and upstairs there are 3 bedrooms, a full bath, and bonus room which I don't have pictures of at the moment. Pretty standard stuff.

Thanks for all of the help, advice, and wisdom along the way.

I'm sincerely so very happy for you, Rachel. It's amazing to see all of your planning come to life. I mostly followed your kitchen threads-- your kitchen is wonderful and it's going to serve you SO well. I particularly love the thoughtful design of your kitchen window/sink/base cab. Excellent work!

Rachel, your home looks wonderful. I cracked up when I saw that we both picked the same lights that you have in your master bath--mine are in the second bath. Of all the lights in the world....

Rachel wonderful looking home. May you have many wonderful years in it.

Wow. Love everyone's progress so far!

Our brick is finished, we have a lovely full concrete driveway, appliances are in (except fridge, washer and dryer). Oh... fireplace is in!

Only things left is carpet, propane pig, rest of appliances.

rachel....everything looks so pretty! Neat treadlights on the stairs. Can you share some info about your floors please?

Kali...nice detail in the ceiling corner!

We literally just got told yesterday that we don't have to wait until closing to move in! Long story, but basically it's because it's all in our name.

Called to see if it was okay if we had furniture in the garage and got told we are allowed to live in it.

You can say that made my day. here I thought we were going to have to wait 2 months with a finished house waiting for closing.

Congratulations Kali! Your father has done a wonderful job with your home!

Today was a turning point - finally feels like the house is really going to be ours and one day soon we can actually live there!!! Tile is almost complete, trim is well underway, and hardwoods start tomorrow! Pics aren't great but here are a few anyway. Congrats to mamarachel, Kali on moving in and anyone else I've missed! I have been reading but not much chance to comment lately.

Upstairs landing window with second floor trim style

Master bath shower getting started! Love this tile so much. The little shelves don't match as well as we thought from the sample but I don't even care I like the tile so much!

It's December and I couldn't be happier to have finally received our building permit as an early Christmas gift. Given the balmy winter we are having in Canada this year, we are scheduled to break ground the first week of January. It's motivating to read about and see everyone else's progress! Our now approved vision is below.

Finally some progress over here! As said, the weather in Canada is being extra kind. No way would we still be working outside any other year. We picked a good year to build! After much frustration the siding has finally been started and the house is completely drywalled. We are waiting on Hydro to come hook us up so we can move on with mudding and taping. That should be started by the end of the week and siding should be done. Hardwood floors and interior doors have been ordered as well as our cabinet doors from Allstyle. (For all you IKEA people waiting to see how the frames and outsourced doors come together) And speaking of IKEA ... THEY ARE HAVING THEIR KITCHEN EVENT UNTIL JANUARY 11TH!!! I'm so excited because the money (gift card) I get back will help pay for my PAX units in my (small haha!) walk-in closet.

It finally looks like a house. We originally had a close date of Dec 30th but found it difficult to finish up our draws, have an appraiser come in and obtain our occupancy over the holiday's. We pushed back to January 15th for those reasons, and to give us just that little bit of extra time.

Now for some pictures!!! :D Our siding is Canexel Ultraplank in Country Red installed vertically.

I won't bore you with pictures of all my drywall. This is our feature wall in our living room that will have railing on either side. (Reminder, this is just boarded haha it's not done yet!) A full wall made the stairwell too dark but we still wanted to mount our TV so we went with this. We hope to cover it with barn board in the future.

Rooms are being painted, bathroom tile work in progress and kitchen/bathroom cabinets get installed next week.

Well, I haven't been up to my build since mid October (broken leg - no driving - it's two hours up and two hours back - someone should be giving me a ride either next week or the week after when it's winter break).

Anyhow, I'm chomping at the bit to see the place.

I do have doors in, now.

This front door was special-ordered from Feather River -- you go through Home Depot to get it. I'm still deciding what or if I will paint the frame and what the trim around the door on either side will look like. The electric for the light has been plumbed in to the upper left. I like the slanted flooring on the porch (There is a roofed overhang).

Here's the exterior lamp for the house. (The door handles btw will be simple oil rubbed bronze with a curve to them.)

This is looking at that door from the interior. The fire-rated door to the garage is to your right. On this side, it will be painted to match the front door, naturally. There will be a triangular oak breakfront in that corner.

Here's in the garage going into the house proper. This side of the door will remain white, and there will be railings on either side of the steps into the house. It will be easy to modify to a ramp should this ever be necessary.

Note the framing for sheetrock on the garage side of the house abutting the house proper. This is due to fire code regulations -- there needs to be fire grade sheetrock or similar there. That's fine -- they just better preserve the wood before hanging sheetrock!!! I figure I will use this side of the garage for hanging corkboard and those kinds of things that usually get put on walls in garages.

PS: Deck in back goes on this week, finish work happens on electric wiring, septic should go in. I believe the propane is being installed this week but the propane company hasn't called me yet for terms of service.

