Quick House update

Just a picture of what the house looks like now.  Cedar shakes will start to go on soon.  We decided to shake the whole front of the house, with a bit of rock.  Rock is really expensive and lends itself to an estate-type home.  Putting shakes on the whole front of the house doesn't help the budget, but we eliminated a bunch of rock, so it all evens out in the end.  Im very excited about the exterior and how it has come together.  It actually hasn't come easy - but I am finally confident that the outcome is going to be perfect for us!



Insulation is done, and drywall has begun.  Im not sure how interesting these pictures will be, but so many have requested pictures - so here you go:

Grapevine Furniture & Design headquarters:

Eli's RoomI think that if something drives you crazy in your current home, you could go overboard when building a new home.  ie my new laundry!  Its a bit big:

On our way

The last few weeks have been quiet on the house front.  Not quiet on the life front with year end school activities and trying to finish up Grapevine Projects.  I will have some fun pictures to show you of those projects soon!

I have been mostly working on lighting - Im a bit obssesed.  Through it all Ive found some very interesting things.  Some of which I have already shared.  Ive secured a new account with Robert Abbey lighting who offers amazing lighting from the famed designer Jonathan Adler.  Ive also been purchasing from Roost, a company who offers amazing accessories and lighting; most of which use filament bulbs - a trend we continue to see more of.They also have the most adorable animal head made of felt.  My husband can hardly bear me hanging an animal on the wall that he hasn't shot!  He'll have to deal with it - 'cause I love them, and there was no blood involved!

Now for flooring.  I'm thinking of going light.  I can't believe it either.  Its not like the honey oak or light maple of days gone by.  This is what I am thinking:  Although you can't see it well, the small piece left of centre is the one I am favoring.  It is white oak with a natural finish and a slight bit of white rubbed into the grain.  It is lightly wire brushed which removes the softest grains and creates a less "flat" finish which tends to hide more imperfections.  The hickory in the centre is beautiful, but I think it may be too busy and could come off as rustic.  Hickory is a very hard wood if you are looking for something to stand the test of time.  Baseball bats are made from hickory.

This is a picutre of the flooring that I am favoring in a room:  Let me know your thoughts!

More to see

Again, sorry I haven't done this in awhile.  Truthfully, things aren't changing as fast.  We are moving along quickly though.  Insulation next week, and by the end of the week - drywall.  Yay - walls!I love my front door!  you are only seeing the side lights, but the door is exquisite!  I love my black windows, and hopefully I'll love the colours Ive picked for the house!  For some reason I felt so unsure of myself about the exterior.  I feel good about my decisions now though.  My husband has let me shingle the whole front of the house.  I say he "let" me because he is not a fan in cedar shakes, but he trusts me ;)  Just can't wait to see those posts get nice and fat and in my yummy white trim.  Ive picked Benjamin Moor "Silver Fox" for the exterior, and a warm welcoming yellow for my front door.  If Ive known anything all along, its been that I've wanted a yellow door.This is the back of the house.  We plan to shingle the dormers and put hardy board everywhere else.  You can see where the covered deck is.  There is a gas fireplace going there, and hopefully heaters.  Our pool will be just off the deck - they family is very excited about that!

SOME OF THE LIGHTING IVE FOUND:



Are you seeing a trend here?  GOLD

I bought 3 of these for my entrance. This one was at Liberty in Vancouver. It was $1100. I bought all 3 of mine including shipping and taxes for under $800!



 

I don't settle.  I just don't.  I don't for my clients, and Im not for myself.  The tilers usually expect to go to one tile supplier and pick up everything.  Not when Lisa is on the job.  On one of the jobs I am working on now, the tiles came from 3 suppliers.  It impossible for one supplier to have the absolute best option for every situation!  Gotta have the best.  Then there is the issue of price.   Some times you've gotta bite the bullet and just do it.  Many times there is a way around it.  Same for my lighting.  Ive poured hours into it.  But hopefully in the end I'll have a couple of high end designer pieces, but mostly just high end looking pieces!  The budget can only go so far.

This is the kitchen, family room area - facing into the back yard.



This is Svea's room.  She has beautiful vaulted ceilings and a window seat overlooking the front yard.  Now just gotta find a low cost lighting option to fill the big vaulted ceilings.If you follow Grapevine Furniture and Designs on Facebook, you can follow some of my great finds.  Thanks for reading.  Hope to post again soon.

Next time I should be able to reveal the Grapevine projects I have been working on!

Lisa