A Little Attention Goes a Long Way

Looking Through the Studio to the Mudroom and Beyond


Since I sent my reminder notices about this blog a few of days ago, I’ve received plenty of feedback from readers, which I just love. Whatever you may hear from writers, if they don’t have an audience, believe me it’s difficult to feel that the words have meaning, and even more to know they have impact. So I appreciate all the messages, info on typos, and requests for more information.
I wrote about the subtle period we were going through where we couldn’t see any discernable change from day to day, save the miscellaneous wire, or plumbing valve. But speak and ye shall be heard. I turn around and suddenly things seem to be cooking up again.
The plumbing inspector came and went, after signing off on his portion of the building permit, on Wednesday. We’re looking for the electrical inspector next. There may be a hold up since the fan units I wanted for the bathrooms haven’t come in yet (perhaps today – I’ll check back). As I told Steve and Mike, the electrician, I wanted to go on record as having specified these last July. When they first started working on the lower level, and we’re updating the bathroom, they told me I’d have to pick out the lighting fixtures. So I did. Did anyone pay attention? Nooooo. See what I mean about a little attention going a long way?




Pat Wrestling with the Ducts

So now we’re waiting for these in order to get the electrical inspection, and hoping this does not hold up the insulation people beginning next week. Meanwhile Steve and Pat are installing the vent unit for the stove today. The pieces arrived by UPS yesterday, and though Steve gave me the hairy eyeball about going outside of his regular suppliers, the unit from Fantech (http://www.fantech.net/), will, I believe, be an effective, and hopefully quiet addition to this amazing kitchen.

The fan on top of the broom closet

Bill, the cabinetmaker, is going to build a box directly around it, in place when he gets down here in March, and the whole thing will fit seamlessly into the kitchen design.





Poking into the ceiling



I took a moment today to walk around and look at the house at this very special juncture. Right now you can look through the entire house from front to back, side to side and in some cases roof to basement by looking through the walls and floors.


Soon to be the kitchen sink


It’s a framed house, not a finished house and it affords you a view that will disappear quickly. There’s a feeling of openness and spaciousness that will be redefined by the walls that go in during the next few weeks. One’s perspective will be altered, and the three-dimensional relationship of the rooms will expand and contract in unimagined ways.




From a practical standpoint we know that whatever we want inside these walls better get in now. From an aesthetic viewpoint we’ve committed to sizes and shapes that will circumscribe our lifestyle for years to come: the size of the great room, the intimacy of the bedrooms, the expansiveness of the studio. The flow from room to room are delineated by doorways and hallways that will become individual spaces, but are now hollow outlines of their promised intent.


Someday this "basement" - will be a livable space



I can almost imagine how the furniture will look inside, but that’s a stretch given the yellow/brown palette that dominates in the wood frame. There is no color now where in the future there will be a tremendous range. There is little in the way of personality except if you understand the intimate details of the layout.



In the future, this Master Bath will have greal deal more privacy.











But hold on to your seats because it’s all going to change, and change quickly. Savor these moments of anticipation, a crescendo is on its way.


Even flat walls have a lot going on inside

“The key to a great script is to start with an earthquake and lead up to a climax” Samuel Goldwyn



View from the Great Room to the Music Room















Looking in the Media room from the studio