DLM2000, after everything we've been through the past 16 months, I've learned a little water (or lack of!) is nothing to fret about!

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm not a clothes, car or jewelry kind of gal. It's all about our home, the thrill of the hunt and the fun of pulling it all together. It looks like I'll have awhile to enjoy this project, not that a house is ever done! The drapery workroom said they won't start until September, and even if all four tables are working on my order, it will take a month to sew everything.

Oh my, I just read this whole thread and want to thank you for the eye candy! You have great taste and a real talent for putting everything together. I would love to see your current house, if you don’t mind? Pretty please!

I just came in from weeding, and trying to dig up some wonderful Japanese Maples that didn't make it through the winter, and this makes me feel so much better. It's not even June, and I'm already excited to see what you do for the holidays in this incredible home. And the upcoming window treatments - I am fully prepared to swoon.

Your parents would be thrilled to see what you have done, Allison, and very happy to know that their home will be in the family for many years to come.

Thank you, Lupins4. I used to write for Atticmag, and Jane did a wonderful series on our home way back when. Here is a search with them at the top. I did several more articles that included something in the house if you want to look further.

My3dogs, sorry about your trees! Our current faux tree has lost a lot of its lights, and is SO big, I was telling DH a few days ago I needed to do something else this year. My dream would be a Christmas tree closet - so it's wheeled in/out each season! Currently, the LR FP surround is missing. I'm hoping for a mantel, but the fabricator said he likes to recess them into the wall and we can't do that with metal studs. I need to ask DH. And I don't like my Plan B as much.

We are still waiting on two stair nose pieces to come in, so they'll come back and sand all the treads. Did I mention they messed up the treads?! He wiped on the stain wash and put poly on - was perfect match to the prefinished flooring, and I had to leave. The next day DD1 sent a text saying the treads were too dark., and they are. It's like he wiped off all of the stain wash. Gggggrrrr! So we cannot take up the brown paper in foyer yet, or put things in the breakfront and china cabinet.

Everything is so beautiful.

I have to say again that the connection both with the past and your parents - "We ate all our meals at this table from the time I was born until we moved when I was 10yo" - is so wonderful. Yet it is your house, with your personal stamp on it. What a lovely combination.

Thank you!

Leela4, that means a lot. While similar taste, there was always a difference in style.

Allison0704,

We are wanting to build a house in the next year or so in central Alabama. Do you have any recommendations (or general advice) on general contractors, stone suppliers and installers, flooring installation, or anything related to home building for this area? I'm not really sure how to go about finding information on people/companies. For instance, I have only been able to find about one or two places that even have Soapstone but I don't know if it's slab or tile, nor how much is typical in this area.

Thank you in advance for any help or advice you may be able to provide!

Im really enjoying this thread. Can't wait to see more of everything. What a journey.

Just spent the last hour reading this thread from top to bottom. Amazing!

This thread is like a secret, mini design blog. We are so lucky :-)

I'm so glad you're still posting updates for this. Those bathroom chandeliers are really awesome. Everything is really.

Thanks, everyone! I haven't been online much lately as our internet has been sketchy, but they are coming today.

Haley, I don't mind sharing sources with you at all. I'll see if the email me option is available.

Everything looks fabulous!

Thank you so much!

You're welcome!

Still having internet problems, and changing providers, but he wouldn't install last week since they are working on the landscape now. Yesterday was the first day I did not go through a box. Not that they are all empty, just out of sight! I'm enjoying the new kitchen, but still waiting on the range backsplash.

Here is the before...

of the freezer/fridge/pantry/pantry/coffee station wall. The microwave is above the blender and coffeemaker, which is on a pull-out tray. Two drawers below. Having new table made, and that's taking longer than planned too. We purchased 30" SZ freezer and fridge towers. Very happy with them. Wall of doors, not the island drawers, is the true color.

Ok, not only am I totally smitten with every stinkin' thing you're doing in that gorgeous house, I am now officially jealous. You're even getting the landscaping done already? We've been in our house 15 months and are just now getting organized for outside stuff! Is that a rug in front of the wall of doors? Looks like an interesting piece. Love the cabinet color.

Thank you! I am not regretting using so much color in the house at all.

