We got our CO!!

Yesterday Steve met with the codes officer and after a complete tour of the house we got the thumbs up that we passed our inspection.  The official certificate of occupancy is forthcoming, but in the meantime we can get homeowners insurance and start to move in:)  Work continues at a vigorous pace, however!  There is still baseboard molding to be installed, painting to be done, lights to be hung etc...The main thing now is that the kitchen and all 3 bathrooms are functional and both the front and back staircases are safe and secure.  Take a look at the 2 upstairs baths!

master bath

my very own Mondrian masterpiece!

Mondrian (guest) bath

same bath, another view 

Teamwork!!

Late last week Steve, Cathy, and I pooled our efforts and created the most stunning backsplash in 2 areas of the kitchen; near the sink and above/around the stove.  I had seen some tiles that I admired on an online website almost a year ago, and even though I continued to research others, I kept going back to these hand blown green rounds.  I contacted the company in the state of Washington and they got to work making me 3 different sizes in 4 different shades of green.  Just LOVE them!  Check out the before, during, and after pics of our DIY project!!

the online photo I was working from

(we most certainly achieved the effect, right?!)

Let There be (more!) Light!

Joel and I spent a few frustrating hours up at the house tonight installing more lights...nothing seems easy these days, BUT we got it done!!

Paige's Room

Joel's Office

Master Bedroom

Den

A Family Affair

Tom and Joel and I worked very hard on Friday afternoon/evening and all day Saturday to get the Rustic Room painted, cleared out and cleaned, and then partially furnished so that we could have a little family gathering in the late day.  What a fun party!

Elaine and her boys

The Kehoe's!

Pam and Jake

So, in addition to getting ready for the Rustic Room reveal, we have been busy with all sorts of other house related duties.  Earlier in the week Tom and Pam primed and painted lots of molding.  Joel and I continued to work on the front hall staircase.  We also did quite a bit of yard clean up.  Steve and his crew finished the upstairs guest bathroom.  And...Mark, Joel, and Tom put up many light fixtures.  Check them out!

Another fun thing that happened mid-week is that I got to show my friend Susan and Michael, our "adopted son" of sorts, our progress on the house.  Michael was one of the first people to take a peek 2 years ago when we first purchased the property.  He now lives and works in Washington DC.  Both he and Susan were impressed!!

Visiting Painter!

The world's greatest living American artist was in the house this weekend!  Tom Amidon was up visiting from Florida.  He traded in his color palette for a primer's brush and helped us get the Rustic Room closer to done.  So appreciated:)

While Tom worked his magic in the lakeside part of the house, Joel and I teamed up and tackled the front hall staircase.  Yesterday Joel had sanded down all the treads and risers and today he removed each spindle, sanded them down then handed them off to me so I could apply a coat of stain...they came out very pretty.  His next step will be to paint the steps and secure the wobbly handrail.

On Friday Dennis was able to get half of the dining room wallpapered.  It is exactly as I had envisioned it would be....beautiful!

So tomorrow begins another busy week.  Steve has been tiling the upstairs guest bathroom and Matt will be installing the toilet and sink in the master bath soon.  Our stealth electrician has been coming by during the nighttime hours.  Each day I find evidence of under-the-counter lighting or more outlets covered or smoke detectors in place!

Countertops, Wallpaper, Cubby...

Wow!  We were away for a few days around Easter weekend, and the changes we have come home to are amazing.  First of all, my gray Corian counters were installed last Wednesday as we were heading out of town.  Steve said it only took them about an hour to get all 6 surfaces in.  Check some of them out.

My long awaited wallpaper hanging is also underway.  I have had the rolls in storage since last summer!  Dennis Cleveland waited patiently for my call to say we were finally ready for him.  As of today he has 2 of my 3 rooms done...the upstairs library and our master bath.  Are you ready for a sneak peek??

The other Dennis has been hard at work building my third and final custom cupboard.  This one is up in the guest bathroom.  When it is done, 2 of the cubbies will be hidden behind doors and 2 will be open to display my rolled up towels.