Build a wall...build a wall...a Foundation wall that is!

In the wake of a difficult political elections, I thought a moment of levity was needed (at least on my part).  So I thought I would start this post by chanting "BUILD A WALL!  BUILD A WALL!"  A foundation wall that is...

Process - So, how do you build a wall?  First, the crew installed forms, which are just hollow walls around where the foundation walls went.  I felt stupid because when I first came out, I thought these were the foundation walls.

**Disclaimer** My construction lingo leaves a lot to be desired, so please excuse any mistakes I make in this post :)

Then the coolest thing ever arrived!  I yelled "OMG, a CRANE!"  I was quickly told that this was not a crane, but rather a concrete pumper.  I still think it looks like a crane...

Concrete is pumped up through the arm of the crane-like pumper and flows down into the space between the forms.  This crew was working hard!

After the concrete cured, the forms were taken off, and VOILA!  Concrete foundation walls!

The large straps sticking up out of the foundation are locations where the garage doors and front doors are strapped to the foundation.  The other short pieces of rebar are locations where the framing is going to attach to the foundation.

Charlie approves!

Next, the crew installed the Impax foundation liner.  This is essentially a black rubber product that is sprayed on the foundation walls that have finished space either above or on the other side.  The goal is to make any water less likely to enter the foundation and more likely to just flow to the drain tiles and head outta Dodge!

From the looks of it, the crew has also been busy with some floor drains that run along the bottom of the basement walls and a sump pit pipe.  That sump pit will be cut down when the concrete basement floor is finished.  I just can't believe this is all happening so fast!!!

More excitement to come...stay tuned!

Progress - The Big Dig

There is something surreal about seeing the big dig happen.  Seeing this gorgeous field torn up but knowing that it will be better-than-ever.  Seeing the girls loving on their Dad :)  Makes me get very emotional, excited, overwhelmed...all at once.

The new gravel driveway leads the way to the foundation dig.  As soon as Charlie got into the hole, she just exploded!  She started running around in circles, screaming and laughing at the top of her lungs.  Matt and I just laughed and enjoyed the moment of total happiness.

That childish exuberance continued into the other areas of the field that were gorgeous, green, and undisturbed by bulldozers.

3D Walkthrough - My Parents' Side!

These 3D images are so helpful!  Check out their awesome great room/kitchen!

Their master bedroom, laundry room, and mudroom are found just down the hallway leaving the kitchen.  That awesome entryway ceiling is called a 'clerestory'.  So that's what it looks like!

The door leaving the great rooms heads out to the lanai, which is screened in for many family gatherings to come :)

Fun (and some anxiety) OVERFLOWS - Making the Kitchen Plumbing Selections!

Plumbing selections include the faucets, sinks (in some cases), pot filler, toilets, shower faucets, and bathtubs.  Not selecting pipes materials (carbon steel, stainless, pvc?), like I assumed plumbing selections would be.  This process was exciting and overwhelming, but allow me to state some lessons learned in the process :)

Prep

As I discussed in this blog post, I wanted to know specific faucets that there in our base bid.  We elected for a fixed price contract, meaning that we did not know specifically what amounts the builder paid for the faucets.  However, it helped to write the list price for each model on a sheet of paper.  That way, I was able to know the difference in the price for overages.

Also, it was helpful for us to consider that not all faucet colors were priced the same.  Specifically, the least expensive is almost always chrome, followed by brushed nickel, followed by oil-rubbed bronze or other colors.  The base faucets were all selected as Delta models, which means that if we switched up to Moen or another brand, we would have to pay for an additional cost for installation for a converter.  Brizo faucets are affiliated with Delta, so no additional cost (beyond the faucet cost, itself).

Kitchen Faucets and Sinks

Okay, so two full kitchens, right?  Modern farmhouse, here we come!  Our kitchen sinks and faucets are located on our kitchen islands.  Therefore, we had to consider line-of-sight.  If the faucet had been placed against a window or wall, I may have picked a bulkier or taller faucet (but probably not!).  

Let's first look at what was in the base bid (which, because we selected J.S. Robinson, meant that even the base selections were pretty darn sweet!).

Delta Single Handle Essa Pull-Down Faucet

It is awesome!  My parents loved it, the style and in chrome, but wanted a touch faucet.  So their final selection was the same Delta Essa faucet but with Touch2O technology.  

Delta Essa Faucet in Touch

Mom and Dad decided against having a farmhouse apron sink.  They also have not been super happy with their current black granite sink.  It shows a lot of water marks and is difficult to clean.  Enter the Kohler Riverby under-mount sink:

Kohler Riverby

It is an enamel cast iron beauty (and the price comes with the cool grate).

As for Matt and my side of the fence, we wanted something a bit unique.  Maybe it was the mechanical engineers in us, but we liked the idea of something industrial.

Drum roll please....

Brizo Artesso Single Handle Articulating Faucet

Loving the look of this faucet.  It does not sit too high to block eye line but the spray-er (is that the term?) is easy to use.  Our last touch faucet had a spray-er that we always had to fish back into the faucet.  So excited!!!

We also decided to have a pot filler (for all those days that I cook...oh wait...).  Here is the pot filler:

Brizo traditional pot filler

Finally, the biggest choice for me was the sink.  I ended up talking myself out of a super expensive sink that I continue to drool over.  First, look at this gorgeous sink (I admit it, I never thought I would drool over a sink):

Native Trails Pinnacle Sink - Hammered Copper with Nickel Finish

Drool worthy.  However, the fact that it cost almost three times the second most expensive sink I looked at was a problem.  Also, since my sink is on the island, you really would not see this beauty unless you are standing behind the island.  But after this sink, the regular cast iron white farmhouse sinks looks so average.  Then I saw this Kohler sink with a unique-yet-simple twist:

Kohler Whitehaven Self-Trimming Cast Iron Sink

We chose a single bowl option with the cool horizontal grooves.  Hopefully I love it forever and do not spend my life cleaning those grooves :)

Next post about master bathroom selections!

Take a Tour - 3D Rendering of Matt/Lindsay's Side of the Fence

Love this!