Our home is on two lots and the only part ever professionally landscaped was the front. It is definitely the worst yard in the neighborhood. We cleared out overgrowth over a year ago to keep squirrels from getting in the walls (saw Critter Control in driveway, so they must have moved next door - oops!). Nowhere for dogs or people outside other than driveway, so a priority was getting fence installed. Tiny sliver of a yard at the back of house, enough for the boulders, fence, path and a few plantings at house. Drops off quickly, so a fence for safety was a must to keep children off the rocks. DH also wanted to widen the driveway entrance, and they finished that Friday. They still have some stonework around back and the fence install, so plants won't go in for a few more weeks.

Yes, that's a runner. There are two small rugs in front of sink and range with more color, so I wanted a neutral in that area, which is the main walking path when coming in from the garage. DD1 went on the hunt for rugs, and brought several before we decided on this one. Thanks again.

I really look forward to your updates! I love that the moulding/casing are the wall colors and that you brought the color across the ceiling. People always give me a strange look when I mention doing it, myself! It looks like the doors are the wall color, as well. Did you have two colors meeting and if so, how did you handle that?

If it's not too much trouble, what stain wash are you using on your stair treads? I'm experimenting with cabinet finishes and want to keep the white oak closer to the unfinished look than what a clear coat is giving me.

Thank you, Alex9179. I had two non-white ceilings in our very first house. They were not the same color as the walls and I loved them! Here, the only room with the ceiling a different color than the walls is the kitchen, since it has beams.

The people that put down the stair treads are doing the custom color... and they still are not finished. The man that did the master bath vanity uses General Finishes acrylic poly protective coat. I questioned him about what he uses in case I needed to pass on info to the stair guys. He said just be sure they are using a non-yellow product. I notice their website has a great comparison chart.

On a positive note, the side yard hardscape is almost finished, so the fence should be installed next week. Driveway widening is completed, and they will take a break for a few weeks from our job then back to plant.

Following

We are finally all under one roof again! The cats adjusted quicker than the dogs. Our oldest male dog (with some dementia) took a few days of wandering, but has settled down. We've done some hardscaping outside, and in a few weeks they will start on the front (removing and replanting). Widening the driveway was a huge improvement. Pathway from LR side, around back of house but stops short of stone patio on DR side of house (possible pool area). No before picture, but it was just not level and weedy.

LR side, during:

Stairs from sunroom to small stone area, then stone stairs that lead to path - under sunroom, around back of house. I am hoping to screen the sunroom HVAC with something soon.

We decided to level this area because it was more sloped than we realized. Going to do grass for the dogs.

Back of house, after, but not planted. Path under sunroom is the same, just no after photo:

I love love the kitchen, where we spend most of our time - waiting on LR sofa to be made. Backsplash is finally finished. The top from bottom of hood up are two smaller pieces. The right side broke the first time.

DD1 finally got her lucite and brass showered handle installed. I think it took us 37 hours (j/k, but it felt like it!) to figure it out - bad directions. She joked about making a You Tube video with step-by-step.

DD1 and I decorated for the 4th of July, which also happens to be my birthday, and everyone came over for a late lunch.

Birthday cake! Chocolate Peanut Butter. This local baker also made DD2's wedding cake recently. She is our "go to" gal. Hard to cut, but so delicious!

We hung my paternal grandfather's funeral flag in the foyer. He was in WWI.

I splurged (again) for the wall mural for the powder room. This is the mini mural they send before finalizing the order. Previously, she sent two of the full layouts and marked mylar sheets of your room layout. Then DD1 sent photos back to her of which portion we wanted to use.

Tomorrow the basement kitchen soapstone backsplash is being installed, and the LR FP surround and mantel. I am using leftover slab from DD1's vanity. Very excited to see it finished.

Looking wonderful, Allison, and belated birthday greetings!

Your kitchen stopped me dead in my scroll. I didn't think I could love a kitchen more than the one at your previous home, but I do know. Love everything you have done--you are exceptionally talented. Wishing you all the best in your new home!

Oh. My. Word. I have no words. Detail upon detail, beginning to now nearing the end, you have not let one small thing go. I'm betting you never uttered the phrase, 'oh. it'll have to do' when your hearts desire or vision wasn't working. Ok, so obviously I do have a few words! Veni, vidi, vici ! But back to Oh. My. Word. I have no words.

Thank you, Beckysharp and Teeda. I do miss that kitchen, but get to visit until it sells.

