The second and most stressful event (so far.... and I know; we haven't really started this adventure properly yet!) was the fireplace. The 2-story high stone fireplace that was one of the top 5 reasons for buying THIS house... was in fact NOT a design studio selection, but a STRUCTURAL option. Now, it does make sense once you hear this little nugget. Of course, if the hearth is higher, so will the gas fire be - which is going to be one of those code thingy bobbys and needs to be on the plans. But, the plans were being drawn up. Everything in the structural department was complete and signed off - deposit paid so the book closed. Getting it done after we knew was not something that was going to happen... adding light fixtures is our usual cap and the balusters and basement already were pushing us into the uncontrollable laughter phase of "yeah... we'll do it at some point".
I have rambled our little story on a lot this time so will skip to the end - we got it sorted and signed sealed and in the contract, after a little drama and confusion which won't make it to print, but that's what keeps life interesting I guess...
This is the design studio's 1 story version - The light I loved more than any other and they don't sell any more :(
I have rambled our little story on a lot this time so will skip to the end - we got it sorted and signed sealed and in the contract, after a little drama and confusion which won't make it to print, but that's what keeps life interesting I guess...
This is the design studio's 1 story version - The light I loved more than any other and they don't sell any more :(
A busy two weeks, the time has flown with kids finishing up exams and work (you would think it was year end or a major software release, but nope... no reason but just if it can happen it will!)
We had our second design studio appointment. Was great, still happy with the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring so wasn't really that much to pick out, until it came to lights. Nickel and Dimed is an understatement! There is a fan junction box in the 2-story family room, however - no light?!?!?! Same with the Master Bedroom - I mean... huh?! Honestly dumbfounded and still a little annoyed. The rooms that didn't even have a junction box for a light fixture AT ALL: Master Den, Playroom extension which we converted to a bedroom, Guest elite suite addition and the Guest Den, the study, the living room, the library and the room in the turret. It isn't dollars for these things it is actually hundreds of dollars - EACH... yes, each. The light fixture choices were not your 'dream' lights and of course, you can't expect there to be 1,000's of choices. So you choose to pay a little for a light you don't like, a lot for a light you will make do with, or leave the house dark. The last hour of the appointment turned in to "we will keep the standard.... of nothing". Going to have to have an electrician move in with us for a month to get our house finished after we close!
Lighting rant over! I will not speak of this again...
We also had our low voltage appointment. We picked where we wanted cable data phone speakers security and all that jazz... I was quite a lot more bored than I had anticipated. I leave all the wiring up to Matt! We had a couple of speaker pre-wired but will finish set up our selves. We did get to talk Central Vac. Now we have it, and love it, but don't use it (apart from the baseboard kick-pan in the kitchen which rocks my world!). I think it has just been easier to run round with the Dyson than pull it all out BUT would we regret not getting it? Well our lovely neighbor Lisa had demonstrated hers when we met up a few weeks ago and we were blown away - the pipe retracts in to the wall!!! REALLY! We are gadget nerds so agreed to type and reveal our numbers... This is when we both write our "if it's less than" price and compare. we turned our phones, Matt had $5,000 or forget it. I had $2,500 or leave it off. Well bang in the middle and we ended up getting it anyway - I will put that one in my pocket for when I really want something Matt doesn't want lol!
Oh we did have a couple of little bombshells at this second appointment. First the front door; is not selected in the design studio... Okay.... so after I saw the higher end doors cost the same as a family cruise, we spent hours debating and went for not mahogany and paid a long week end to Vegas.
The picture is from the contract (lol) No mistakes should be made this way! We are having the 8ft high double doors with full beveled glass.
We had our second design studio appointment. Was great, still happy with the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring so wasn't really that much to pick out, until it came to lights. Nickel and Dimed is an understatement! There is a fan junction box in the 2-story family room, however - no light?!?!?! Same with the Master Bedroom - I mean... huh?! Honestly dumbfounded and still a little annoyed. The rooms that didn't even have a junction box for a light fixture AT ALL: Master Den, Playroom extension which we converted to a bedroom, Guest elite suite addition and the Guest Den, the study, the living room, the library and the room in the turret. It isn't dollars for these things it is actually hundreds of dollars - EACH... yes, each. The light fixture choices were not your 'dream' lights and of course, you can't expect there to be 1,000's of choices. So you choose to pay a little for a light you don't like, a lot for a light you will make do with, or leave the house dark. The last hour of the appointment turned in to "we will keep the standard.... of nothing". Going to have to have an electrician move in with us for a month to get our house finished after we close!
Lighting rant over! I will not speak of this again...
We also had our low voltage appointment. We picked where we wanted cable data phone speakers security and all that jazz... I was quite a lot more bored than I had anticipated. I leave all the wiring up to Matt! We had a couple of speaker pre-wired but will finish set up our selves. We did get to talk Central Vac. Now we have it, and love it, but don't use it (apart from the baseboard kick-pan in the kitchen which rocks my world!). I think it has just been easier to run round with the Dyson than pull it all out BUT would we regret not getting it? Well our lovely neighbor Lisa had demonstrated hers when we met up a few weeks ago and we were blown away - the pipe retracts in to the wall!!! REALLY! We are gadget nerds so agreed to type and reveal our numbers... This is when we both write our "if it's less than" price and compare. we turned our phones, Matt had $5,000 or forget it. I had $2,500 or leave it off. Well bang in the middle and we ended up getting it anyway - I will put that one in my pocket for when I really want something Matt doesn't want lol!
Oh we did have a couple of little bombshells at this second appointment. First the front door; is not selected in the design studio... Okay.... so after I saw the higher end doors cost the same as a family cruise, we spent hours debating and went for not mahogany and paid a long week end to Vegas.
The picture is from the contract (lol) No mistakes should be made this way! We are having the 8ft high double doors with full beveled glass.