Still moving along on our self build, trusses were finally all put up about 3 weeks ago, sheeting is done ( we paid 2 guys to help with this as our roof is 12/12). Planning for our sheet and sheer inspection this week, we are currently looking for new roofer. We are 14 weeks in from the first wall being put up. My husbands kind of a bad ass ( I'm a proud wife). We also have a handful of amazing friends who have given us their time on heavy lifting days. Our house is 2750 sqf with a breezeway and detached 32x34 garage

It's official. The contract to build is signed! We're hoping we'll be able to break ground end of January.

Ok. Major progress finally. So exciting. Roof should be on by the weekend.

We're supposed to move in this Friday..... I'm highly doubting it since the stairs aren't stained, railing isn't on, shower isn't even grouted, no carpet upstairs, counters go in at noon tomorrow.. Along with a bunch of other odds and ends? I don't even have cabinet hardware yet..

We are supposed to move next Wednesday. Hope we have our certificate of occupancy by then!

ditto….but I do not think so :-(

mrsfireman,

It is amazing to think you and your DH are building it all from start to finish with just the odd friend or contractor to help. Your pace of completion will be slower than most here, but the result will be a project to be so very proud of (and which will save lots of $$$), Best of luck with the next stages of your build.

Carol

We are moving along now...Stone is up on the chimney so now the metal roof can go on. The angled windows are finally done properly (came in backwards the first time!) and our insulation is in as well. Working with cabinet company this week to plan kitchen, baths, laundry and bar area! It finally feels like we are getting somewhere!

We got our certificate of occupancy today, and the keys tomorrow! Happy dance time!!!

Yahoo golfergirl! Now the Peanuts theme song is stuck in my head!

Congrats Golfergirl29, great Christmas gift!

Congrats golfergirl! Much naches in your new home. (It's a Yiddish word.)

Alisamu the house looks beautiful and I see you're on the beach. Wow.

We're making progress! 4 weeks ago, our builder was digging, and now we're all framed! I expect everything to slow down now, and we'll probably be running into some Ohio winter delays. Read all about progress and view all of our pictures here! https://loeschhomestead.wordpress.com/

mrsfiremangw you and I are married to similar 'do-it-all-guys. It changes the pace A LOT but maybe the bright side is we get to take our time picking things out??!! There's no builder saying hurry up hurry up I need your decision on xy&z by 8am!

Here's the garage as of a few days ago, people door is installed since then, the shingles are in bundles on the roof and roofers will be there Monday. Hubster is just off the ladder, installing the roof flashing. He could do the roofing but it's not the best use of his time because.....

..... this is where all his time and energy has been going. It's been two steps forward and one back for over 2 months. Rain is the culprit because it not only slows us down but it pushes the subs back on other jobs and when they're ready to come to us it rains again. They worked all day today (Saturday) to try and get caught up but still didn't finish with the forms and we're looking at rain Mon thru Thurs :-( I may have to scream.

Hang in there DLM. DIY is the pits, but a necessary $$$ saver.

Carol

DIY is definitely a slower pace. It took me 3-1/2 years, but I usually work completely alone, and I'm in my 60's. A young, strong helper would have quadrupled the pace of some tasks. As for weather- The fun part of DIY is that during the course of your build, you will experience the hottest, coldest, driest, wettest, snowiest weather your area has ever seen. In 2012, we hit the highest temperature ever recorded in our area- 107 F.! The following year we had TWICE our normal rain. Of course, once I had the outside work wrapped up, the weather returned to normal. With any attention to detail at all, though, you will have a better quality home than you can buy.

Mushcreek are you saying we need to keep a sense of humor?! We'll get there and I know we'll have a great house - eventually! DH is an engineer, has been in remodeling/construction almost our entire marriage and will make this house right, efficient and special - that I know. We actually have 2 young strong helpers since both our sons decided to come here and help with the build, but they also have other work obligations so can't be at our beck and call. Being new to the area DH doesn't have the tried and true trades people he knows and trusts and even the material sources are not as complete as he's like - and more expensive!

Our windows went in this week and the cupola was added to the roof! Hard to tell in this picture, but the windows are Red and I LOVE them!! Plumbing almost done and HVAC starts this week. Finally seeing some progress!!

Missi, I'm so excited for you! You are a bit ahead of us, we just finally have the roof done and some outside electrical lights in porch ceilings and overhangs, and windows in but not doors..Plumbing hope starts this week and inside electrical. This picture is a week old, so before the roofing

Builder got CO on Friday. He was just let me know……but there is no driveway, no front door handrail (I wonder do they not required for CO?), no landscape, no final finished coat on hardwood floor, no bathroom mirrors, no plumbing caulkings, etc….

Cabinets went in today, I have worried about these for months but I love them!!

Beautiful farmdrmer. How tall are your ceilings?

Thanks cp! 9' main level ceiling 8' upper level. We are short so I actually like how two separate doors bring it down a little (instead of one tall door). Works for us. Looking forward to seeing your plans come to life, did I see you break ground soon? So exciting!

