Everyone knows that moving in is the end of one chapter, but it’s also the beginning of several others. Closing the door on construction means saying goodbye (mostly) to Ken and Aaron and co, but marks the start of smaller projects… one after the other, or one alongside another, for a year or more to come.
What’s next, then?
- Finishing the fireplace surround
- Hang some art
- Re-laying the patio with existing pavers
- Trim some of the unruly trees in the back yard
- Putting in the shower glass
- Installing the chandelier in the master bath
- Acquiring and putting up window treatments
- Redoing the drive way
- Adding a paved front walk
- And then… landscaping with all it entails (grass, plants, sprinklers, lighting etc)
Ken and Aaron arrived last week with the metal for the fireplace surround, putting the modern into the Modern Farmhouse! First things first; they had to remove the temporary trim that framed the fireplace for the purposes of the City of Boulder inspection.
Ken had already cut and welded the metal at home before arriving with it. As my dad says, “measure twice, cut once”…. And hey presto, it fits like a glove. That is not as easy as it sounds. The top to bottom clearance for the surround, was a fraction of an inch. With care, the guys walked it, pointy corners and all, through the house and bent it gently until it straightened back up against the wall. The openings for cable, power outlets and the fireplace itself, were perfectly aligned and I was mesmerized.
Aaron and I discussed the virtues of a “remote controlled” fireplace whereby someone holds the switch in their hand, the wires threaded under the rug, and could then turn on the fireplace from the sofa. In the end I decided that mounting that switch on the wall was a tad classier. We have ordered a real remote control… and continue to wait patiently for its arrival.
I hired Flatiron Landscaping for the patio project.10 years ago, it was me who was on my hands and knees on a gravel base, sweeping a little more or a little less sand under each stone paver to get a level patio. Couple that with memories of trying to achieve the necessary 2% slope away from the house and working with little skinny arms and I was easily convinced that I didn’t need to be the one redoing that patio this year!
The plan involved compacted road base and then sand. Each paver – being a natural product was of a different thickness to its mates and it is a labor intensive process to get it looking just right.
Friday a week ago, 5 guys descended on my back yard with wheelbarrows of product, heavy tools, camaraderie and smiles. They began work just as the first week long rainy spell arrived over Boulder this season. I was fascinated and impressed with their hard work and so were Marley and Smokey Joe!
Yep, they hung tarps and a shelter to protect themselves and the project from all that unwanted water.
All that remains is a few little details, a final walk through by me and then… it’s ready to put the patio furniture on! Did I mention that we don’t have a dining table yet, so getting patio furniture in place means dining is about to get a whole lot classier too!
Our downstairs guest bathroom got it's glass and it was nice to see Aaron again!
