Cheri Quite Contrary: April 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

House Building - Yellow River Granite is Installed!

The installers came late yesterday....4:30 ish....and we only saw a little of the installation after work. We went on home and EngineerHubby couldn't wait until today...he ran back out at 10pm to take photos.....we will get more photos in the daylight but I couldn't wait posting these.

It is just as I imagined it would be.....Yellow River Granite was worth the money (and chatting with the installers, found out why it was so expensive...being lighter in color, it is mostly sand and very fragile....they were super careful....)...

"Booking" the granite means that as it goes up the backsplash, the movement flows together.....we had to purchase 4 slabs to make sure there was enough to allow for the piecing that was required. Most folks do not put full granite backslashes (I'd guess mostly due to cost)...but I love the look and can't imagine what tile I could have found to not compete with this stunning stone.

Some photos have partial under-cabinet lights on...not all are fully installed....

Happy Cheri!!!!!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

House Building - Yellow River Granite Update

I have been waiting and waiting to put up the final post for the gorgeous Yellow River granite but it isn't fully installed yet. Long story...but I am going crazy...I cannot wait to see it fully in!! I decided to go ahead and post the photos I do have....family getting impatient....lol.

I am SO happy...it is SO worth the extra money we spent.....

What we are waiting on is the granite to go fully up the backsplash...to the cabinets...and it will "book"...which means the movement will seamlessly continue...... The company is being super cautious....and had to wait for our microwave to be installed to get the exact top cut.....so here we sit...waiting and waiting to get back in their "queue"..... EngineerHubby also requested a few changes, including an 18 inch bar, which will be nice. (normally get a 16 inch bar).

Overview of Kitchen before blue sticky tape was applied.

Master Bath before blue sticky tape applied.

Upstairs Bathroom.

Main floor full bath. P.S. We "downgraded" to chrome throughout the house and will go back in and put in fixtures we choose later on. Going more "transitional"...I love the look just not the actual installed fixtures at the moment.

Kitchen....long run....seam to the far right.

Love the movement!!

Sink EngineerHubby surprised me with.

Area where seam is...they did an EXCELLENT job....our granite slabs were shallower than normal and one long L-shaped cut was not possible. So they arranged things so no "river movement" was in this corner. Hope that makes sense. You really cannot tell unless you closely. Do you see the gray river to the lower left..then the corner of the cabinets...and then it continues over by the sink? Awesome!

Left side of stove area.

Right side of stove area...next to future refrigerator.

Kitchen Island.

I've said all along...if I pay extra for granite, I want it to be so pretty, I want to lay down and cry on it. Well, I accomplished that. I just LOVE IT.

Yard was also re-graded and now folks can see we won't need ladders to get in the front door or garage. lol

Tub getting installed.

We have a closet where most people choose to have a drop-off "mudroom" bench...and here is why. EngineerHubby ran Cat 5 network cable to all rooms and this is where they all terminate...and we can hook up our modem and router and choose what rooms get Internet. (Disclaimer....I just wrote what I have been told...cannot explain this!)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

House Building - Booking Granite

The time is here.....to get the "so pretty I'm gonna lay down and cry on it" Yellow River granite installed......stone fabricator called and said when folks pick granite with a lot of movement, they must come in and decide where any "hard" cuts will end up...the fabricator won't be personally responsible.

I understand and was hoping there would be a way to avoid the "river" just abruptly stopping somewhere.

We may have accomplished that but it isn't because I understand it!

These 2 slabs match exactly...the other 2 were out to be viewed but in a much darker setting so I was unable to get any photos of those 2 (they are the ones that mirror each other - they were honed front and back.)

EngineerHubby and I went yesterday afternoon and it was complicated. We have 4 slabs to make things easier BUT only 2 match exactly and the other 2 are mirrors of each other. In one area where the main seam will be, we decided to try to get OUT of the river movement to help it blend as lining it up perfectly won't be happening. (Our granite is shallower than most and won't allow for one long L-shaped designed to be cut.

So.....I thought I'd be more help or opinionated than I was able to be because honestly, my brain does not contort in ways needed to stare at a flat piece of stone, imagine a backsplash upside down and mirrored.....folks...just couldn't do it.

Example of Booked Yellow River Granite

My easiest choice was the island....nothing abuts it, no backsplash needed to match exactly.....lol.

That's why my EngineerHubby's drafting brain comes in handy. They talked and talked and talked and finally, I pulled out my notebook and pen and requested a drawing of exactly what they were saying...some of my granite will line up exactly and go in the same direction. Other areas will line up exactly but be mirrored......

So, let's just say that on April 12th during installation, I will be one of the most surprised when I see it. lol I can't wait, though!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Our Thoughts and Beliefs Affect Our Health

Ran across an article today that is so important to read and fully take in. What we think affects our health. What we believe, becomes real. I've always known this and fully believe this (and am evidence of changing my thoughts and my pain lifting last June.....now working full-time after 6 years fully reclined with severe nerve damage down both legs....Story HERE.)

source

But this author (Donna Gates) has advice:

Start noticing new things!! As we do this, we let go of what we think we know.

Get into a state of wonder!

A doctors visit or that lab result is just a snapshot at that moment.

Do you ever notice your stress or pain is higher when you dwell on the problems in your life? Have you ignored problems in your life so long your body is now trying to get your attention with pain or issues? Mine sure did.

Read this article:

What Are You Thinking? Your Health Depends On It!

You can do this!! You really can.....

Sunday, April 8, 2012

House Building - Daytime Photos

Today was finally a sunny day and I was able to run over at lunch...

This is the special "area" I had them create for me for all my hair and beauty shower products....think it's large enough? lol

Dining Room

The cabinet in the great room is my kitchen island......

We LOVE the paint colors....the first color they used was not right....this is Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige and it is PERFECT for what we have planned....."is it grey....is it taupe"?

The color in the formal dining room and master bedroom is Sherwin Williams Peppercorn.....and you should see it in person. Stunning.

Lucky for me, our house is 5 minutes from one of our model home locations so when I work that area, I can run clients to our home. Today, some clients came down from Kansas City and fell in love....I guess our styles are similar....they want to build our floor plan. I thought they might...