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:

 

The Final Options

 

 

 

 



• Oak cabinets in Espresso (in kitchen, nook, baths and laundry)
• White Delicatus granite (in kitchen and nook)
• Pietra del Norte 'Maine' polished tile backsplash
• Shaw Landscapes 'Nightsong Hickory' laminate wood flooring (in entry, kitchen, nook, powder, pantry and laundry)
• Shaw carpeting 'Thistle' (in all living areas) with upgraded pad
• Emser 'Titan' tile (in upstairs bathrooms)
• white marble countertops (in all baths and in master tub & shower surround)
• Kids' bath will have porcelain tub with white tile surround.
• All faucets will be Eva Watersense in Chrome except for the kitchen which is nickel.
• All lighting fixtures will be nickel finish.
• Room conversion - living room to study
• One door and one extra window in lieu of the patio sliding door
• All railing will be wrought iron instead of paint grade wood
• Manchester walnut-stained 8-foot front door (and stunningly beautiful!)
• Interior paint is Softer Tan (by Sherwin Williams) with white gloss 5 1/4" baseboards.
• Exterior brick is Urbana Antique by Claymex. Paint will be Foothills and Well Bred Brown (both by Sherwin Williams).
• Back patio will be covered and have a ceiling fan, size 8' ×16' plus a little more and steps down
• upgraded the attic insulation
• insulated the garage (because it also insullates the kids floors as their rooms are over it).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 26: Final Selection Day

This is it! Final Selection Day!

Today Im letting go of all of my anxiety and Im going to enjoy this moment. Many people never get to experience this in their whole entire lives. Im going to enjoy this blessing that God has bestowed upon me and be thankful and joyous.

Chance told me at our last meeting that he expected construction to begin the first week of December. Changes will happen fast then. For today, Im going to relish the serenity of the moment because in a couple short weeks, changes will happen every day!

Watch for pictures of my selections today in a separate post to follow later today, and wish me luck!

Day 20: Kennewick

Isnt this brick gorgeous?! I first fell in love with this brick when I fell in love with the house over on Waizel Way (in another KB Home neighborhood). I came really close to buying that house, however underwriting made me wait. Luckily for me, too, because now Im building my own and getting to experience all that goes along with it. Im designing my own home from the ground up.

 

After picking out my preliminary selections yesterday and going over budget, I went home and slept on it. I talked to friends and family and thought some more. Then I made a list. I crossed out the things I knew I could add on later with the help of a handyman, or as a DIY type thing, and I then settled upon the flooring. It seemed a bit steep so I checked with Fabulous Jennifer, my designer at the KB Home Studio, and we discussed adding in some laminate flooring in lieu of some of the tile. When she sent me back a new quote, I was over the moon happy. This was the fix I needed to be able to keep all of the other goodies I have planned.

 

Then came the brick. As I said before, I wasn't gaga over the one I chose, even though I love looking at it in the neighborhood. One woman I spoke with while driving around looking at brick told me that her neighbor has it and two others down her street. Yeah, no thanks. I dont want to be a cookie cutter. And, since my house is on the corner, it needs to wow people, right?

 

So, I keep going back to the Waizel Way house. I loved that brick! It isn't one of the "included" options with KB, however Im having Fabulous Jennifer quote me on it. Keep your fingers crossed that the tile-laminate swap will be able to fund the brick. Then we're all set!

 

Here are a few more pictures of Kennewick brick from the house over on Waizel Way:

 



Day 19: Preliminary Pick Day



Today was my Preliminary Pick Day, as Im fondly calling it. This is the day when I had to actually make choices and about the items that will be installed in my home such as bathtubs and cabinets, flooring and paint, and about a zillion other things it seems.

When you go in, they give you a huge packet of all of the options. It's sectioned out but some parts can get tedious reading and navigating though. Luckily they don't even give you the carpet choices or it would be even bigger! I started on the packet two days before, when I came in to browse. Most of what I wanted I knew. However, I knew Id be adding on much more today.

I had the nicest sales rep, Jennifer, who graciously jumped in and started early with me when she found me browsing the kitchen area before my appointment. She helped me make choices, offered advice, let me take as much time as I needed and, since she had just built a home herself, she knew what I was feeling through all of this. Above are my preliminary choices.

I started in the cabinets and countertops section of the design studio as this is the first room you get to when you begin this process. The granite and cabinets came together really quick, thankfully. I love the granite! It's a snow white with chocolate and black. The cabinets I choice are an espresso color (not black, sorry if the picture doesn't show off its beautiful true coloring).

