Day 137: Peace

Yesterday was hard. With the last week's stress of lamenting over the granite, and making a new choice so quickly yesterday, I have to say that Im mentally exhausted. I did spend last night staring a the lousy pictures I took of the Eco countertops. I do adore it and am eager to see how it looks in my new kitchen. I know it will work well with my kids and all of the wonderful things we intend on using that huge island for. I can breathe easy knowing that they cant stain it. It doesn't have to be sealed or use any special cleaners on it, which will be easier for me, too. So, overall, I think this whole thing happened for a reason and is working out for the best.

Jennifer called this morning to check and make sure I was happy with the new selections I had made yesterday. I could honestly tell her I was. And am!

This morning I headed over to the house to select where Id like my new trees to be placed. With a blank slate of a yard, tree placement is important as they will eventually give me shade, if I place them in key spots. However, because of the direction my house faces (west-southwest), mostly my neighbors trees will shade my house in the afternoon. My trees will at least help shade my front sideyard. However my beautiful house will give my whole backyard its afternoon shade, which will be incredibly nice in the summertime.

While I was placing bricks where Id' like the trees to be, I found a heart-shaped rock in the dirt.

And last piece of granite was being wheeled out and put onto Summit's truck. Goodbye granite!

 

 

 

Believe it or not, after reading about my new countertops, Eco by Cosentino, Ive learned about how granite can expel radon, an invisible odorless gas which is a Class A carcinogen and a cause of lung cancer. Remember when I said perhaps God knows best? I sure don't need anything like that around my daughter who has asthma. The Eco tops will be much healthier for her and all of us. 

Also, there was a worker there working on the leak in the master bath/kids bathtub area.

When I picked the kids up and stopped by the house today, we noticed white stuff on the floor, so we didn't walk around or look at much. I would take a guess that its in preparation for the wood flooring. I cant wait to see that! In all of the houses Ive ever rented, none of them have ever had anything other than vinyl linoleum and carpet. It will be a wonderful change to have a earthy element in my new home.

I did notice that our nook lower cabinets were installed. Uppers were still not there. Upstairs, in the master bathroom, the leak has been repaired and the wall put back into place. Also, the entry hole to get into the attic now has a cover.

My littlest, who has the best eyes in the family, noticed on our way out that the shingles are finally complete (above the front patio). The house from the front now looks almost finished.

What a good lookin' house!

 

 

 

Last, on our way out of the neighborhood, we met a new neighbor, David, who is building down the street towards the pool. He was checking out his lot. I remember those days! He'll be where we are in no time.

 



Granite Saga

Part of the reason I decided to build a home was so that I could have a say in all of the finishing touches. Where does a family spend most of their time? In the kitchen! So, with that in mind, I opted for the lower, extended flush countertop so that we could have ample space to do crafts and science experiments and baking and all of the kinds of things that we do as a family, in that kitchen.

Im building a home that I had hoped to create a place where my children and I could create wonderful new memories. We've been through a lot and the new space is a fresh start.  I had those thoughts in my head when I made my selections at the KB Home Studio. Afterall, this is Built-to-Order, not Built-to-Sell. I should get everything I ordered without question.

 

It's my sentiment that I should be gaga, head over heels, super pleased with all it. And if one supplier can't deliver, why aren't they using another? Why isn't Summit Stoneworks updating their samples? And why did they have me pick my choices 4 months before they even ordered it?? Maybe buyers need to be able to select their slabs instead of relying on a sample from who knows when. I do recall that Jennifer, my designer, had told me certain ones weren't available, and 1 or 2 had been marked as such, but the ones I was choosing from were available. They only thing I was told was that there could be variations in the veining of the stone. I understand that. But an entirely different product is not in that description.

Here is the image Summit Stoneworks shows as 'Delicatus' on their website:

 

 

That sure looks similar to the sample I saw at the studio. This is not what they installed in my home.

 

And this is a image of what Arctic Cream looks like, taken from another granite supplier's website:

 

 

See the creamy, beige background and the black veins? That is what I was given.

Here is a closeup of the granite that was installed in my home:

Compare this granite to my walls, which are not white but are actually Sherwin Williams' "Softer Tan". This granite is so dark it makes my walls look white!

This will not go with my white backsplash, that's for sure! There isn't any white in this stone at all!


Now this is Delicatus:

 

Day 130: Drip. Drip. Drip.

Today the girls and I stopped by for what I thought was going to be a quick visit. As usual, they ran in ahead of me, pointing and shouting out about the new things they found. "Faucets!" "Our dishwasher is in!" "Come see!"

And, I do. As I entered the kitchen I made note of the granite, again. I keep trying to like it, but my gut keeps reminding me that this isn't what I ordered. *sigh* I'll have to speak to Raymond and Jennifer about that.

Before I could appreciate the new things installed, I heard a dripping. Drip. Drip. Drip. I checked the faucet. No, it wasn't dripping. I walk towards the sound of it and quickly discover my laundry room ceiling is leaking! 

I immediately call Raymond. Then Chance. Then Raymond again, trying to get anyone out there to help. 

Raymond comes put and checked the shut off valve. It's off. Guess the lines weren't bled and they froze over night, busting. Raymond assured me it would get fixed and any replacements done if need be. Thank goodness!

In all the commotion, I didn't have time to snap pictures of the new fixtures so I'll try go get those taken soon.