More upstairs walls...

Lots of sawing and hammering upstairs, mostly for the opening of the new stairs through ou

r existing laundry room. You can see the framed area in the back, near the peak of the existing roofline. I'm liking all the different dimensions and planes, and glad we didn't have a flat-faced design.

PS What do you all think of that lower window now? Would something more square be appropriate?

We've finally got a room with a view! This is Carter's bedroom window facing the foothills, this is Lucky Peak. His room will have a popout window seat from which I'm sure he'll sit like a cat in it's perch (Cheshire Cat, I suspect) and drop water bombs on unsuspecting guests. (Not our sweet lovable Carter! Oh no.)



Today (Tuesday) we got a few more walls. Moving along nicely in 80 degree weather.

Here's Aliya, on her Heelys, practicing how she's going to break her next arm.

A Hollywood Set

Though work is progressing every day upstairs, there hasn't been much to photograph until today. We have a movie-set style wall on the east side, a room with the view. If it weren't so high off the ground, it would make a great place for the kids to perform a puppet show!

Climbing up there tonight, I'm thrilled that we decided to put a window seat overlooking the foothills. This will be the only room in the house with such a view! Also it breaks up the plain 2 story wall next to the front door.

Trusses were delivered today, we should have the up by the end of the week.

The BIG window

COMMENTS, PLEASE! I'm looking for comments on the size of the front window. The new room will be a large mudroom, with a full length counter and cabinets on the front wall. The window opening is currently 72"x42", but was supposed to be only 60" wide. From inside it looks HUGE, but in general I think large windows are a plus. Also there will be planter box and landscaping beneath, plus side shutters on the sides. The window on the existing den is 72" also, so it kind of matches.
We can easily change the framing for a 60" window, but thought we would wait to see how it looks with the 2nd tory.
What do you think?!?! Please post your comments and honest opinions here! v

World's Best Boss

Steve's coworkers threw him a 1st Anniversary party today. For Fans of "The Office" think Dundie awards... ;-) These photos look remarkably like some college photos we found the other day. I think it's the haircut - my fault, I gave him Carter's haircut last night. At least it will grow back.

We have WALLS!!!!

Despite some light rain, the laundry room framing came together today! When we step inside, we can feel how big that room will be. It helps to know how to design the cabinets and possible island, now that the walls are up. The front door area feels tight, that will take some getting used to. I know some others houses are designed that way, but I've been used to the open garden feeling all these years. Anyway, when the weather clears in a few days, they should be able to tear into the roof area some more - and then add the 2nd story!

April 30th - May 1st

To the finished foundation, the floor joist then subfloor were added on Monday. Tuesday the old exterior is torn away a bit, but it may rain the next few days so things are slowing down a bit.

Check out the framer's tshirt while they unload the lumber delivery. It reads "It takes a stud to build a house" ;-) I was amazed the way the truck lifted up and "dumped" the delivery on my front lawn.