Merry Christmas to us!!!!

It was coming down to the wire.....but just about everything was done in the kitchen the day before Christmas Eve!  There are still a few things that need to be finished...and we still need heat, but for the most part our kitchen is functioning and we were able to host Joe's family for Christmas Day dinner!

The appliances were all delivered and we got the stove up and running...the fridge is too, but no ice maker yet...and we still need the dishwasher set up (but we do have the one in the butler's pantry).    The painter was here pretty much all week finishing the master bedroom, bathroom and closet, the kitchen and butler's pantry and the electricians were here hanging the last of the fixtures we purchased.  All set for a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

John and Craig also worked on the new front door this week......still needs trim and windows and to be stained (same color as our side door)!

Let's see....what else..........ooooo yeah....how did I forget?!?!?  Our mattress and bedroom furniture got delivered!  

GOOD NEWS:  Mattress, box springs (split), end tables and mirror all made it up the stairs......

BAD NEWS:  our dresser did NOT!    That's OK......because we had a balcony and french doors for this, very reason!  :)  We are having a forklift (A genie lift to be exact) delivered this weekend and my Dad has come up with a plan to get the dresser up to the balcony! 

MORE BAD NEWS:  End tables don't fit where they were supposed to.    Whoever measured forgot to add the baseboard trim into the equation.  Therefor we will most likely have to remove the trim to fit the end tables where they belong! 

Here is where it all stands today.....notice the one sideways end table.  :(

And here is our dresser...in the hallway.....waiting to be taken to its permanent location.  Behind it is the shower door for the master bath....which also got delivered!  :)

~Gianna~

I'm dreaming of a white, finished kitchen......

So while we have been busy with the Christmas stuff....John has been busy getting our house ready for Christmas.  We are having Christmas Day at our house this year. with Joe's side of the family.....and I think we will be all ready (for the most part).  

This week the guys did the backsplash in the kitchen...and OMG...it's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  I know I say, "I LOVE IT!" with every new thing that happens (and I really do).    But THIS really takes the cake!  We decided on a slight off white subway tile that has a bit of a crackle to it.   Then a glass mosaic boarder in browns, tans, clear and burgundy. 

And the best part....behind the stove!    I knew I wanted the boarder of glass tiles, and a different direction for the subway tiles (herringbone).....but I wasn't exactly sure how to do it b/c there were a few  types of herringbone.  We decided to go with this one...and I am soooo happy we did!  It looks exactly how I wanted it!

But while I designed it......John and Craig really made it happen!  (John made me say that).  ;o)
And here's how.....

I will post some more pictures tomorrow.....but it was grouted today and it looks even better!

~Gianna~

Crown Molding is BEAUTIFUL!

John and Craig did all the crown molding yesterday and today and it looks amazing!  We went with a 3 piece molding unbeknownst to us......and it looks so nice!  I say "unbeknownst" b/c we really didn't have a clue.  When we met with Ron at GPS we had agreed we wanted some kind of crown molding, but it was never specified that we were getting a 3 piece molding.  What's the difference?  Well it's much more labor intensive and takes a lot longer to install, which makes it more expensive in the end.   Had we known that, we probably would've opted for a 2 piece, but since we already bought it and it was here to be installed...we went with it!  It is really nice though! 

So that was installed as well as the light valence above the sink.  It looks really nice!

We also got our faucet installed in the butler's pantry...so I have a working sink on the first floor!  I was very happy about that!  No more washing dishes in the bathroom!  And the dishwasher was set up!  We just have to wait for the electricians to come and hook up the electrical part of that!

And John finished the built-in in the hallway!    It looks GORGEOUS!  We couldn't be happier!  It needs to be painted, but that will come later!  The screens on the bottom are covering the AC stuff.  And I LOVE how the built-in has the arch that looks almost the same as the light valence and the arch in the book case in my island in the kitchen!  LOVE!  LOVE!  LOVE IT!!!!

~Gianna~

Ouro Brazil

Today we anxiously awaited the arrival of the granite!   We had no idea when it was coming, we just knew today was the day!

While we waited, Craig was here finishing up some trim around some doorways and windows.  He also finished the last coats of spackle on the existing bathroom, 2 new bathrooms and the hallway going to the basement. 

WAIT.....WAIT.....WAIT.....

And finally around 4:45pm they showed up!   No surprise there...they have been amazing so far!  
4 guys  (2 of which are owners) and about 3 hours later and my granite was in and OMG.....BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  I know I am biased, but I think we picked the perfect granite for our kitchen and butler's pantry. 

