July!

The 4th has come and gone - that summer half over mark. Barrington was a perfect spot to start the day with bloodies and mimosas... and parade watching. We got everything cleaned up for the party - and it actually gave us encouragement that the end is in site!! The big project list is down to kitchen completion. The cabinets are in, just crown and base moulding details left. We get measured for counters Friday morning. The stage lights will be wired after that; and the very last piece is the backsplash. Cyd's closet floor needs to go in... hopefully Michael will step up and get that done. Joe is finishing a couple last spots of drywall mud - so that we can prime and paint the first floor bath - and next week have wallpaper! Lots of paint left... but hoping Bennett will take over the paint stick while SWL is out of town the next couple weeks - and get it done! Looking like 2 good weeks could do it; and we can get C + B moved in and set up the last week of the month! Might make our August first trek west after all!!

Getting back into the Groove

Barrington is looking a little bit better day by day. SWL is plugging away on the kitchen cabinets. Today he built the frame for one of the dead corners, and almost completed the west wall. It was tedious, having to cut out for a power source the back of the microwave cabinet. Before he could begin... he had to pull the first floor toilet to prepare for Randy's installation of the flooring, and bale me out with the painting of the Master Bedroom ceiling (I can't work that paint stick overhead!!). I finished the first coat on the bedroom, the trim on Cyd's closet door, and the interior first coat inside the upstairs hall linen cabinet. I also had a bit of touch up left in the grey bedroom.... where I'd repaired around outlets and an access panel. I think that room may now be complete. (Oh - except the vent covers) Classic glass installed the shower door!!! Gorgeous. And SWL set that sink cabinet ahead of the marble top going in tomorrow. Lots of little pieces!

Back Blogging!

After almost TOO much relaxation - we are back at work! We had an incredible vacation to Istanbul and sailing the Agean. Now we're full swing to the finish line at Barrington. Monday was a bit under-productive - trouble remembering where we were, where our tools were, finding traction. SWL got his head around the kitchen project.... reacquainting himself with the layout and plan. Tuesday was a bit more focused - and Wednesday we finally felt the momentum! The upper cabinets went up! Cyd and I have been slowly painting our way thru the upstairs. The grey bedroom is all but complete and yesterday we also completed the second coat on the Master Bath. Today will see the shower door go up and maybe the marble counter top as well!! Cyd also selected a new floor tile - to be more practical - for the first floor bath. It's a very cool whitewash "wood" tile. Can't wait to have Randy lay that! Today the lower cabinets will begin, and Cyd and I will attack the Master Bedroom paint!!! Slowly but surely. I'll try to get back in my blog habit.... got a late start because my computer's been on the fritz. After an appointment at the genius bar... which didn't fix it... my personal genius has got me back up and running. Cross our fingers! The week is already flying. Cal arrives Friday for her 5 year reunion weekend! Busy busy busy! Welcome back all!

We're Off!

Well, I didn't get any additional photos taken! My bad. Not a lot to show for the weekend and last few days. Cyd did get a chance to crawl thru the eves and help SWL install the last vent so that the new attic fan can work as efficiently as possible. We've primed the Master Bath, and cleaned up little details following the drywallers around after sanding. I think we're leaving a long list of ready places to paint. Cyd has corner cupboard shelves here to paint for the Diningroom. Randy is almost finished tiling upstairs.... so it's ready to paint. He'll be in to grout and seal. We challenged his sensibilities with the retro "dark" color grout.... not even a cool photo has him fully sold. What does he know! Painting can begin in Cyd's closet and the Master Bedroom. The upstairs guest BR is ready when Randy gets his stuff out! With a bit of cleaning prep all around.... the downstairs could be started as well (if you want to work around boxes and stuff). We're ordering appliances this morning - which take a couple of weeks... perfect timing. Bennett will be home over the weekend.... so they'll have some time to work together! We're excited for this trip, and a little house break. No doubt we'll return re-energized and anxious to finish it up and get the Schaumburgs moved in!! So, unless Cyd will document herself and continue my blogging.... we'll be off line until the end of the month. Best! ARL

Weeks End

While the day to day details are hard to document, we are making strides. Days go sort of like this: finish 2nd coat paint on Callie's room trim, rasor blade off glass, have Nanny wash windows, SWL get's to the details and cleans sliding groves.... we need to repaint! Little details that don't show much. Bennett's study is all but complete - thanks to master painter SWL who re-rolled the ceiling and re-cut the grey. Then the drywall team patched the closet.... now
we need to prime and repaint the patch! The bigger progress - Randy continues on the Master Bath,
Drywall up and taped in Cyd's closet, her closet door is complete.... until drywall is sanded and we can clean up and begin painting upstairs. Baker Roofing arrived this afternoon to install the attic fan and roof vent for the upstairs bath fan - should cool off the upstairs a bit more. We've got parts and pieces to begin wiring the Diningroom fixture, some spray painting projects to begin. We dropped off the headboard to be reupholstered AND the DR host and hostess chairs arrived. So, lots going on! Have a good weekend everyone, and I'll try to get a last blog update before we head across the pond!!

Now We're Talking!

Tuesday - painting is reminding me a little bit of wiring. Will it ever end?! We are pathetically slow - and not very good. We coat, we wait, we recoat, we wait, we cut back in to cover our mess, we wait. We're still on the second room of the house!! I'm feeling really good about the fact that upstairs there are no ceilings to cut in, or crown!.... more rolling, which SWL handles very nicely with his power painting stick! So we did get a look at the gorgeous doors on Callie's closet. An inspired idea we all admit. We're mourning the fact that the fabric we were SO excited to use is discontinued... we'll move on when we get over it. Randy is plugging away at the master bath. I think he'll be finished this week - we're hoping. And Michael came - let there be a kitchen floor!!!! So little by little it really is taking shape. Our team will be growing sooner than later - Bennett accepted the job offer at GSW and will be home in two weeks!
CONGRATULATIONS!! We are now officially in our one week countdown to our big trip. Our wish is to get the kitchen installed this week - so counters can be measured (and made?) while we're away. We can at least wish!!

Update

My bad. Wanted to share todays start and finish. BIG storm moved thru parts of Arlington last night. We arrived at barrington this morning to find the post down!!! That settles that question I guess! Shot of Dootie and her mother at the end of the day. xoxox