The downside of construction is the massive amount of mud. Thanks to a good amount of rain (though thankfully very little snow) throughout the build process up until this point, it's been a messy mess to go visit "New House." Tyvek really helped make it seem real. Here's our framed-in garage. Thankfully, the walls have made it evident that though the garage will be full of cars, it is also big enough to accommodate the fair amount of clutter that it will inevitably collect in it.
Here's the view from the doorway between the garage and mud room. To the right will be a big closet, we plan to build in cubbies right against the shared great room wall that's been framed in ahead, and to the left is our future kitchen.
I actually really loved how the stairs in our house come down at an angle and don't face directly toward the front. I also like the landing halfway up that just adds some interest and a safety buffer in case that kids (or me) take a tumble. That's also partially the reason that we've opted to have them carpeted to start. It will be a fun project to re-finish them someday, but it wasn't worth the 4k upcharge at this point in our lives to get hardwood treads.
The little cave is our future kitchen! The doorway in the back will lead to a "butler's pantry" and then the empty space to the right behind the kitchen is our pantry! It's not huge but it's many times larger than any food storage space we've had in the past, so this feature feels like an absolute luxury to us.
Another great room view! We haven't made any fireplace decisions other than gas (I insisted-- I want to be able to use my fireplace at the flick of a switch, and we just aren't clean enough people to effectively deal with the byproducts of a wood fire haha), but those will come. Maybe not until after we've moved in, but that's okay. We're just not willing to make a four-figure mistake on what will eventually be a main focal point of our home. Plus, DIY runs thick in our blood even as we're handing over many other house projects to sub-contractors.
Our future powder room, where we'll no longer have to frantically hide our toiletries every. single. time we have guests over (the single bathroom in our final house had an extra-narrow single sink cabinet and a 2 inch nook behind the mirror- toiletries basically lived in our rooms or behind the shower curtain).
This room is called the "library" on the plans, and I've taken that suggestion seriously. We opted against a side window on the right so that we can DIY some built-ins. I was an English major and have dreamed of a giant bookshelf that could house my entire collection, so a library fits! It will otherwise function as a playroom for the kids.
The library will be open to what is labeled a "dining room" on the plans, but is going to be a TV/ den space instead.
Another view of the stairs!
The upstairs requires a little more imagination at this point.
N in her future room!
E in his future room!
EThe start of a front door view... I'm imagining it'll look pretty different once the second story is framed, but even so, I like where this is headed! Especially as far as that bay window is concerned.
