Happy Wednesday. I hope everyone had a great Valentines Day.
Before I get into house details, I’m going to do a reminder. Yes, we’re under contact to buy the house, but until the final closing is done and the keys are in our hand, things can go wrong. Just like things can and do go wrong in publishing deals (it’s happened to me!), but I wanted to share this journey with you guys. Also, for now, I’m not going to name the builder.
Okay moving on!
The new house is a one-story, 3 bedroom with a study (my office!). It’s an open concept floor plan with a great room and large kitchen in one space. It has a two-car garage, which means Wizard is sacrificing. We really tried to secure a lot where we could add a third car garage, but there just weren’t many lots with enough space and the correct positioning to fit in a side-turn third garage. Wizard feels he can make it work, and he’s excited about this house. I will happily make one of the bedrooms into a hobby room for him if he wishes. We’ll see what works best for him.
So that’s the basic house. From those builder options, we’ve chosen to add a sunroom at the end of the kitchen that will become our dining room, and a covered patio right off that to the basic plan. What’s really awesome is that adding the sunroom immediately upgrades the kitchen to what they call a deluxe kitchen. That means its bigger, extending the cabinets and the island quite a bit. Oh and it adds another window in the kitchen. The island faces the living area, and it has the sink and dishwasher in it, which is exactly what I hoped for. This kitchen also has a walk in pantry. I have never had a walk in pantry 
There’s an option to turn that pantry into a powder room, but I’d much rather have the pantry. Plus it’s one less bathroom to clean because….priorities, LOL.
I’m in love with this kitchen. It’s one of those things that just works for both of us. Wizard is in the kitchen enough that it really matters to him too.
So while we are doing some structural upgrades, most of what we’ll be getting will be standard, meaning what the builder includes with the prices of the house. While I love design shows and videos, back here in the real world, I’ll be happy with what we can afford
That’s where we are now. Next up, we do the electrical upgrades (things like adding extra canned lights, and we’re adding a couple boxes for us to put in ceiling fans later, just a few things but nothing fancy) before the architect draws up the final design that then goes to the city for approval to start on the house. It’s interesting that all these plans with the structural options were approved by the city planning commission quite a while ago, but then they have to approve them again for each lot once the buyer finalizes their structural upgrades. But I know a heck of a lot more about building a book than a house, so maybe that’s how its always done.
Okay, I’m going to try not to bore you guys with this too much over the next months. But I will be doing some updates, hopefully for fun.
Now I’d love to hear how your Wednesday is going!
February 16th, 2022 at 7:32 am · Link
Ooo, it sounds wonderful! I’m glad you’re getting everything you want in a house. Will it have a pool, too? Or are you over having a pool? I hope it’ll have plenty of lizards for Maggie. ;o) And a nice place for you to take walks. :hugs: I’m super excited for you!
It’s early yet here, but so far so good. I have coffee, which is the first part of having a good day. They’re burning something down in Arkansas which means we’ll have a smoky day out there. Should make for an interesting sunrise. I spent yesterday making edit notes, so I have those to input today. Other than that, not much going on. We’re sticking close to home again. We’re supposed to have crap weather starting this afternoon, but we’re stocked up in case of snow or flood, so it’s all good. Have a great day!
February 16th, 2022 at 9:23 am · Link
Yay for all the excitement (and some headaches–I’ve built a couple so the headaches are inevitable! LOL). It sounds perfect (but for the garage) for you and Wiz. And what B.E. said about walks, lizards, and pool.
We’re due some weather overnight and tomorrow from that storm that dumped a bunch of hail on California yesterday. Chance of snow, better chance of rain, and possibility of severe weather. Plus the cold is back for a day or two.
I got some words done. Not many but some. Having problems with shoulders and hands. Thanks arthritis. NOT! Stormy came after school because Baseball Boy had a scrimmage and Only was doing a photoshoot. The ad agency is really utilizing her talents there. Some of her “behind the scenes” from this shoot (for a hospital) might even end up on billboards and stuff. They were actually shooting video for a commercial. Anyway, her career is really expanding. Yay. Stormy is funny. He was talking about his “greatest treasures” on the way home. And that’s his term. Once is a puzzle bank (like a Rubiks Cube, I think) and a stuffed dog his best friend gave him for Valentines Day. Then he read to me from his space book. He’ll be 8 in about a month. Where’s the time gone?!?!