Thanks wrock99!! Your house is beautiful!!! Can't wait to see it come together!

Shingles on. Windows in. House wrapped. So exciting. Congrats to all who are moving in just in time for Christmas. What a gift.

Thanks cp! 9' main level ceiling 8' upper level. We are short so I actually like how two separate doors bring it down a little (instead of one tall door). Works for us. Looking forward to seeing your plans come to life, did I see you break ground soon? So exciting!

I like the two separate doors too but our ceilings are 10' so ours will be going even higher.

Not breaking ground yet. We signed contracts to build last week and hoping the plans go to the permitting board next week. Then we wait. :)

We have a foundation!!

And a fully-lined flu for our restored wood-burning fireplace!

Fun things from today's walkthrough include the discovery that the one chimney line that we are using is, in fact, shared with our neighbor and the wall separating the two chimneys had collapsed in many places. If you look closely at that picture, the whole back is repaired because all the bricks were gone. At least we know it'll be working now! The joys of old rowhouses...

Hopefully we'll begin building the extension walls during the first week of jan, which will take 2 weeks... then she'll be all closed up! So exciting!

www.greenwoodframed.com

Long time lurker, finally getting involved in posting a bit. I'm sure you all will be seeing me more in the near future. We closed the construction loan on our forever home last Thursday. Of course it's been raining cats and dogs so we haven't been able to get any foundation work done.

Speaking of all the rain, it has made quite a mess of my dirt and the trench for our underground power.

I guess it's less like a trench now and more like a fault line. We are doing a lot DIY and are using a family friend who is a licensed GC.

I'm a DIY builder, too. Looking forward to following your progress!

I cannot recall which thread we discussed kitchens on so if it was this one, I started a thread over in kitchens regarding my IKEA frames and outsourced cabinet doors. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3567726/ikea-sektion-and-allstyle-cabinet-doors

We are planning on putting our condo on the market in less than 3 weeks. We figure better to sell now in an up market than wait until the house is finished. I posted pics of my condo on the buying and selling a home forum. Here's the link: Cpartist's Condo For Sale

Well, winter has finally hit here. We are firing the siding guy haha! Never shows up when he said he will and my FIL is here now and can do it. Frustrating to say the least! However, lots of progress for the most part. Hardwood flooring has been delivered, picked up the last of the tile and got all the cabinets from IKEA (doors have already been delivered from Allstyle). We have been slowly assembling all the cabinets in the basement. I officially know how to build these damn things without the instructions haha!
Interior doors will be arriving the first week of January as well as all the trim and casings. Ensuite vanity has been ordered but my main bath one is on back order. Have picked out most paint THANKFULLY! Might be waiting on granite depending on their lead time, hoping we can get it in under the wire. We are just waiting for the drywaller to sand then it will be very busy at our house! Materials are all there and ready to go to finish up. I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. We close on the 15th and can't push our date back any more or else we lose our interest rate. I am confident everything will be done but it's going to be a mad dash. Exciting times!

I've finally, finally, FINALLY got back up to my build two hours north of here yesterday! I hadn't been able to get up there since mid October. Glad I went; I got to fix a couple things before they went too far in a direction I didn't want.

Here's me and my house -- and here you can also guess why I haven't gotten back to my future home until now: (I thank a good friend of mine who was able to take 5 hours out of his time to drive and come up with me -- although we both had a great time doing this.)

The garage door is painted and about ready to go on -- here are the panels ready and waiting -- this door matches the front door -- this part of the job should be finished tomorrow:

I love the front of the house, including the private guest room entry area on the porch. There will be a rustic railing here eventually. And I am hunting down a source for three log rocking chairs -- but they have to be comfortable.

Here are two views of the back of the house (taken by my friend, as I wasn't about to be able to navigate this on crutches) -- the white framing on the white doors will be painted "Anderson terratone" to match the windows and that deck French door. First photo from the eastern side; second from the western, in the midst of what I call "Juniper Island".

All doors except the French doors on the deck in back will be handicap accessible. Since those doors open out, there will be a step, but with the potential for a future ramp. Yes, there will be steps from the deck on down (right side) but access to the deck itself will be wheelchair accessible. Scenery, you know!

PS, the opening in the lower right: a window into future workshop room...

And in the basement:

Mechanicals to the far/deep right. The blocked-in area around center will be a place for an eventual half-bath geared towards space to clean off after tending livestock (chickens, goats, small sheep), which are livestock I intend to raise when I'm able-bodied for such activities. The photo was taken by my friend, while standing in my future root cellar portion of the basement -- to the immediate left will be a workshop for stained glass and for woodworking activities.

What a wonderful looking house artemis! And here's hoping for a quick recovery.

artemis, a root cellar! And in such a beautiful setting. Love it.

Artemis, looks like you tried to step out of that white upstairs door in the back :-) I love the look, seems like a great place to just sit outside and enjoy.

Artemis, Love the look of your home so far. You will soon be busy, with workshop and livestock. Sending healing vibes!