Honeygate Happiness

Dry skin and other ailments

2010-11-29T17:32:00.003-05:00

With the onset of cooler weather, the humidity in my home is not what I want. It's too darn low! With the level hovering at around the low 20's lately, I am concerned that this low level will affect my hardwood floors and make it a very uncomfortable winter. I've already started to notice tiny gaps in my floor - grrrrr.... So I purchased a humidifier today - a whole house humidifier. This will hopefully fix my chapped lips and keep my hardwood floors looking pretty.

Here is my Honeywell HE225 and installation to be done soon....

Christmas Time is Near!

2010-11-28T15:53:00.006-05:00

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, I thought I would decorate the outside of the house for my first Christmas. It doesn't look too bad I think - for a first timer....

Dining Room - Finally!

2010-11-06T09:16:00.006-04:00

After months of searching, I have finally selected my dining room set. On the advice of a friend, I checked out Prestige Furniture in Orleans early one Saturday morning. I browsed for a bit and after speaking with Robbie, saleslady extraordinaire, I settled on the set you see below (minus the sideboard / cabinet). As well, I purchased 4 chairs and the bench. Unfortunately it takes approximately 8 weeks for delivery so I have almost 6 weeks to prepare the room.

A few months ago, I attended one of those art sales at the Centurion Center on Colonnade Road. To say it was a zoo would be an understatement. With doors scheduled to open at 11 am, people were lining up early, ready to go. Doors opened and the stampede ensued. I managed to get in and get out in a mere 40 minutes with two paintings for the dining room. Unfortunately at the time, I did not see any dark frames that I liked so a new search begins.

I was back and forth on the dining room rug issue. Do I or don't I? I finally decided "I do". On the advice of Robbie, Prestige saleslady, she recommended I go to a carpet store and purchase a "border rug", which is a piece of broadloom with a stitched border. I decided to check out my local Home Depot and was not prepared - my 6' x 8' rug was only $49.99! Not wanting the rug to overtake the decor, I settled on a very light green rug, which will complement the paintings and the dark floor / furniture.

I had purchased a set of ready-to-hand curtains from Bouclair however I believe they conflict with the paintings so I will return them for a solid color curtain. I'll post when I have decided.

As well, the search for the perfect light fixture continues.....

Next Project - Dining Room

2010-09-05T13:11:00.006-04:00

Well, I've decided to start to tackle the daunting task of furnishing the dining room. Yesterday, I went to a local lighting store in a half-assed search for a light fixture for the dining room as the current fixture is just a cap. I found a couple of options and am looking for feedback:

Living Lighting - Hendrik

Living Lighting - Lacey

I know...it's been 4 months...

2010-09-05T12:46:00.006-04:00

Well, it's been a while but I'm back! The last 4 months have been crazy and it's been great! I LOVE my new house and my new neighborhood. The proximity to work and all amenities is convenient and makes life so much easier. I've included a few pics of the new digs...

This is the street view. The sod is a few weeks old and the paved driveway is 2 weeks old. The house faces west so I get the nice warm afternoon sun. This will be very nice in the winter - in the summer, not so much as it heats up the main living area. But with the trust A/C, this summer has been bearable.

This is the master bedroom. It may look small but what you can't see is the dresser to the left as well as a walk in closet and an entrance to the master bathroom. I have two windows - one facing west (seen in the picture) and other window facing south. Since there is another row of townhouses directly to the south, my blinds stay closed permanently.

This is my living room. I've tried to keep the colors neutral in all areas and add snippets of color through accessories such as draperies, pillows, rugs, etc. I love this room as it is an open area with the dining room and the kitchen.

This is the kitchen - from the point of view from the dining room. The breakfast bar is great for having breakfast and reading the newspaper on the weekend. Excuse the mess...the picture was taken on the spur of the moment.

All in all, its been a whirlwind 4 months but as I settle into my new home, the headaches & frustrations have all been well worth it.

Two weeks later

2010-04-26T20:24:00.007-04:00

Due to popular demand, here are a couple of pics of the new pad.

This is the view from the street. Note the lovely grey garbage bin that occupies the front lawn. However, it has been moved to the other side of the street. Same thing goes for the port-a-potty that has moved down the street as well.

This is probably one of my favorite places to hang out. With the addition of the two new bar stools, it's a great place to sit and just think. The missing cabinet door was removed due to a scratch that was noticed during PDI and should be returned any day now.

Ahhh - the master bedroom. A good sized space with not one but two windows. Note the craftsmanship with the curtain rods - courtesy of Poppa. He's a good handyman!

The master bathroom - another great room! With a cheater door off the master bedroom, anyone who occupies the bedroom has their own entrance which is nice when guests are staying overnight.

On another note, I think I broke my toe (the little piggy that had no roast beef) last night. I was clearly not paying attention to what I was doing and smacked into the chair. It's turning many ugly colors and although I do have a picture, it's gross and do not want to subject the masses to my pain.

Getting there....

2010-04-18T15:46:00.006-04:00

Well, since I've had a break in the moving action, I thought I would post an update on what's been going on over the last few days.

Closing day came and went with little hoopla - simply picked up the keys and headed over to the new digs. After basking in the afterglow of home ownership, I headed home and decided to pack up the car with a load of home furnishings. It felt so good!

Wednesday proved to be a productive day as I met with Adrian to review the PDI list. To my surprise, almost half of the items listed on the PDI had been fixed. Over the course of the day, another 7 trades showed up to fix additional items. Very impressed!

It's been a flurry of activity with at least a couple of carloads a day over to the house. Movers come on Wednesday so I want to make sure as much stuff as I can carry is over there by then. And I think I'm pretty much there. Car loads have also been taken to the Salvation Army and to the curb for garbage pickup.

Shopping for home furnishings has also been worked into the mix! I have picked up new accessories for the bathrooms. They are Moen Preston and I think they're simple but elegant.

Moen Preston Towel Bar (18")

Moen Preston TP Holder

Today, I picked up a couple of bar stools that I have been eyeing for a long time. They are counter height and will go well with the breakfast bar. They have an Asian flair but are not too over the top. And surprisingly, they are really comfortable!

Stay tuned - more to come....

CLOSING DAY!!

2010-04-13T06:43:00.002-04:00

After months and months of talking about it, closing day has arrived!

Now, I just have to wait for "the" phone call. Okie dokie....

Living in chaos

2010-04-10T15:14:00.005-04:00

With 3 days to go until closing, I think I've reached the limit with packing to this point. I have packed almost 90% of my stuff and navigating around my apartment is becoming increasingly difficult. Thankfully, I have 8 days between closing and moving day so these piles should dwindle quickly.

My kitchen has been packed so I've resorted to using paper plates, cutlery and cups. It's actually not so bad....

PDI done!!