Not much else going on around here. I’ve got to save some stuff for Friday so I have 5 things. 🤣 Congrats again and looking forward to all the fun and details as the build goes along. 💖🏡
February 16th, 2022 at 4:00 pm · Link
First, I’m praying all goes well for you guys and the new house build.
Your house plans sound wonderful. Did I understand correctly that you’re taking the dinning room space for the sunroom and increased kitchen? That would be a winner for me too. Are you going to have a pool?
This is going to be fun going through this new home build with you.
Well, I had to have the roofer out yesterday because a puddle of water was on the floor under our fan/light in the master bath. He thinks it was condensation from the vent pipe. He will get up into the attic and check it out. Youngest will get there first :).
This morning the water guys were back and as of now, all is good.
Also this morning my front tooth chipped. I was at the dentist this afternoon to repair it. Looks good.
I hope you have a great afternoon!
February 16th, 2022 at 5:13 pm · Link
B.E., no pool
We are downsizing in a few areas like the pool. It’s a hard choice, but BLB has a pool now so that’s a positive. It looks like we’ll have another summer in this house too, so we’ll get more use out of the pool.
I imagine they’ll be a lot of lizards for Maggie. I forgot to tell you guys that behind our house is all open land that leads up into that national forest. Maggie and I know it well from years of walking there so she should love it.
Coffee is definitely step one to a good day! Hmm wonder what’s burning in Arkansas? Hope it clears quickly.
Yay for editing progress!
I saw the crap weather heading your way. Several states are in its path. I hope it passes without causing damage or too much distress. You’re smart to be ready for it just in case.
My days been good, and hope yours has too!
February 16th, 2022 at 5:33 pm · Link
Silver, thanks! Like I told B.E., no pool
Although I think Wizard might be secretly designing one, LOL. He loves the pool, but at the same time, we’re trying to cut down on maintenance in a nod to our future (and older) selves.
Yep I saw that you’re in the path of more stormy weather. We had a damp drizzly day and a bit more rain last night in my area, but you guys are looking at real weather coming at you. Stay warm and safe!
I’m really sorry about your shoulder and hands. I can totally sympathize. I wish I had easy answers for you, but I don’t.
I’m thrilled for Only! This is a very big deal for her! Congrats to her for being recognized for her talent, and you for having an amazing daughter
Eight??? It seems like he was just two, but Turbo’s turning four in a couple months, so I guess time really is sliding by. But I LOVE how the stuffed dog from his best friend for Valentines Day goes in his greatest treasure category.
I’m looking forward to hearing more things in Friday Five
And thanks again. (and yep, we know soooo many things can go wrong. I’m not patient with headaches and delays, so we’ll see how much chocolate I consume in this process).
February 16th, 2022 at 5:49 pm · Link
Viki, thank you! Boy, I really didn’t explain this well, and I’m not sure I can do better, but I’ll try. In the standard plan, there’s a small dining room at the end of the kitchen. We are adding a room onto the end of that. And in doing that, it automatically takes out the old dining room and expands the kitchen space into where the dining room originally was. Then Wizard and I want to use the additional sun room as a dining room. It’s one of those things that makes sense on a diagram but is hard to explain. Essentially we’re adding something like 300 square feet to our house by adding the sunroom.
No on the pool. It’s part of the downsizing plan but it’s something we both have pangs over. But it’s the best long term choice I think.
Didn’t you just have that roof redone? I’d be frustrated to find a leak. I’m sure it’s something simple, but so annoying. My question is why didn’t he get up in the attic yesterday? Or is that me being impatient?
I bet Youngest gets there first too.
At least the water situation is taken care of.
Bummer on a chipped tooth, but yay for getting it taken care of so fast! If I remember right you really like your dentist and I can see why.
My afternoon is going well and we’re heading out for a walk next. Hope you have a great evening!