Sunset on Summer Solstice

Not much was done on the house today, but we were able to enjoy a lovely sunset on this evening of the Summer Solstice.

Stucco Brown Coat Starting

The workers started applying the stucco brown coat today, and have the East and West walls mostly finished.

Stucco Sand and Mixer

East Wall With Stucco Brown Coat

Front Door and Brown Coat 

Front of House, Part with Brown Coat 

Front of House, Part with Brown Coat 

Family Room, and Wood Beams

View of House From the Gate 

Interior Doors Installed

Today, the workers installed the interior doors.  We chose a high quality knotty Alder wood for the doors. Knotty Alder is actually a lower-quality cut of Alder wood, but we felt it gives a more rustic and warm feel than a clear Alder.  The doors, as shown here in the photos, are unfinished and unstained.  Once we apply the stain, which will be fairly dark to match the cabinets, most of the knots will not be as visible.  Seeing the doors installed makes it feel more and more like a real home!

Pocket Door in Master Closet

Other side of Pocket Door

Double door and Bathroom Door in Master Bedroom

Landing in Garage

Door in Guest Bathroom

Double Door and Closet Door in Den

Other Side of Double Door to Den

Door to Master Bathroom 

Pantry Door with Frosted Glass

Pantry Door Closed 

Sand in Driveway Ready for Stucco

Drywall Taping Plus

Work has begun taping the drywall, installing the exterior doors, putting up the wood beams in the family room, and starting the lath on the stem walls.  Lots of activity this week!

Exterior Door Installation in Den

Wood Beams Being Installed in Family Room

Taping of Drywall

More Taping of Drwall in Guest Bedroom

Taping of Backer Board in Guest Shower

Taping of Kitchen, with Sunlight Streaming In

Taping of Garage

Taping in Master Bedroom

Taping in Master Bathroom and Shower

Sunset and Scaffolding Surrounding House

Sunset with Downtown in the Distance

Drywall Hanging Complete

The workers completed hanging the drywall early Saturday.  The next step is taping and mudding, which will start on Monday.  They should be done by the end of next week.

Round Wall of Piano Room

Family Room

Stairway

Garage

Stairway, Looking Up

Master Bedroom

Drywall Has Begun In Earnest

The workers started putting up the drywall this morning.  By the end of the day, when I stopped by after work, there was quite a stark change to what it was just two days ago.  Most of the rooms have the ceiling and upper quarter of the walls finished.  A couple rooms are complete.

Den with three palettes of drywall mud in the middle

West Hallway Facing North

Kitchen

Guest Bedroom. All drywall hanging complete!

Master Bedroom, facing North

Master Bedroom, facing East

Master Bathroom

Final Insulation is Complete

The workers completed the final insulation stage yesterday, which included blow-in insulation in the walls, covering the polystyrene pre-insulation, and roll-in insulation bats for the ceiling and interior walls.  We put the roll-in insulation in the interior walls to help block noise between rooms, especially in the bathroom walls and the laundry room walls.

Walking through the house with the insulation in really was a stark difference than from a week ago. Everything was so muffled and quiet.  It made the house feel really solid and cozy.

Filling the rounded wall of the piano room

Guest Bedroom

Guest Bathroom

Bedroom #4

Laundry room, with insulation in wall toward bedroom #4

Kitchen

This was an interesting look: the insulation fills only the stairway in the garage wall

Master bedroom, with insulated wall of master bathroom

Master Bedroom. Part of the wall is outside, and part is an interior wall.