2010-04-08T18:21:00.009-04:00

Today was PDI day and it was a busy one. The PDI itself was good - Mark from Mattamy took his time with all the rooms and made note of all issues that were of concern to me and Mike.

The number of deficiencies totalled 51. 48 were minor cosmetic issues (e.g. paint chips, nicks in trim, carpet pulls, etc) with 3 `major` issues. The major issues concerned missing backsplash in the kitchen (which is funny considering the upgrades list was taped to the kitchen window!), missing screens on all the windows (another giggly funny) and finally, a water issue in the utility room. This one concerns me because it seems to be coming from the copper line in the furnace. When Mark saw the pooling issue in the utility room and laundry room, he immediately phoned the builder, Adrian, who was obviously less than impressed with the work. It was noted on my PDI and I am confident it will be resolved by closing time. As well, they will clean up all the flooring and trim that was affected so it`s all good.

I managed to snap a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Main bathroom

Master Bedroom

Great Room

Dining Room - view from Great Room

Great Room - view from Dining Room

Unfortunately no pictures of the kitchen. The dishwasher was in the middle of the room and all of our documents, jackets, cell phones and general crap was on the breakfast bar so it would not have made a nice shot. However, my fridge and stove have been installed and they look marvelous. As well, I can`t be 100% sure but I do believe my counter top is the exact match to my parents house!

The colors all blend well together and the natural light is amazing - I couldn`t be more relieved and satisfied!

With 5 days to go, I can`t believe this will all come to an end!

PDI Tomorrow!

2010-04-07T17:25:00.003-04:00

Well, nearly a year from my original purchase date, the day has finally arrived. Tomorrow, April 8, is my PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection). I will be meeting Mark from Mattamy at 2:00 pm along with my friend Mike. The original plan was to have Big Poppa accompany me however a cold virus that I could only equate to the Ebola virus, has befallen Poppa and he is resting in Sudbury. Get well soon Poppa!!

I have packed my PDI kit, printed off my checklist, reviewed my upgrade list and charged the camera battery. I think I'm ready....

Stay tuned!

2 weeks TODAY!

2010-03-30T17:32:00.004-04:00

14 days until close and things are ramping up quickly! Between finalizing my packing, organizing my services and appointments AND working all day, sleep comes easily lately.

This past weekend, I went to the Home Show at Lansdowne Park. Despite having to circle the parking lot for about 15 minutes trying to find a spot, it was a pretty good show. Tons of people and tons of exhibitors made for an exciting yet tiring Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, my sidekick for the day was able to make contact with some services for his new condo!! Yay!

On Sunday, after a hearty breakfast, a trip to the house was in order just to see how things were going. And lo and behold, my doors were locked. So peeking in the front door window would just have to suffice until PDI. It's looking good and I'm experiencing a mix of excitement, nausea and anticipation for everything that will happen in the next few weeks.

Yesterday, I was contacted by my lawyer's associate yesterday to finalize some initial information and I will be expecting another phone call from the lawyer in the next couple of days with respect to the all important payment amount. Yes, if there's anything I've learned from this whole experience, nothing is free.

VID - Very Important Date

2010-03-21T15:22:00.003-04:00

Last week, I received a voice mail message from Mark at Mattamy calling to schedule my PDI appointment. Woo-hoo!

For those who don't know, PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) is the appointment a week or so prior to closing which the homeowner (me) and the builder representative (Mark) will meet to tour the house before it is delivered to the homeowner (me).

Big Poppa will be making the trek for my PDI to offer a second set of eyes while I talk to Mark and ask him the anticipated billion or so questions I will probably have.

Stay tuned...

28 days to go

2010-03-16T18:17:00.003-04:00

Well, I'm into the final weeks of renting and every day is an eternity. I took a chance today after work to try to sneak a peek at my place. Well, easier said than done. Due to the amount of construction traffic and home owners arriving home from work, it was a mad house. As there was a flurry of activity on my street, I could only look from a distance. Booooo....

But not to be deterred, I decided to go and run errands and return at a later time. Well, after a visit to Indigo books, Bouclair and a bite to eat at Kelsey's, I decided to press my luck and return to the scene. When I pulled up there was no construction traffic which was a telltale sign to GO FOR IT! I discovered my siding is well on its way. Yay! So feeling bullish, I checked the front door and entered carefully. And right there, in front of my eyes, on the way upstairs, was carpet - beautiful, soft comfy carpet.

OK - here's where it gets weird. I crawled up the stairs on my hands and knees as I didn't want to be detected with dirty footprints and saw a sliver of my newly installed hardwood. Yay! As I slowly slithered down the stairs on my butt, I saw a carpet remnant lying on the floor and I smuggled it out for design purposes. Not one of my proudest moments. Now if I could just locate my paint swatch....

Overall, I breathed a sigh of relief. My color scheme, while good on paper, was always a question mark with respect to cohesion. Up until now, I was always wondering how everything would look and flow in the house. But everything seems to be coming along better than I ever expected.

As this was an unscheduled trip, I did not have my camera so in honor of all things wonderful, I give you Matt Damon instead.

Tick tock...

2010-03-06T12:37:00.007-05:00

Well, with one month and one week to go, it feels like the pressure is on. Well, not really but it's really exciting. There was not a soul to be found at the site today when I drove up so I surmised that things must be flowing along nicely. And holy mackeral, I wasn't wrong.

My kitchen is coming along so nicely. My cabinets and counter tops are in and to be honest, I am so pleased. I was nervous about how things would flow together because everything was done by eyeballing the Design Centre samples. The cabinets are fantastic maple and the counter tops are darker with black, dark brown and light browns thrown in and the cabinet handles are a brushed nickel. I think the black appliances will go nicely when they are delivered and installed. Whew....

I am also glad that I didn't go with the raised breakfast bar upgrade. I love the way the kitchen opens up to the dining area which, to me at least, gives a great open feeling.

As well, the bathroom has been tiled and vanity has been installed. Again, very pleased with turnout of this room. Super awesome...

This is the walk in closet in my master bedroom. I think I'm going to price what it would cost to have a closet organizer come in and help me figure out a design. I've never had a walk in closet and I've always dreamed of having a walk in closet so we'll see what the budget says. Stay tuned....

BTW, that thing in the corner on the shelf is the cover to the attic - definitely not part of the final product...

All the trimmings

2010-02-28T11:35:00.002-05:00

As I pulled up to the house, I could hear music coming from my house. I was able to see a guy, all masked up, at the kitchen window painting the trim! I decided not to go into the house as I did not want to interrupt his work but I did notice the plywood that previously doubled as my garage door was removed so I thought "hey, I'll just take a peek." As I walked in, I noticed something leaning against the wall. What was it, you ask? It was my counter top! Yes, a section of my kitchen surface was in the garage, looking ready to be installed. I pulled out the camera to take a picture and dammit to hell, my camera battery was dead. NOOOOO!!!!

