Shaping Up ... the interior is coming together this week with most of the cabinets now installed. Take a peek and see the progress.

I'm going to be so bold as to have a count down 'til move in. Dh needs to make his travel arrangements very soon ... so I'm going to trust our builder that the home will be ready by the end of February. Over the next two weeks much of the final interior appointments are scheduled to be finished up. This coming week the cabinets get installed in the rooms that have flooring completed. The trim molding and painting of said trim will take about two weeks to finish. Once the cabinets are installed in the kitchen (tomorrow - Monday - 1/22/07), then the template can be made for the counter tops (they should take about ten days to make and install). The most important item I'd like completed is the banister rail in the foyer ... currently there is just a "drop off" down to the basement ... this limits my time inspecting the progress to when Nathan is in school (AM) ... and it's better to inspect in the afternoon to see the day's progress after the workers have quit for the day. The front porch steps and steps leading up from inside the garage to the house also need to be done. Once we do make the move, the builder has some outside projects that have to wait until spring ... i.e. concrete patios that need the ground cleared of snow ... and dried out and some exterior trim that needs painting. We had quite a bit of snow Friday night and the temps have been in the twenties and thirties (a warm spell from last week). Being that this project got started 11 weeks behind schedule, I'm pleased with the progress. We're in the home stretch of the race.

The inside walls are finished being painted. Ann wanted to know why the plaster wall texture looks uneven and like her grandma's walls :) She prefers the orange peel finish ... but I like the rustic texture of the hand applied plaster. My pictures (digital) are a bit hazy due to poor lighting inside ... and such bright outside light streaming through the windows. The bathroom, kitchen, and dining room floors are installed and look gorgeous. Next week the wood floors get installed. Tomorrow the trim molding and inside doors will begin to be installed ... and let's not forget that the electrician will begin putting in all the plugs and switches. The big decision yesterday was almond or white switch/plug plates. I've opted for white (glad that decision is over :) The garage walls should be getting taped and textured soon. Today I've been searching for a rustic log for the fireplace mantel in the basement ... I think the example shown is what will be ordered. It's made from white cedar and is similar to what dh mentioned he liked. This morning I had the nerve to go shopping for living room couches. Hope dh approves ... he did mention leather. I'm picky about leather and prefer the type that looks better with age, scratches, spills, etc. A less processed leather that is pretty indestructible with kids and ages well after time and use. It's been a busy but productive week. Looking like our home instead of just a bunch of pencil drawings on napkins

Photos: sofa and love seat ... same style but a wee bit lighter leather. Log mantels in showroom. Great room after being painted.

Yesterday the siding was completed. The only outside surface not covered is soon to be sporting a nice rock skirt below the garage windows. The plastering is completed inside and the "old world" plaster finish on the main floor looks fantastic. Even the "orange peel" finish in the other rooms is actually nice ... not too heavy of an application. Today the painter begins his magic of transforming the colorless walls into warm and inviting rooms.