 Before I post pictures, I have to give a HUGE shout out and rave to Rockaway Marble and Granite.....we had such an amazing experience with them.  From the minute we stepped into their store from the moment they walked out our doors to go home....everything went perfectly.    I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM!

OK...now tot he pictures!  :)

Close-up of the Ouro Brazil....

Ouro in Kitchen...

Ouro in Butler's Pantry...

I LOVE IT!!!!!! 


~Gianna~

It's Showtime!

We got our cabinets delivered on Monday around 3:45!  It was very exciting watching the boxes come in.  I felt like it was Christmas morning!  

Tuesday they started on the cabinets....and that's what they've been doing since.   They started out with the cabinet bases or boxes, and then added the doors once they were all in.   We ran into a few issues with the measuring and a few doors that weren't perfect.....but in all it was a GREAT and EXCITING experience!  I love them, and I think they look fantastic!  They are exactly what I wanted!  Just to remind everyone...They are KraftMaid cabinets.  Kitchen is Canvas with Cocoa Glaze and butler's pantry is Cognac.  I can't remember the door style....but the glass doors are Yorkshire.  The wood is maple! 

Butler's Pantry.....empty space is for a dishwasher.

Same side from a different angle!

Other side of Butler's Pantry...these cabinets have inside lighting and glass shelves.

Looking from butler's pantry into kitchen.

Same spot, but toward mudroom.  Cabinets on left are a "work station" (it's what I call it) for mail, to charge cell phones, to put my laptop when I"m cooking and need a a recipe. 

Looking from mudroom. 

John and Craig did an amazing job so far!  They are the best!  :)

 Tomorrow should be more installing of cabinets, the crown molding, the island and just getting everything ready for the granite guy to come and do the template on Friday.

 ~Gianna~

Sunday Funday.....a day late! Whoops!

On Saturday, Joe and I dropped the girls off at my parents and went to do some house stuff!  It's so much easier to do it without them!

Our first stop was to GPS to pay our balance on the cabinets, pick up our sinks for the kitchen and the butler's pantry and pick out all the faucets for the 2 rooms.    We went with ELKAY for both.  Here is the one we got for the kitchen:

Undermount, Stainless, 29.5" wide and 10" deep. 

**photo from Elkayusa.com

And this one for the butler's pantry:

Undermount, stainless, 22.5" wide and 7.5" deep

**photo from elkayusa.com
We picked out our faucets too...but I don't remember what we picked!  :o)
Next up was to Sleepys to get our new mattress for our bed!  

We decided on a SUPER comfy Sealy Posturepedic Pillow Top!  As soon as I laid down.....it was love at first touch!   I tried a few others....but I knew which one I wanted...and we were out of there within 20 minutes!  The mattress and box springs are getting delivered on Dec. 3rd!   I can't wait to sleep in it! 

Finally...we headed to Home Depot for ceiling fans..and just to look at knobs for our cabinets.   We left with 2 fans...one for our new room and one for the playroom....we also had a new pull for the playroom one!  :)

For our bedroom we went with a Hampton Bay Langston 60" in oil rubbed bronze! 

And in the playroom we went with a white one and the brand is escaping me right now!  Once it's up I will take some pictures!

And that was our Sunday Funday!   YAY!

~Gianna~

COLOR! COLOR! COLOR!

I wanted to create one more entry before I went to bed....

We had the painter here while John was away...he started out staining the side door.  We went with Wild Berry from Sherwin Williams. 

A few days later.......the painting began!!!!
I was so nervous to see the actual colors we chose on the wall!  And went back and forth so many times....but we finally decided on the painting began!

Day 1 -- Ceilings and Closets were painted white!
Day 2 -- All the walls were primed with color.....and everything turned out BEAUTIFUL!  I am so happy with what we decided on!!!!
Here is the kitchen!  Sherwin Williams **ARTICHOKE**

The Mudroom and Butler's Pantry are **CLARY SAGE**

First Floor Bathroom **SANDS OF TIME**

Hallways (Upstairs and Down) **KILIM BEIGE**

Master Bedroom **MEDITATIVE**

Master Bath **SLEEPY BLUE**

Master Closet **MOUNTAIN AIR**

Playroom **DANCING GREEN**

And that's what we've done so far!  1st coat is up and one more is needed!  I am so happy with it all!

We also had the electrician here and they put the exhaust fans in the bathrooms, and did a bunch of other stuff!  And the gutter guys came and did all the gutters!

So even though John was away....the work didn't stop!
~Gianna~