After carefully maneuvering my way around my muddy front yard / driveway, I went to the front door, opened it slightly and noticed that cardboard protected the floor as well as painters tarps protected the stair railings. All the trim had been painted on the main floor although I was hoping to sneak a peek at my new floor tile, I wasn't able to see it this trip.

Now this post would have 10x better if pictures were added but well, you can't always get what you want....

February 25 2010

2010-02-25T18:07:00.003-05:00

It occurred to me today that this would have been my first tentative closing date! Holy moley how time flies! Thankfully, my closing day is one month two weeks and five days away! And when I say thankfully, if you see what I see, then moving in this crappy weather would not have been fun.

A big thank you to my mortgage broker, Jacquie, for helping me overcome another hurdle in this journey. I met with her yesterday to sign mortgage papers and get the financials out of the way. Jacquie knew exactly what I wanted and she delivered. To say that I actually had a hard time sleeping last night would be an understatement. So much so that I woke up with stiff neck and ended up having a kink in it all day after I checked my blind spot on the drive to work. Yay me.

I also have to see Melis at The Brick tomorrow to pay off the balance on my appliances. Just another item to check off my to-do list. It will SO nice to finally have a dishwasher - I detest doing dishes....

Progress Progress Progress

2010-02-20T12:42:00.005-05:00

Trekking out to the site this morning and I discovered a van in "my" driveway. Not knowing who was inside, I poked my head in and came face to face with a tile installer. Yes - a tile installer!!!! He said hello and told me that he was there to install the kitchen and foyer tile. They would have done the main bathroom tile but you'll see why below. I was so happy! I offered to buy him and his partner a round of Timmy's but they politely declined. I told them I wanted to grab a couple of photos before I got out of their way. They were gracious and told me to take my time...

From the dining room into the living room...

From the kitchen breakfast bar looking into the living room....

I went up to third level to see what was happening up there and discovered my railings! The stain is perfect (although a bit dirty but whatever, it's a construction zone!) and I was so glad to see I had spindles and not a solid knee wall! I couldn't have been more pleased...

On another note, I received a phone call from Erin at the Design Centre last night indicating that my main bathroom tile (both floor and wall) were discontinued and could I please come in this weekend and pick another selection? She told me she would leave suggestions with the weekend girls and they would pass along my choices to her on Monday morning. Surprisingly, I wasn't upset - I figured I could handle this one of two ways: throw a tantrum, bitch and moan OR take it with a grain of salt and make another selection. The weekend crew at the DC were so helpful and friendly and I think we made a really good choice.

An ironic note to this story - the new selection of tile and listello border were actually one of my original considerations from early in my decision process. Strange how things work....

More pictures

2010-02-16T17:42:00.007-05:00

Well, it's been a crazy day with Mr. Flaherty's mortgage announcement and trying to figure out if it will affect me. After reading and researching, I am thinking "no" but life is full of surprises. To make myself feel better, I thought I would post a few more pics.

Awkward shot of the kitchen - fridge and stove will be along this wall.

Living Room - window facing west. This one was taken from the top of the stairs leading downstairs.

Breakfast bar from the Living Room

Go Canada Go!!!

Window shopping

2010-02-14T13:55:00.011-05:00

As the clock ticks, I was advised by friends and family to start a list of items I would need when I move in. I think the intention was to populate the list with things like garbage cans, fire extinguisher, cleaning supplies, batteries, etc, which I fully intend to purchase. However my wish list has grown to include new bed frame and light fixtures.

This is my planned bed frame for my new master. It's an IKEA Malm double bed in a a dark brown / black wood. Color scheme for the master is neutral with splashes of color coming from bed linens and accessories in green and grey/silver which will contrast well with dark wood in the bed frame and my side tables as well as the walls and the Berber carpet. The windows plan is wood / faux wood blinds in white in order to blend them with the window frame and trim.

As well, I am keeping my eyes open for light fixtures. I plan to keep the builders fixtures for the first while in most places but it's nice to look and consider the kitchen. I have alot of natural light from the window but I want to see what they lighting will be like once the sun goes down. I want something that is interesting as guests will be able to see kitchen light fixtures from the dining room in the open concept. This would be the light fixture for the kitchen nook.

And this is her sister for the kitchen's main working area.

BUT my first and foremost purchase will be a garage door opener. I have always dreamed of having a garage to park my car in and in 1 month 4 weeks and 2 days, that dream will come true. I've decided that either a belt or chain drive type of garage door opener will do as my garage will underneath my dining room so it's not a big deal with noise.

It's good to have a plan.

One month four weeks and two days

2010-02-14T13:22:00.007-05:00

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post as I have not been out to the house. My weekends are consumed lately with packing, chores around the house and a wee bit of laziness due to weather. But today I ventured out just to see what was up.

I was greeted at the front door by brick! Yes, brick! I am pleased with my front entrance as it will possibly allow me to place my small swing at the front to relax and watch the neighbourhood go by. The brick is orange-ish in colour while siding will be put on above the brick. I have a feeling the siding will be a neutral tan colour but we'll have to wait and see.

As more and more progress is made, I am waiting for the day that I walk up to the front door and it will be locked. But today was not that day. I walked in and was greeted by walls - lovely painted walls. The colour is lighter than I expected but it still works. Builders usually use the cheapest flat paint but I plan to keep it for a year and then if the feeling moves me, I will paint. But for now I will enjoy. Below is the laundry room as seen from its doorway.

As luck was on my side, no one was around but it still felt like I was breaking and entering. Technically it's not my house yet so you can understand what I mean. I thought I would brave it and go all the way upstairs to see how things were going up there. As I got to the top of the stairs, I was happy to see a bathtub. A wonderfully deep tub.

The bedrooms are coming along well with a whack of light coming into them. Especially the guest bedroom - which is much larger than I anticipated. Getting a desk and futon in there will not be a problem. The master bedroom will require a bit of thought for furniture placement but it will all be OK.

Just another brick in the wall

2010-02-04T17:46:00.003-05:00

In all the excitement of the goings-on inside, I completely forgot about the outside. Well, thanks to the mom and aunt of my soon-to-be-neighbour Paul, I am able to display the exterior brick on my house. I had no say in its selection and I must say it's nice. It's from Hanson Brick and it belongs to the orange family.

Progress....with a dash of Mike Holmes

2010-01-30T18:47:00.004-05:00

Well, I am officially 2 and 1/2 months away from closing. As each day passes and I get closer to the big day, I am creating To-Do lists, sorting items that are to be donated, packing things up that I won't be using in the next 10 weeks. I've been asked by a number of friends "Why are you packing so early?" and I simply respond with "So I don't have to do it later". Because before I know it, it will be later...

