Checkmate.

It's later than usual as I'm writing this - Jeff and I ditched the kiddos tonight for a little time just the two of us. After a big meal and a DQ stop, I can hardly keep my eyes open. Yet it is my duty to keep real-time testimonial as to the progress at the house. If I don't, how else will you fully engage yourself in this journey with me. I need you, therefore I write to you. Hmmm...this seems to be the Pad Thai talking.

Enough poetry - it was a great day at the house today. On the exterior, the siding is cruising right along and the long awaited brackets were finally delivered.



I'm guessing they'll be installed tomorrow in order to keep the siding progress moving. The brackets go on first and the siding buts up to them...essentially giving them a more built-in look. Here they are hibernating in our garage until tomorrow...along with all the other supplies. WOW! It's hard to believe we may ever park a car in this garage again.


On the interior, the floor continued preparation for the tile to be laid. After evening out the newly leveled surfaces from yesterday, scraping the floor and cleaning off residual particles that might cause the tile to not lay properly, they pieced the puzzle together of how the tile should be laid out. Because the tile runs from the front to the back of the house, it passes through three different doorways (front entry door, back entry door and the doorway between the entryway and mudroom). The question that weighed on all of our minds was WHICH doorway to center it on. The tile is being laid in a checkerboard/diamond pattern and because there is so much contrast in the two colors of tile we chose, the proportions of the pattern seem to be 10x's as important. Ultimately, we decided the view from the front entry was most important and keeping everything within that site line as close to centered as possible was key (without jeopardizing the quality of the work...ie - getting too small of pieces close to high traffic or transitional areas where there might be cracking, etc). After piecing the puzzle together, here's what we came up with.



The tile was wet and we weren't able to walk on it...which meant literally JUMPING across the hallway to get up the stairs (you know...where we live). But you get the idea. I'm anxious to see it all in place to get a real feel for it. The grout will be in a dark chocolatey brown if you happen to be the visionary that I am not. Stay tuned for more photos of the progress tomorrow!

I also managed to get 5 more light fixtures ordered today: the two schoolhouse pendants for the kitchen and the 3 small semi-flush fixtures for the mudroom. Here's what I ended up with for those (but in an oil rubbed bronze finish).

They are reminiscent with a past love I had that was discontinued:-( Farewell old friend.


Finally for today (because I am literally in a Cookie Dough Blizzard coma), I am in a debacle regarding the backsplash tile. We have VERY little area in the kitchen for a backsplash, but I still want to take advantage of the small space we do have (basically the width of our 30" stove and as high as the vent hood above it). Our plan all along has been to do 3"x6" Subway Tile. However, being that they are 6" wide, we would only be able to fit 5 tiles across (if that with room for grout, etc). Today I found a 2"x4" brick pattern tile (basically like mini Subway tiles that come on a 12x12 sheet) and I'm leaning towards those vs the wider tile. Your thoughts? Is the little space above the stove too small to force 3x6" tiles in?

Tomorrow is another very busy day for us and Jeff begins his weekend work shift. Phewey. We've been so spoiled having him home the past three weekends. But...by the end of his next 7 straight days of work, things will be looking REALLY tied up around here. The days are absolutely flying by with the buzz of people in and out of the house all day. The girls have been such troopers and we are so thankful for that.