Okay, so it's exciting for us...

I hope you're not bored to tears with these house updates. It's exciting to see it finally coming together. While it's still quite a way from finished, by next Friday, there will be even more for you to see because all the plumbing will be in, and that is going to be fantastic. You'll finally get to see the pedestal sink for the first-floor bath; the finished vanity for the second-floor bath; the installed gas cooktop; and of course, the super-toilet in the upstairs bath. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get a decent picture of the granite color. It's just not possible. The blue mica has amazing depth that the camera just can't capture. Viewing appointments will be taken (grin).

For now, though, what you will see is:

The tumbled marble backsplash tile has been installed in the kitchen. It's somewhat subdued, but that's the point. We wanted the granite to be the focal point. The pendant lights over the island have replaced the bare light fixtures. Much better.


The decoration over the cooktop is also simple, and it's supposed to be that way too. I hate most of those murals or carved still life tiles that people put in over their cooktops (sorry if you are one of those people). I had to have something I could live with for years and not get tired of. The variegated slate listello surrounds a mosaic tile center.


The undercounter lighting is completed. No, this is not the only undercounter lighting there is, it's just an example! This is a better close-up of the backsplash tile.


The kitchen sink is in. When taking this picture, I tried to give you an idea of how large it is by getting the dishwasher into the picture. At 29 inches wide, it's wider than the dishwasher. At 16" deep, it's deep enough to give our smallest dog a bath in, as Jess suggested. Never gonna happen, honey.


In the downstairs bath, the medicine cabinet and lighting fixtures are in.


The french doors have been installed in the living room (den). We're waiting on the handle for the right door.


The wainscoting in the dining room has been installed. It's hard to tell how good this looks with all the contractor's junk in the way! I wish I would have gotten a shot last night, when none of this junk was there.


In the upstairs bath, the medicine cabinet and lighting fixtures are in, and the vanity has been assembled (though we're still awaiting the granite top for it, which will be installed with the sink on Thursday). It's hard to see in this picture, but the vanity has a curved front.


Remember that last time I posted house pictures, I didn't have a picture of the upstairs shower? Well, here is the picture. Much like the downstairs shower, it has a seat, but it is more nicely outfitted with plumbing than the downstairs shower: in addition to a rail-mounted shower head, this shower has an overhead "rain" spray and two massaging body jets. It's a neo-angle unit, and like the downstairs bath, will have a solid clear glass enclosure. The seat top will be a slab of Emeral Pearl granite, which will match the vanity top and the tub platform. I can't wait for that.


The soaking tub has been placed into the pedestal, but it still has to be grouted and caulked in and have its plumbing finish work done.


Remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted a picture of the mosaic tile in the upstairs bath that I said didn't do it justice? Unfortunately this shot is blurry, but you can see the iridescence of the tiles much more clearly in this shot.


In the master bedroom, the mirrored closet doors have been installed, which makes it look a lot bigger than it is. How do you like that 1950s travertine-looking vinyl tile that was uncovered on the floor?


In the other upstairs master bedroom, the mirrored closet doors have been installed. Wow, what a difference. This picture doesn't do the room justice, of course. Can't wait until it's painted. Eggplant.