Since I have been so busy and pre-occupied with the inside of my new home, it dawned on me that I didn't know what colour the outside of my house would be. So, earlier this week, I emailed my customer care coordinator, Steve, and asked him what my exterior colours would be. His response was as follows:

Brick - Aztec Sandstone Buff
Siding - Sandcastle
Fronto Door - Trading Post P2053-5
Garage Door - Saddlery Tan
Shingles - Oakwood or Heatherwood

Now, I went to the Sales Centre to try and get a picture of the colors but the front desk assistant wasn't really sure of the colours with the exception of the brick. The brick will actually be a reddish-orange color which I am happy about. And if the samples on the display are indicative of the other items, it will have lovely curb appeal. Since I forgot my camera, I have no pictorial of my visit.

Before I went to the Sales Centre, I stopped by the house to see if anything was new. I peeked through the front door and lo and behold, sheetrock was piled in the laundry room AND it was actually ON the walls going up the stairs. I peeked upstairs and noticed that the insulation was done with the vapour barrier. I also wanted to check that the duct joints were taped - a little something I picked up on Holmes on Homes this morning. Thanks Mike - duct joints were taped!

And finally, kudos to the construction workers working on Block 46 - it was incredibly cold and windy this morning and you guys were working hard! I'll bring coffees next time I stop by!!

Floor Plan to Framing

2010-01-19T17:24:00.009-05:00

So today was a BIG day in the life of Honeygate Happiness with the arrival of the framewalk! This morning, I met Adrian at the house after acquiring a stylish blue hard hat from the Construction office. Adrian and I met on the main floor and to say the least, I was so happy! It's a surreal experience to see something materialize from a floor plan to framing. The framing is complete, rough ins for plumbing and electrical are done, windows are installed. Adrian and I reviewed all the upgrades, both structural and design, on all three floors and made notes as we went along. From a newbie perspective, everything looks fine to me.

And the big question - should I anticipate any more delays? To which Adrian replied, no. Woo-hoo! He told me that April 13 is looking very good and that any scheduling for deliveries and movers can be done for that time. Holy moley!

Up next, there will be a framing inspection and once that's been approved, insulation and drywall will begin. I've included a couple of shots (out of 127) that I took today. I was told by many people to take many pictures and so I obliged. Enjoy...

Dining Room

Living Room #1 - looking from Kitchen

Living Room - top of stairs from Foyer

Breakfast Bar - looking into Kitchen

Framewalk tomorrow!

2010-01-18T21:13:00.002-05:00

Just after arriving home from work today, I received a phone call from Jen at Mattamy, requesting to schedule a time for a framewalk this week. In my haste and excitement, I said "how about Tuesday morning?" and she agreed. According to Jen, I will show up at the construction trailer at nine, wearing suitable footwear and will be provided a hard hat. I have packed up my framewalk checklist, clipboard, pen, tape measure, level, calculator, camera and a happy, positive attitude!

Saturday update....

2010-01-16T17:19:00.003-05:00

Well, I went out for a Swiffer and came back with a receipt for a laundry pair. I thought I would simply stop in at Dufresne furniture and have a quick chat with Robert, the salesman I met a couple of months ago when I was researching. Well, a quick chat turned into a yeah-ring-that-up-for-me type of conversation.

Since I am not used to dropping big cash like I have been of late, once the initial sweats and feeling of fainting subsided, I am excited. Yes, I chose the colour 'Titanium' as seen below and no, I didn't get my Swiffer.

Same but different

2010-01-16T14:01:00.003-05:00

Since I was in the area this morning, I thought a quick drive-by of the Design Centre was in order so that I could take pictures of my updated choices. For those who don't know, for my building phase, Mattamy changed kitchen suppliers. In doing so, I had to go in and re-select my kitchen and bathroom selections.

Kitchen

Cabinet - Soho Maple
Counter Top - Jamocha Granite

My counter top is a little lighter than my previous selection. However I'm actually glad I picked this counter top. I think it complements the cabinet and backsplash a whole lot better. But I won't really be sure until it's installed and I see it all together. Floor tile didn't change but I thought I would put it in the picture for perspective.

Master Bathroom

Cabinet - Saratoga Maple
Counter Top - Mississippi Bedrock

Now this was a change. Originally I had a rusty coloured counter top. This selection is certainly different. But I think it works. I kept the listello tile in rust to add a splash of colour to the shower so I'm hoping it won't suck when it's in. Doubt it but you never can tell.

A gift wrapped house and other Saturday stuff

2010-01-16T13:35:00.008-05:00

Since I haven't been out to the site for a while, I thought I would venture out this morning and see what I could see. I discovered that my house was gift wrapped - all that was needed was a pretty little bow on top! I managed to peek in the front door and could see framing done with electrical roughed in. I could see my door to the garage, rough in for powder room plumbing and in the distance I could see the furnace. I didn't venture inside as the workers were there and I didn't want to interrupt. But I do expect my framewalk in the next week or two so I'll charging the camera battery and getting my tape measure, pen and paper ready for measurements.

I also started comparison shopping for my washer and dryer. Now, let me clarify an issue here. I originally thought I wanted Samsung VRT however I am also now considering LG series. Both offer the same options that I want - it's just a matter of prying the wallet from my hands, opening it and handing over my Mastercard. Not an easy thing to do for a frugal Frannie like myself.

Kitchen completion

2010-01-08T18:43:00.005-05:00

It's funny how life works sometimes. When I went into The Brick today, I fully expected to walk in and walk out and be done with it. What I didn't expect was to purchase appliances that I had admired but thought were out of the realm of possibility. Well, thanks to Melis, I was purchased a couple of Samsung appliances.

Refrigerator - 19 cu ft Bottom Mount Refrigerator

This refrigerator is one nice looking cooler! With a blue LED front panel, this baby has tempered glass shelves and a movable fresh box. And being Energy Star is also a nice bonus. My fridge will be black but I couldn't find a picture anywhere to post.

Stove - Samsung 5.7 cu ft

This stove has a steam clean feature with a 5th stove top element meant for warming. This will be a great relief to have when it's my turn to host Christmas! Again, I couldn't locate a picture which shows the appliance in black so use your imagination.

Dishwasher - Whirlpool Tall Tub

I stuck with Whirlpool for a couple of reasons. Price being one of them. And the fact that I wanted to stick to one of my original choices. This appliance has the Energy Star rating as well.

All in all, it was an excellent and surprisingly affordable experience. With my credit from Mattamy, my out of pocket expenses were less than I expected. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that The Brick will deliver my appliances prior to closing and Mattamy will install them. What could be better?

With such a pleasant experience with Melis at The Brick, it is very likely I will return there to purchase my washer and dryer, which, coincidentally, are Samsung....

Thursday tidbits

2010-01-07T17:21:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to give a quick update on brand new information:

I am meeting with Melis at The Brick tomorrow afternoon to place my order for my kitchen appliances. I am excited at how things are moving along and it's all seeming a bit more real. Yay! If you take a look at my previous posts, you will see what kitchen appliances I will be selecting and hope to get a good price!