Then we sat down for a bit and she went over all of the interior structural options such as room conversions, upgrades to the countertop heights and prewiring for ceiling fans, adding on a patio cover, and stuff like that.

Next we picked out all of the faucets and upgraded the kids' bathtub to porcelain with tile surround. I picked the marble tub for the master with separate shower and marble surrounds in both of those. I love how clean and smooth they are! I know Im going to love sinking into that tub at the end of a long day (like today, wah!).

Next we moved onto picking the exterior 8' door and the interior doors. We picked out lighting, upgraded the railings to black wrought iron spindles, and talked about paint. Im opting to not have the house painted a special color inside for two reasons. One, they pretty much only offer shades of white; I don't want to pay for something Im going to turn around and paint over. And two, I have something else in mind for that money. :)

Brick, exterior paint and roofing came next. This part is hard! It's very difficult to visualize what a small sample of brick will look like on a big house. I drove around my neighborhood beforehand, but to be honest, Im still undecided. I made a pick, however it is subject to change before my final appointment next week. One good thing I learned though was that since Im on a corner, that side that faces the street will be solid brick. That's an add-on I don't have to pay for! Sweet deal!

Flooring and tile was pretty much the last step of the process. I was a little disappointed in their selection of backsplashes. They offered nothing by way of tiny pieces except for the glass mosaic, which Im not a fan of. I wanted something more along the lines of a pretty white but had to settle for a 12" tile. Thankfully its silky smooth like stone and not like floor tile. It'll work for now until I decide to rip it out down the road. I did pick out carpeting fairly quick, however I realize now I need to confirm with Jennifer which areas are having tile and which are having carpet.

So, the process seems short, however you're making a thousand decisions within a few hours and by the end, I was starting to get a headache. Im eager to see it all installed in my new home. I just know it will be beautiful!

Day 18: Sinking or Swimming?

 

 

Today is one of those days when you have so much on your mind and you just feeling like your mind is swimming. So, I drove by the lot this evening on my way home. The sun is starting to set (behind me) and its still casting nice colors in the sky. It felt good to come by today.

 

After browsing through the studio yesterday and seeing all of my choices, Im torn. Mostly its the theme of the home. Im unsure of the brick color, although I know which ones I like when I drive by them in the neighborhood. Picking them out in tiny swatches is like finding a needle in a haystack. I had no idea there were so many colors in a brick pattern.

Also, the counters and cabinets and flooring. Oh my! I really thought this was going to be easier. Ive ruled out a couple of colors I don't like, but there are still too many that I do. Luckily my budget is helping me to narrow that down.

For today, Im not picking. Im just letting it sink in.

Day 17: Peek Day

Today is Peek Day! Hooray! This will be my first look at picking out all of the things that will turn my house into my home. This is huge! I don't have to make a decision today, luckily. Instead, I plan on jotting down the items I like in each category by first, second and third. Then I'll be able to go home and think about my choices and decide where I want to spend my money. Right now I predict the hardest part will be choosing the brick and the exterior color scheme. We'll see!

Update: Today was hard. There were so many choices, colors and themes. Once I thought I had made up my mind, then on the way out I changed it. What I thought I didnt want, I did!  Oh! How am I going to do this? 

I go back in 2 days and have to narrow it down. 

Day 16: This Section Is Filling Up

It's a super beautiful day today. The sky is so blue. It's breezy yet not too chilly. It's a perfect day to be outside.

There are currently 8 homes with sold signs, including mine, and the two houses being built. This section is quickly filling up as the pool and 8 surrounding homes are on hold for Model homes. There aren't too many left in this section. It'll be interesting to see which direction the neighborhood expands into next.

Ive been going over the options list that my salesman sent over. Just trying to wrap my head around the things I know I want and, at the same time, sort of making a mental list of things I know my handyman can take care of for me a little at a time down the road.

Remember when I said I felt like a kid at Christmas? Christmas is here! It's going to last for about 10 days, too! Today is Peek Day. Wednesday is Preliminary Appointment Day then a week later will be Final Appointment Day. Watch for pictures to come!

Day 15: Made an Appointment With the Design Studio

Welcome to the beginning of Week #3!

This morning I received a call from the KB Home Design Studio. They scheduled my first appointment for this Wednesday.  I'm going to pop in and browse on Monday to get my feet wet. I cant wait to see all of my options for flooring, brick, paint and more!

In neighborhood news, the two houses being built just off to the back are having their brick put on.  The kids and I walked through one of the houses (the one with the similar floorplan as ours). They have some cabinets and have been painted, but otherwise nothing has been done inside. It's exciting to see though. The kids say they cant wait to get to see our house inside. :)