04-30-2011: Backsplash, Glass blocks

We worked some more on the backsplash and glass blocks today.  This afternoon, we returned the hall bathroom mirror and ended up bringing back 3 mirrors.  I found a different mirror for the master bath (actually 2 for the 2 sinks) that I liked better than the ones we got last week (and at a fraction of the price), so the first two will be returned.  Hopefully, that settles the mirrors for now.  We also bought some hardwood planks for the two stair landings. 

Tomorrow we'll hopefully start working on the kitchen backsplash and finish the glass block.  I'm hoping they'll install the stove and potfiller on Monday if the backsplash is finished.

04-29-2011: Backsplash, Glass block

Rick worked on the glass block in the master shower and the mosaic over the stove today.  The plumbers continued their thing but didn't get the master tub in yet.  We went to the Miranda Lambert concert tonight.  The seats were excellent, and we had a great time.

04-28-2011: Glass block, Backsplash

We have several projects going right now.  Rick started the glass blocks in the master shower this afternoon, and we laid out the tile pattern for the mosaic above the stove tonight.  Rick will assemble this on the wall first, and then we'll put in the rest of the backsplash (3x6" tiles in brick pattern).  The dishwasher was also installed today, and Rick fixed the entry light. 

04-27-2011

Rick continues to work on the stair treads going up to the attic.  The plumber was out today and installed the toilets and some drains, etc.  The HVAC guys came out and finished the air conditioning.  I sealed the stair handrails (downstairs) tonight.  We finished tiling and grouting the small utility room in the garage, so the plumber can install the water softener/reverse-osmosis, etc. tomorrow.  The mosaic tile for the backsplash came in a week early, and Rick will pick it up tomorrow morning when he returns the leftover wood, tile and supplies.  The mirror that we picked up yesterday is actually about 1/2" too wide and will have to be returned.  I don't know what we'll do now for a hall bathroom mirror.  I suspect we'll start tiling the kitchen backsplash very soon because a number of projects are waiting on the completion of the tile over the stove area.

04-26-2011

No pictures today.  Rick spent most of the day running errands.  Randy put up some doors, and it doesn't look like either the HVAC guys or electricians showed up today.  Tonight I installed 7 more door knobs and stained handrails.  Rick worked on some tile for the garage utility room floor, looked at the backsplash tiles, and researched installing glass blocks.

04-25-2011: Stair treads, doors/knobs

The HVAC and electrician were both working at times today.  The air conditioner and thermostat were installed.  The electrician had to wire something for the a/c and also installed the microwave and entry light (I didn't include a picture because we discovered that they had left a major piece off, so it doesn't look right yet).   The plumber is finally back in town after two weeks but didn't show up yet.

Rick started cutting and installing stair treads.  They were stained last month and will look a lot darker when the sealer is applied.  I stained two of the handrails, helped Rick move doors and stair treads in from the shop after the wind finally calmed down, and, with some instructions from Rick, learned how to install door knobs.  Randy had put up a few doors this afternoon.

04-24-2011: Hardwood floors, day 7--Finished!

Today was a very long day.  We started installing the hardwood floors in the master bedroom relatively early this morning and finished the master closet and then ate dinner after 11pm.  I also finished grouting the tub and floor in the master bathroom.  It's really nice to be finished with these two major projects!

Rick will likely start installing the stair treads tomorrow, and the plumber will be here and possibly the HVAC guys.

04-23-2011: Hardwood floors, day 6

We didn't get a lot of flooring down Saturday.  Rick finished out the hallway from the living room to the master bedroom while I finished grouting in the master shower. 

We spent most of the afternoon in town running errands.  We bought 3 toilets, pull-down stairs for the attic, 3 of 4 mirrors (the 4th is on a truck and will arrive Tuesday or Wednesday), a cat door into the utility closet ("para gatos grandes"--Minx didn't quite meet the weight limits on the regular size cat doors), grout sealer, etc. 

Sunday, we'll work on hardwood floors in the master bedroom and closet, finish grouting around the master bathroom tub and floor areas, and put some kind of flooring down in the utility closet before the plumber arrives tomorrow and starts installing the water softener & reverse osmosis systems.

04-22-2011: Hardwood floors, day 5; Concrete poured