Second, my builder, Adrian, replied to an email that I sent earlier this week requesting permission to enter my house and take pictures. Adrian responded by informing me that my framewalk will be occurring within the next couple of weeks! Again, very excited to see progress being made on all fronts!

I will be heading out to the site on Saturday so I will snap a pic or two to appease the masses and satisfy my own selfish wants!

Laundry Decision

2010-01-01T12:40:00.004-05:00

As promised, I have finally decided on a laundry pair. After much searching, humming and hawing, I have chosen:

Washer - Samsung 4.0 cu ft High Efficiency Front Washer

This baby offers VRT - Vibration Reduction Technology - which, in layman terms, reduces noise while on the spin cycle, which is 1100 RPM. While the laundry will be downstairs, I also wanted a laundry pair that would be long lasting. I also wanted a washer / dryer that could accommodate duvets / comforters.

Dryer - Samsung 7.3 cu ft Super Capacity Electric Dryer

This dryer offers Sensor Dry technology which detects moisture level in the load and adjusts the drying time to save time and even better, money. It also offers Wrinkle Prevent option which intermittently tumble dries clothes at the end of the drying cycle to help prevent wrinkles from setting in.

Well, it's a relief to have these decisions made. All that's left now is to price compare with various retailers here in Ottawa and get the best price.

Happy 2K10!!

2010-01-01T12:15:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope this year will bring happiness and prosperity to all!

With a mere 3 months 1 week and 5 days to go (YAY), I purchased a subscription to Consumer Reports and after much research, I have finalized my kitchen appliance selections. I have put in a call to The Brick Commercial Sales representative to schedule an appointment next week to upgrade my appliances. And here's what I have decided on:

Refrigerator - Whirlpool 19 cu ft Top Freezer

I have decided to go with a top freezer option with no front handles as I am not picky about whether or not my freezer is on the top or the bottom at this point in my home owning life. I do however like the Energy Star rating and it's sleek look from the front.

Range - Whirlpool 30" Range with SteamClean Option

I really liked the look of this stove and it has all the bells and whistles that I need right now, specifically self cleaning with adjustable time.

Dishwasher - Whirlpool Tall Tub

I wanted something quiet and big enough to hold place settings when I have family / friends come to visit. This puppy can hold 14 5-piece settings - not that I have 14 place settings but it's nice to know it can. As well, the Energy Star rating also makes this appliance appealing.

Up next - my laundry appliances...

Finally - An update

2009-12-19T11:34:00.011-05:00

A series of miscalculations as well as work commitments and of course, Christmas preparations, basically prevented me from posting over the last couple of weeks. But I'm happy to share the status before departing for Christmas vacation.

With the sunshine and blue sky providing a great backdrop, I headed out to the house to take a couple of pictures this morning. Closing date is still scheduled for April 13, 2010 and it looks like things are coming along nicely. Early on, I was hoping to have foundation and roof on before winter. I was lucky enough to get foundation, roof, and windows / doors 3 days before our first Ottawa snowfall. I noticed this morning I have a front door! Yay me!

My goal for January is to put my kitchen appliances on order. I am upgrading the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher and Mattamy requests that the appliances be ordered 90 days prior to closing so I have The Brick on my to-do list. The washer and dryer, which I have picked out, just need comparison shopping at local retailers. With 2010 quickly approaching, the realization of the home ownership is quickly materializing!

I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May your 2010 be prosperous!

Roof-tastic

2009-12-04T20:44:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since the last update. Since then, I battled a nasty cold/flu thingy which put me out of commission for about a week and as a result, I missed my 'New Moon' weekend with my sister. But yay me - I saw New Moon a couple days later and loved it!

Today, I received an email from my Customer Care Coordinator, Steve, indicating the following:

'Great News! This is a very exciting stage in the development of your home as we have just completed the roofing! Sheltered interior finishing can now commence. Our construction teams are focusing on roughing in the plumbing, heating ducts, and electrical wiring - enabling us to insulate and vapor barrier your home prior to applying the drywall. In a few weeks you will be contacted by the Community Administrator to schedule your Framewalk. This is a guided tour of your home before the drywall is installed; providing you with a glimpse of your home's skeletal structure will all the above mentioned milestones.'

By the end of the weekend, I will provide pictures to accompany this exciting news!! Stay tuned!

Just another week...

2009-11-15T11:37:00.006-05:00

This week, the dreaded "notice of delay" arrived by email. A bit anti-climactic since I've known for a few weeks now but I guess I just need to roll with it.

This morning I was unable to take a picture of the progress due to the number of contruction and contractor vehicles occupying my street, making it virtually impossible to snap a photo. However, I did notice (from the main street) that the third floor has been started and roof trusses are ready to go. Nice work boys!

Since I was not able to post a picture of the house, I have decided to post a picture with my sister in mind. We will be attending the 950 pm showing of New Moon next weekend - a couple of old gals in a room of screaming tweens - it's gonna be sweet!

Moving along nicely

2009-11-07T11:31:00.002-05:00

This morning, I swung by the lot to see what (if any) progress would be made on the house. I was happy to see the balcony floor off the dining room had been constructed. I also noticed (not visible) the roof for the second floor was on. As I slowly snailed my way along the road, I also caught a glimpse of the inside and I could see framing for the stairs leading up to the second floor. Yay! I'm still waiting for my letter of delay from Mattamy as well as a letter indicating the change of kitchen suppliers. It's so nice to see things moving along so nicely!

Framing frenzy

2009-11-01T12:09:00.006-05:00

I have incorporated my so-called creative skills and using Paint, I am able to outline what exactly you are seeing. The orange outline is obviously the front door. Can't really have a house without one. To the right, in the yellow outline, is the garage door. Now to me it looks much smaller than I expected however I am sitting on the street and didn't really get up close and personal.

Moving onto the second floor, the outline is red is the kitchen window. One of these windows will open (crank) while the second window will not open. And finally the outline in blue is the french door to the dining room. Eventually there will be a balcony attached to this part of the house but one thing at a time.

Pre-Con Pros & Cons

2009-10-26T19:48:00.002-04:00

Well, all in all, my pre-construction meeting went OK. I got some good news and some bad news.

First, the bad news. I was informed that my closing date has been delayed 6 weeks to April 13. Apparently, according to my Customer Care Coordinator, Steven, there was an issue with permits resulting from the abundance of rainfall in June / July. I don't know what that has to do with me as the flood plain is no where near my development. I can only assume the city put a hold on any new development permits until the water issue was resolved which occured in August / September so the timing is about right and it makes sense. But according to friends, it makes me naiive.

Anyhoo, my builder seems like a good guy. We reviewed the upgrades I selected in my earlier design appointments as well as reviewed the exterior of the building. In approximately 6- 8 weeks, I will have my framewalk which my house, by then, will have a roof, plumbing, electrical, windows, doors. Something to look forward to.

