & the shutoff.

Batter boards went up April 19.

After the engineer approved the house pad, All About Plumbing tore into it April 25.

After the engineer approved the house pad, All About Plumbing tore into it April 25.

The plumbing is buried, and we're waiting for several storms to blow over before concrete can be poured.

The Paynes are working on the shed pad April 28, but storms for the next few days will postpone its completion.

Floor electrical, reinforcing steel, & termite pretreat went down May 5.

Between rain storms, the slab was poured Sat, May 7.

Between rain storms, the slab was poured.

Between rain storms, the slab was poured.

Between rain storms, the slab was poured Sat, May 7.

Between rain storms, the slab was poured Sat, May 7.

Between rain storms, the slab was poured Sat, May 7.

May 9, the front porch, West porch, & master shower were poured.

May 9, the front porch, West porch, & master shower were poured.

May 9, the front porch, West porch, & master shower were poured.

May 9, the front porch, West porch, & master shower were poured.

Intermittent rain delayed delivery of the 1st floor lumber package.

This is just for the first floor walls, and some floor decking for upstairs.

We went through about 5 framers who cancelled on us for various reasons, so this sat here for over a week.

They only worked half a day, and a lot of that was snapping lines, but they're moving...

The framers are working a previous job today, but they got a lot done in a day & half here so far.

The framers are working a previous job today, but they got a lot done in a day & half here so far.

The framers are working a previous job today, but they got a lot done in a day & half here so far.

I was surprised to find the framers (a short crew) working today.

This is the fireplace.

This is from Guy's room looking past the stairs (whose wall was incorrectly built full-height) toward the living/dining room.

This is where the framers stopped today.

This is where the framers stopped today.

Beams & joists started going up yesterday; most of them are done today, but there are a few errors...

The rafter & 2nd-floor lumber package was delivered a few hours ago.

Great room looking SE.

Great room looking NW.

The front porch roof isn't right yet, but the framer will fix it Monday.

This was the 2nd attempt at the stairs - it turned out wrong, too.

This door was set wrong, and the casing was broken when removed to correct the problem, so another casing is on-order.

The front door showed up a couple of weeks late, but in good condition.

I spent a few hours with a new leaf blower & broom cleaning up behind the framers, and marking their mistakes.

I spent a few hours with a new leaf blower & broom cleaning up behind the framers, and marking their mistakes.

I spent a few hours with a new leaf blower & broom cleaning up behind the framers, and marking their mistakes.

I spent a few hours with a new leaf blower & broom cleaning up behind the framers, and marking their mistakes.

I spent a few hours with a new leaf blower & broom cleaning up behind the framers, and marking their mistakes.

I spent a few hours with a new leaf blower & broom cleaning up behind the framers, and marking their mistakes.

This storm took down some branches on my property, but it laid a tree across McFadden and a few others around Oakland.

Most of the felt stayed on the house, but it still got very wet inside.

The ducts were delivered, and installation started a day or so later.

I built this steel column for the NW porch, and welded wires on for the stones that will surround it later. There are three 1/2" anchors at the bottom, and 7 big wood screws at the top.

These are the main water connections inside the wall between the master bathroom & Lisa's closet. The shutoff will be turned around.

Shingles going up...

I really wanted a metal roof, but it just didn't happen.

The framer fixing another mistake...

Chimney chase going in. The contractor & I had to help because the framer only brought 1 helper & no ladder.

After a lot of discussion, this was eventually built the way the plans show. When it was finished, the framer did a quick dance on top of it.

Drainage pattern looking out the master bedroom sliding door.

I cleaned after the electricians' first day of work, but it didn't last.

Upstairs bathroom wiring, plumbing, & ducts.

Ducts above the living room along the SW wall above the big sliding door.

Water heater above the master bathroom eventually got the correct vent in the correct location.

2nd attic looking W.

Looking E from bedroom 3 out through the garage.

Looking E from the utility porch out through the garage.

Drops, unused materials, and trash are piling up in the garage...

Looking SE from the master toilet toward the generator porch.

The framers used yellow pine for the garage door casing, and ran it all the way down tight to the concrete. I removed the verticals, painted them with oil-based Kilz, cut 1/2" off each, and reinstalled them.

Because of all the circuits, and the generator, we had to have 2 panels. The smaller one is NOT on the generator, but it will only have things like the welder outlet, the stove, and the outdoor outlets.

Bricks & stone were delivered.

I'll paint the lintels tomorrow.

We plan to have about 18" of stone at each corner (instead of brick quoins), and all the way around the fireplace (probably fake stone inside). The rest of the first floor siding will be brick; everything above will be vinyl (including the chimney), Aluminum (that matches the vinyl), or shingles. There will be virtually no exterior paint.

After the tie inspection yesterday, the bricklayers started this morning.

After the tie inspection yesterday, the bricklayers started this morning.

We chose to have no soldiers anywhere; in the bricks or in the stones.

After a break yesterday, brick work continued today on the North side.

The South & SW sides' brick is done.

The South & SW sides' brick is done.

The master & office sides' (East of the front door) brick is done.

But the front door, dining room, & garage brick hasn't been started yet. The front porch will be stone with a front arch & side slits.

The well was connected to the house plumbing today, but the house wasn't pressurized yet. The inside shutoff valve has to be moved, and an inspection passed.

Cleaning day - no one was working.

Cleaning day - no one was working.

Cleaning day - no one was working.

Cleaning day - no one was working.

Somerville Gas was connected today. They killed that big oak by cutting its roots all the way around.

Somerville connected the gas today. It cost them 2 broken pieces of equipment, and several hours looking for the buried crossover conduit.

Somerville Gas was connected to the meter today. I think they're waiting for the fireplace before connecting to the house.

Stones are going up.

Stones are going up.

The tile man hung most of the backer board. This is downstairs.

The tile man hung most of the backer board. This is upstairs.

The tile man hung most of the backer board and floated the shower floor.

The tile man sealed the backer board, and made a mess on the downstairs tub.

The tile man sealed the backer board, but the tub faucet has to be changed.

Most of the stone is finished, but the arch supports have to stay in a few more days.

After MANY delays, the fireplace went in. It has the wrong refractory panels, though. And it can't be capped until the vinyl is on the chimney chase.

This is the flue; stainless inner - galvanized outer.

The vinyl guys started today, and are making fast progress.

This can't be fully-wrapped until that temporary pole is moved.

The first day's vinyl was mostly on the South faces.

No vinyl on the front yet.

The vinyl crew didn't get to this side today, but the porch overhangs can't be covered until the foam is sprayed, anyway.

The plumber connected the fireplace today.

The plumber moved the island pipes today

The plumber turned the shutoff around today.

Most of the front got vinyl on their 2nd day of work.

No change back here.

No change back here.

Another branch came down today during a thunderstorm.

I built this column last night & set it today so the vinyl crew can continue here tomorrow. It's resting on 2 concrete blocks, which are on a concrete footer. Eventually, a concrete patio will cover the blocks & lock the column base in.

The garage walls were sheeted in preparation for foam insulation, but framing has not passed inspection yet.

1,000gal septic tank going in the ground.

1,000gal septic tank going in the ground.

Too much gravel (R of the tree) was delivered for the curtain drain.

After blowing a hydraulic hose, the backhoe is back to work on the leach field.

The West half of the curtain drain.

The North half of the curtain drain.

2nd terrace of the leach field.

There are 500' of leach field.

There are 500' of leach field.

The excess gravel has been removed, and some of the excavation has been smoothed.