Group Effort

We did get word back on the final elevation plans, so now we wait again, on getting our estimate from the builder.  He has to contact all his crews to get the estimates, and then get them back to us. Probably 2 weeks or more. I cringe.

We went out and marked a rectangular area with stakes in the ground of how long and how wide the house will be.  I thought this would give me a better feel as I drive by it for a few weeks of EXACTLY where in the field it should be.  And, also I want the house angled a little bit, so hopefully seeing the stakes out there will help me visualize it. 

Kylee's in full house talking mode now. She's got big plans for her room. It must be pink, and she thinks she needs a desk, and wants me to paint it pink too!! We'll see on all this..... ;)

Tomorrow

Tomorrow could be the day that all is finished!!! Well, not really, but one chapter of the house planning.  Talked to VR this afternoon, planning on the architect sending us the finalized elevation. I use finalized loosely. 

If all is good, we will start getting our estimate. Praise the Lord for hopefully getting to move onto another lengthy phase. :) 

One step at a time. One step at a time. 

Exterior Ideas

At this point, the architect is finishing up the "elevation" part of our house plans.  The plans part is done, just waiting on elevation, and then we will meet with VR to start getting an estimate something he said could take 2 weeks to get.  So, breaking ground in February, don't think so. :(

Elevation consists of a lot of different things, and I'm still not sure exactly what it is.  Everything exterior effecting the house is considered elevation, such as, roof line, gables, porch, columns, how many, etc.  And things inside effected by elevation are ceiling heights, beams, vaulted ceilings, etc.

On the exterior of the house, I still like a traditional brick house, but I do like accenting with rock or stone places. 

Colors of brick I like and Jason does too..... (just looking at brick not the house or stone)

I would like to accent with white stone like in these pictures or a type of rock, like in this picture below

or in this picture here. Again, just looking at the type of rock. 

Accenting with the stone or rock:

Columns like this

Around edges of house, and around the front door, but I want it kind of patchy, not uniform. Can't find my picture to show, and don't know the right word to use....

Anyway the reason I don't know what to pick. I like both of them about the same. I would like to use the white stone inside as well, at the fireplace and possibly around cabinet ends or something.  There are tons of pictures out there showing the "white stone" being used inside, but I just think my children and having it around the fireplace it will be brown, black, and have crayons colored on it..... Jason, agreed, and doesn't think we should use it inside. 

So, I thought maybe using a rock inside would be good, but don't know if it would look good using it outside with the bricks I like.... 

I kind of like the idea of rock instead of the white stone because so many people are using the white stone right now.....

What do you think?

Traditional Kitchen

As the builder said, the 2 most important parts of the house are getting the kitchen and living room area designed how you want, and then work the rest of the house in. 

I pinned and saved picture after picture of different kitchens. One of the first ones I liked was this one:

Courtesy of eplans.com

Jason doesn't like the open floor plan, but I kind of do. So, a short wall I thought would work well.

Then, I stared at this kitchen for a long time. I dont really like the layout, but there is more in this picture of the things I like: beams, travertine floor, dark cabinets, and granite countertops. Which Jason quickly informed that this kitchen was HUGE, and to quit looking at it. :)

Courtesy of houzz.com

Finally, I was looking on the Thermador website at appliances, and I came across this picture, and my heart skipped a beat, like it did back in the day when Jason would pick me up to go out. Anyways, it could have been the layout that drew me in, or the floors, beams, and cabinets, or maybe the beautiful chandelier that drew me in.

Courtesy of Thermador

This was the picture that I showed to VR that he gave to the architect to finish our house plans with plus a few changes to it.  There will be no door opening on the right side of the photo to go to the Living Room. The stove top and the countertop space across from each other will be switched. There will be a raised island with stools on one side and the sink, dishwasher on the other side in the middle of the kitchen like this, and there will still be a walkway out the back of the kitchen to the pantry to the left and the formal dining room towards the right. 

I really like this blue pantry, and Jason even said I could paint the pantry any color.  What do you think??? Would you paint a bold color like this in a closed off room that won't be seen a lot?? Or you could just paint the walls a bold color?? What do you think?

Courtesy of houzz.com

I love these Fiesta dishes Pier1, and I'm thinking a blue pantry would go great with them!!

I want to be brave and do a blue pantry, but I think when it comes time I'm going to chicken out.  Oh well.