As well, my builder has switched kitchen suppliers so I will likely re-visit the design centre to confirm my choices with the new supplier. But I was assured that my design consultant would work with me to finalize new selections.

Now for the good news - which is connected to the bad news. I'm kinda glad my closing date was moved. You see, moving in April will be much more pleasant than moving in February. AS WELL, the slight delay will allow me to save a bit more $$, which can never hurt.

Pre-Construction Meeting tomorrow

2009-10-25T09:11:00.002-04:00

While I was in Edmonton this past week, I received a phone message from Jennifer at Mattamy indicating that it was time for my pre-construction meeting! My builder, Adrian, was ready to start framing the house and wanted to meet with me to review the process. What's covered at a pre-construction meeting you ask?

Well, from what I can figure out, the whole meeting will take approximately one hour during which time Adrian will review my upgrades with me prior to starting to build. He will talk about my site, what it has on it and what I should be aware of. This will also be an opportunity for me to ask the builder questions i.e. will I close on time? what is the next stage?

Of course, I will be bringing my camera along for any photographic purposes and hope to have a shot or two suitable for posting.

Framing and other fun stuff

2009-10-18T08:24:00.004-04:00

As usual, I woke up early on Saturday and thought I would do my scheduled drive by and see what has happened over the last week. To my pleasant surprise, I noticed framing happening!! Now I couldn't really notice if it was my place or not but still very excited. AND there were construction workers working on houses so I didn't want to get in their way.

After lunch and a movie with the gal pals, I took a second drive by and this time I was going to take pictures. My block hasn't been framed yet but the wood is labelled and ready to be assembled. However, Block 47 has started framing so it can only be a matter of time before I am happily posting my own framing pictures.

Here's what greeted me Saturday afternoon:

On another note, I have started to narrow down my appliance choices. I went to The Brick yesterday and talked to Al who answered my questions concerning upgrading appliances. Then I went to Dufresne, a local furniture / appliance store. Robert, a very helpful salesman, helped me narrow down my choices. If I went with a top loader washer / dryer, I would choose the Whirlpool Cabrio. If I went with a front loader washer / dryer, I would choose either LG or Whirlpool Duet. Robert was helpful and gave me alot of valuable information. Now I just need to get off my butt and make a decision already!

Interesting weekend tidbits

2009-10-12T17:02:00.002-04:00

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was a very busy weekend. To my amazement this afternoon, I went to the Mattamy website and discovered a few interesting details.

First, the name of my village home unit has changed. When I purchased in April, my unit was called Honeygate End which inspired my oh-so-informative blog. The unit's name has changed from Honeygate End to Thornbury End. No word on why it was changed but such is life. Once I find out, I'll pass it along!

Secondly, and most surprising, the price of my unit has increased in price. I have discovered that the base price for my unit has increased from $201,990 when I purchased in April to a lovely $221,990 base price! Wowser! Not sure why the price would jump so much in such a short time but I'll take it!

More site pictures....

2009-10-04T07:09:00.008-04:00

Thanks to Paul, my future neighbour for snapping these pictures.

This is looking south at the development. You can see the row of Village Homes lined up back to back with the street at the bottom of the picture. I am in the first block, 4th unit on the right. I will face west and have afternoon sun at the front.

This is a closer look at my home. You can see the pink insulation is in, along with sewer and water pipes. I've also got gravel in my driveway! Yay!

Yes, my street will be called Baynes Sound Way. I'm not sure how the builders come up with these names but it is a mouthful.

Progress continues

2009-10-03T11:51:00.003-04:00

Since I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning, I decided to venture out early to get a picture of the house progress.

As you can see, it's a muddy place to be.

5 months and counting!

2009-09-25T19:33:00.003-04:00

Today begins the 5 month countdown until my tentative closing date! Wow - I can't believe it - where has the time gone... I have been busy purging all the unnecessary crap out of the apartment and it feels great. Some has been donated to the Salvation Army while other household items have been donated to The Canadian Diabetes Association. I have a couple of items that I am looking to get rid of - portable dishwasher, window air conditioner. If you need either of these items or know anyone who would be interested, let me know!!

Footings are in....

2009-09-19T15:02:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I received an email from a future neighbour, Paul, telling me that the foundation was going in. Excited to say the least, I told him that I would take a trip to the site and snap a picture of two suitable for posting. As I approached the site, I didn't see anything at first. But once I got past the big pile of dirt, my eyes lit up when I saw footings in place.

Holy Hole!

2009-09-13T14:49:00.004-04:00

I drove by the site this morning to see if I could take a snapshot or two of what's been going. And to my excitement and glee, I discovered that there is a resemblance to a hole. Right dead centre, under the arch of the digger, that's where I will be. Yay!

Now, I'm not sure what this means but I would ASSUME it means they are prepping to do some work. But who knows! That's why I'm not a builder.

As I was leaving, this is what will greet you when enter the development. I love the brick and the way it looks. Yay!

Lay of the Land

2009-09-12T07:15:00.003-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I last posted but I wanted to update everybody that Mattamy U was good. I met my builder, Customer Care Representative and HMB Project Manager. According to my builder, they are waiting for the building permits and once they have those, they can start to build. Yay!

On another note, I drove by the site a couple of weekends ago and discovered that the ground has been levelled, markers have been planted and a paved road is now down. This can only be a sign of good things to come! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera but fear not, I will be venturing out today to snap a photo or two of my future dwelling.

6 months TODAY!!

2009-08-25T19:53:00.005-04:00

Well, the countdown has begun! Six months from today, it will be my tentative closing date!! I can't believe in 180 days I will be an official homeowner. Lists are being compiled, finances are being organized, questions are being asked and answered at a fever pitch. I am learning so much about the home buying process and it can only get better from here on in.

Mattamy U? Yahoo!

2009-08-17T18:53:00.009-04:00

I know it's been a while since I posted as I haven't had much to report but I am happy to say that I have received my invitation to "Mattamy U"! For those who aren't in the know, Mattamy U (or University) is an educational seminar provided by Mattamy to provide purchasers with an overview of the building process associated with our new homes. It usually lasts a couple of hours and it allows people who are closing in / around the same time to meet each other and the builder and customer service people to review the home building and warranty process.

This is a big deal (to me at least) as this is a signal that the building process will begin soon. Stay tuned for a post-meeting update!

It's all in the details

2009-08-08T19:56:00.008-04:00

I have been pouring over my monthly subscriptions to Canadian House and Home trying to get decorating ideas for the new place. I am learning what size of rug would be suitable for my Great Room and how big the art pieces should be for the walls in the stairways. I have a friend who is a photographer and she has some amazing photographs that may be just the thing I'm looking for.