Thanks, DLM! Whenever I'm tired of searching for something, I move on to something else. I still have not found exterior lighting, but the old is still up so no biggie. I also don't have towel bars, etc in the MBR. I ordered and so many pieces were dented, I returned. When I called they said "made to order" and I couldn't return, but after she saw photos, she even waived the restocking fee. So highly disappointed - I waited months and ended up empty handed. With DH here now, I need to find soon.

How have I missed this thread?!?!

I'm in love with all you've chosen and done in this very special house for you and your family:)

You seriously need a blog to document this process &know, the decorating! Please?!?!?

Thank you, Peppapoodle. No blog for me! I used to write for Atticmag, and it is like a part-time job. DH and I are taking steps to retire. He wants to travel. I want to stay home, and spend time with grandchildren before they are grown. We will compromise and do both.

Trees came down yesterday, so landscaping the front should start in a few weeks. I know the neighbors are tired of workmen, but it's not daily now so.

DD1 purchased some wonderful large pots for decks and I had fun planting. Birds are flocking to the feeders on kitchen deck, and while messy, I enjoy seeing them. Also doing more plants in sunroom. AND I have orchids reblooming for the first time ever!

I ended up doing soapstone backsplash in basement kitchen (6" around but full section behind sink).

The workroom has started cutting fabric, but they install everything at once, so it will be October before I get curtains and our bed(s). :(

In the meantime, I'm having the other half of my thyroid removed soon and DH had a new medical issue pop up. :( Isn't it always something!?

Healing prayers

You seem to be taking a different design direction compared to your stone cottage. I'm really enjoying seeing it all come together. Thanks for sharing.

I'm so glad you're still posting updates. It's all amazing. I'm off to see your powder room mural.

Thank you, Shee! Updates seem to be few and far between, but it's not for lack of trying. The powder room mural installer was telling me how he is seeing residential pick up again, on top of his already hectic commercial/university schedule. I've had the Jack & Jill paper for awhile, but he wanted to only make one trip. At least he had two additional men to do the prep work and a second to hang the upstairs while he did the mural. It took awhile for him to get me into his already busy schedule.

Hope you're feeling better since the thyroid surgery. Just stopping by to see if you'd updated your renovation thread.

It all looks beautiful. I can't wait to hear how J and E like the bathroom wallpaper!! :) Hope you are feeling much, much better after your surgery. Keep updating us!

Hey, you two! I am feeling better. Lots of energy. Med seems to be on spot. Still don't have a huge appetite but I'm not letting that stop me from eating. I just don't snack all day and sweets just aren't that good anymore. I hope that is my new norm, so I can stay away from them. My voice is still a tad raspy and I cannot sing along in the car (when I'm by myself). It is quite comical, actually. Hopefully the swelling will be gone in another month and my voice will be back to normal. Are you feeling better, DYH?

I linked the powder room and Jack & Jill bathroom threads just above so I could post them on the other side too. Do you both think this thread is getting too long? Should I keep posting photos here, or just start new threads? The scrolling down gets to be a bit much. TIA.

I think a new thread would be easier. Glad you are feeling so well!! LOL at the singing!!

Allison, would you mind sharing your soapstone source? I'm in Alabama too and am currently looking for soapstone for my kitchen. Thanks!

I purchased it via my fabricator - Birmingham Marbleworks. Worked with Susan in the office. (205) 988-5585

I also looked at Triton Stone (large inventory but 2x $), Maranatha (don't bother, unless you don't want real stone), and Pacific Shores Stone (did not get prices from them).

Thank you SO much!

Powder room mural installed! See here

The link for powder room mural doesn't open:(

april, does this one work?

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5461629/powder-room-wall-mural

Thanks, Becky. Sorry about that, Aprilneverends. I replaced link.

Thank you, Cece!

Allison, did you hire Amy Woolf for a color consultation or only ask her about paint quality? I had finally mustered up the courage to contact her but she's no longer taking new clients. I'm uncertain if I should move on to someone else or wait until she has availability.

Hi Jennifer, I asked her about paint quality. Didn't know she wasn't taking new clients. I follow her on FB and she has been busy.

From my research I can see that she has a real eye for color and is very talented. Now that I've resolved myself to using a designer I think I'm too anxious to wait for an opening. Thanks for the quick response!

Link to Update On Our Remodel.