I did find this AMAZING light fixture for the dining room. It's called Arctic Pear and it's made by Ochre. I have absolutely no idea of the price but it's beautiful and someday, yes, it will be mine.

Waiting Game

2009-07-29T17:48:00.003-04:00

I've noticed something strange over the last couple of weeks. I am participating in a waiting game that will be played for at least another 7 months. Ever since the design centre appointments have been put to bed, I am continously asking myself "Is it built yet?" knowing full well there's not even a hole in the ground.

Although this post contributes absolutely nothing to the home building process, I will post a picture of George Clooney just to make it more of an interesting read.

Enjoy.

So many choices

2009-07-18T14:54:00.017-04:00

As promised, I ventured to the Design Centre today and took pictures of my selections. Enjoy!

FLOORING

Stairs / Hallway / Bedrooms - Berber Carpet - Oliver Path

Great Room / Dining Room - Riviera Red Oak Hardwood - Medium Brown

Foyer / Powder Room - Arbe Veneza

Paint - Traditional Tan (All walls)

KITCHEN

Cabinets - Maple Translucent

Countertop - Milano Mahogany

Flooring - Banff Brown

Backsplash - Banff Brown (not shown)

Grout - Cafe Au Lait (not shown)

BATHROOM

Cabinets - Barcelona Maple

Vanity - Rust Fibre

Wall Tile - Molise Beige with Molise Sapri Listello

Floor Tle - Molise Beige

Grout - Beach Buff (not shown)

And that's that.

Furniture Fun

2009-07-17T18:50:00.008-04:00

Now that the major decisions have been made, I can now turn my focus to interior furnishings. Not that I need furniture or in a rush but I am looking to eventually replace my dining room furniture. And the best part is, browsing is FREE!!

Below are a few eye catchers that I found.

P.S. My fave is # 3

Upgrade Update # 1

2009-07-13T18:31:00.004-04:00

Well, this day has been one big bottle of adrenline! My design centre visit went marvelously so I couldn't be happier! My biggest concern today was picking out a backsplash for the kitchen as well as a ceramic tile for the main bathroom. AND the bonus of the day is coming under budget by a whopping $225!

Unfortunately I forgot my camera but fear not, I am venturing back to the DC this weekend to take pictures suitable for posting. Stay tuned!!

P.S. A huge THANK YOU to Erin, my design consultant extraordinaire, for her advice and patience!

Backsplash backpedal

2009-07-12T12:37:00.007-04:00

After saying I wasn't going to do anything until my design appointment, I have decided to rethink my kitchen backsplash choice. I originally thought a 12" x 12" backsplash with one row of coordinating listello would be nice enough. However, after surfing http://www.buildinghomes.ca/ forums, I have discovered that my selection just won't look right. Since my appointment is scheduled for 9am tomorrow and the majority of my decisions have been made, I am not going to freak out and race to the design centre. Nope - not going to do it.

Oh and by the way, I have priced all of my upgrades and I have come in ~$225 dollars under budget! Woo-hoo!

Change of heart....errr...carpet

2009-07-05T20:55:00.003-04:00

Well, after much deliberation and number crunching, I have decided to alter my carpet choice. If you have been keeping up with the saga, you will know that my selection of carpet is out of reach price wise. And if you haven't been keeping up with the saga, why not? :)

So today I ventured BACK to the design centre. And thankfully, I will not return until July 13 when I finally meet with Erin for my second design appointment. In a reasonably short time, I found my berber carpet of choice and poof, that was it!

I have also possibly altered my cabinet choice for the master bathroom. After taking the night and mulling it over, I decided to look again at the selections for the master bathroom. Here's what I came up with today - you can refer to my alternate choice in yesterday's blog entry. Let me know what you think!

Just over there behind those trees

2009-07-04T21:52:00.004-04:00

After our marathon design centre visit and a quick tour of the new models at Half Moon Bay today, I decided to show my friend Fiona where my house will eventually sit. After a bumpy and hilarious drive on Greenbank Road, we ended up at the open space that will soon be my pride and joy.

Decisions decisions

2009-07-04T18:32:00.022-04:00

After COUNTLESS visits to the Design Centre to date, I have made most of my final design decisions. With the help of my own personal interior designer and forever fabulous friend Fiona, my home is finally coming together. I hope you'll agree.

MAIN BATHROOM

KITCHEN

FLOORING

Just to clarify - hardwood in Great Room / Dining Room, ceramic in powder room, foyer and carpeting on stairs, bedrooms and upstairs hallway.

The only issue that remains is carpeting. Today, my friend Fiona noted my original carpet choice had a pink-ish tone to it that I did not notice. This was confirmed by a good looking gentleman also at the design centre who offered an alternative selection. Fine and dandy - until I got home and priced out what this whole circus was going to cost me. Unfortunately his carpet choice exceeded my budget and I am now left in a conundrum. Standard (which is included) or Berber (which will cost me extra $$)...

Nobody said this would be easy. Whew!

It's all in the details

2009-06-29T13:23:00.002-04:00

As the days go by and my 2nd design appointment creeps closer and closer, I find myself second guessing my selections. Case in point - I spent 2 hours at the design centre on Sunday and have changed my mind on flooring and kitchen AND bathroom. Big shock! With the advice of the design centre gals, I think I have FINALLY secured my choices. And they are certainly not what I originally had thought I wanted. My kitchen will tones of brown in the ceramic flooring backsplash, and countertop with a light maple cabinet door. With the black appliances, I'm thinking it will look quite nice. And although the granite countertops are REALLY nice, at this time, they are beyond what I am willing to spend.

I have worked very hard to maintain neutrality throughout the home with the punches of colour coming through on my furniture and accessories. I guess we'll just have to see!

My next task is to bamboozle one of my gal pals to accompany me to the design centre next weekend and show her what I have chosen as my appointment is scheduled for July 13. Wish me luck!! :)

Totally Floored (But Not Really)

2009-06-14T11:34:00.004-04:00

I have quickly come to realize that interior design choices can be daunting. In order to keep a minute piece of my sanity, I woke up yesterday morning with the intent of heading out to the design centre to start to tackle my choices. I decided the best way to tackle this task was to break the choices down into more manageable tasks. So yesterday was flooring day.

The powder room is incredbly easy as flooring is really the only choice. AND I have learned from a high number of design mags and model homes, the foyer ceramic tile can be carried into the powder room. So that is what I have done. I have the tile narrowed down to a tile called "Mouse Beige". Sounds incredibly exciting I know but it goes well with the wall colour and the potential carpet for the stairs.

In the main bathroom, I discovered my tub, toilet and sink are white with chrome fixtures. As my main bathroom will not have window, I tried to establish a dark choice and light choice. On the dark side, my tile is called "Banff Black", which resembles a slate tile. On the lighter side, the potential tile is "Banff Light Beige" (see Mouse Beige above).

In the main hallway, all stairs, master bedroom and guest bedroom, the carpet of choice will be a mushroom brown carpet. One of the standards available however I will be adding the upgraded Superpad underpad for increased comfort on the footises.

And finally, the piece-de-resistance, the hardwood floors in the dining room / great room. My original choice way back in the beginning, was a honey colour type of hardwood. However, after spending a couple of hours at the design centre yesterday, I have a few choices which I'm considering. And they are:

Riviera Red Oak - Cherry (Plank)
Riviera Red Oak - Medium Brown (Strip)
Riviera Red Oak - Truffle (Plank)

I am REALLY leaning towards the Medium Brown as I just love the colour. My second choice would be the truffle which is a darker hardwood so we'll see what happens.

One down - one to go...

2009-06-11T18:32:00.002-04:00

Well, my first design appointment is behind me. I managed to keep my wits about me and get out of there after only spending a mininal amount of moola.

Erin , my design consultant, was helpful and friendly and made the experience a little less frightning. We started out with Erin showing me the placement of all light fixtures and their switches. We then plotted the placement of my 2+1 cable and 3 phone outlets (additional cable outlet was an upgrade). This was actually a little more challenging than I thought. Because I can't see the room or my furniture layout, I had to rely strictly on my floorplan. Not an easy thing to do.

The appointment continued with me selecting standard bathtub, faucets, sinks, doors, windows, railings. I did upgrade to a black hood fan in the kitchen and included a central A/C rough in as planned. I did not include home security or garage door opener. Too much $$ in my humble opinion. Erin also indicated the plan includes a rough in for central VAC which will be helpful in the future.

I have until June 16th to make changes and I have made an inquiry as to how many outlets are in the kitchen - Erin indicated they were placed every 6 ft however I want to make sure I have enough in the kitchen! I would like to add an outlet or two on the mainfloor so I have until Tuesday to work it all out.

My next appointment (unscheduled at time of this publication) will be the BIG one. I am currently working out my budget and it's looking promising - I'm thinking my wish list will be a reality!

Appointment Excitement

2009-06-07T11:36:00.005-04:00

With my first design appointment only mere days away, I am anxiously preparing my list of structural upgrades for the new pad. As my unit is a village townhome, there are limited structural upgrades I can make i.e no 9-ft ceilings for me!

So for this first appointment, I am looking at the following standards:

Standard doors and windows

Standard carpet grade stairs

Standard shower head and faucet in the main bathroom

Standard fixtures in powder room

Standard oak railings - to eventually match oak hardwood floors

I will be investing in the following upgrades:

Shut off valves to sinks - very handy in case of repair or replacement in the future

Addition of 1 cable outlet - house comes with 3 phone and 2 cable

Outlet upgrade to accommodate future ceiling fan with light - I'm getting this for both the bedrooms

Home security system

Potlights for the breakfast bar - I originally thought 3 here but after seeing pictures of a finished home identical to mine, I've decided to go with only 2

Upgrade my kitchen hood fan to black to match my appliances

Rough in for central air - doing this now as when I get my A/C post-move in there will be less structural demolition that needs to be done by the installer

I am currently on the fence about ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) or air exchanger as well as a shelf for the microwave in the kitchen. As I am short, I am opting to NOT upgrade to an OTR microwave. It just doesn't make sense for me.

I know the list isn't long but I'm saving myself for the oh-so-important second design appointment which will involve cabinets, flooring, countertops, backsplash, paint, trim, moulding, hardware - all the fun stuff!

Appliance Compliance

2009-05-23T10:04:00.005-04:00

As an incentive when I purchased the house, three kitchen appliances were included. I learned the appliances were Frigidaire models and of course, were the cheapest ones available from The Brick. I also discovered that I can upgrade the appliances and pay the difference. Shopping for appliances is not the easiest thing to do (as is everything thus far!). As a very "detail oriented" person, I am doing research left, right and centre and I have made a couple of decisions.

First, my kitchen appliances will be BLACK. Although stainless steel did come in a close second.

After consulting a number of consumer websites and reports, I have decided on a Bosch Evolution 300 dishwasher.

I have also made a decision about a laundry pair. Although really quite nice, front loader washer and dryers are just too expensive and too large for me as a single gal. So I have decided on the Whirpool pair below. And yes, I have decided to go RED.

Where are the refrigerator and stove, you may ask? Well, those are still being researched. Although I am leaning towards LG appliances. They are sleek and stylish and a little more pricey than others so if anyone has ANY suggestions, I am wide open!

Sitting pretty

2009-05-17T14:41:00.004-04:00

Last night I had a new idea for my yet-to-be-built kitchen nook. Instead of the usual eat-in kitchen fare, I plan to turn my nook (9'7" x 7'7") into a seating area with a couple of comfy rattan chairs and a small side table. As I will already have a dining room which will be furnished with a normal table and chairs suitable for eating and entertaining, I thought this area, once furnished with comfy furniture, would be ideal for those early mornings reading the paper while overlooking my new front yard.

Fixated on fixtures

2009-05-16T07:16:00.009-04:00

As I have been busy prepping for my first design appointment on June 9, I thought I would take a break from poring over the catalogues and go to Home Depot last night to browse light fixtures and appliances. The house comes with standard fixtures but I thought it would be fun to see what is out there as a replacement.

I thought this one was really nice but not sure where I would use it. Maybe the foyer or in the upstairs hallway.

Here's a couple of potentials that would be nice in a dining room.

A gentleman in the lighting aisle last night complimented me on bringing my camera to the store. Lately I don't leave home without it!

Armed and Dangerous

2009-05-11T18:13:00.002-04:00

Great day! Today I received my design centre catalogues. Many many choices and many decisions to be made. I plan to work hard and stay within my budget! My appointment is scheduled for sometime in June so it gives me a good few weeks to decide!

I will also be soliciting advice from those more experienced home owners so don't be afraid to post a comment or two!

Fantastic floor plan

2009-05-09T16:25:00.003-04:00

As with any new purchase, you need a plan. And here's mine. Say hello to the Honeygate End Elevation A.

http://www.mattamyhomes.com/uploadedFiles/Ottawa/Communities_in_Ottawa/Mattamys_Half_Moon_Bay_in_Barrhaven/Home_For_Sale/hmb_honeygatee_otvh03e.pdf

I've been spending the majority of my weekends at the Mattamy Homes Design Centre trying to pick out cabinets, countertops, tiles, etc. Who knew it would be so complicated?

Hello Honeygate End

2009-05-09T16:18:00.004-04:00

On April 19, I purchased my first home. As of today, there is nothing there - nada - not even a hole in the ground. But somewhere around Feb 25, 2010, it will be all mine. Hang on and enjoy the ride....

NOTE: the posted profile photo is the Mulberry End and not Honeygate End. Once building has commenced, I will update the photo accordingly.