Rain, then the shower

Yesterday, Dave and Corey installed the light boxes above the five windows in the BBQ room. The first photo shows just the frames, the second photo shows one of the boxes with its plastic cover in place. We were expecting the electrician to be here on Wednesday to install the LED rope lighting for the boxes and to complete the installation of the three pendant lights over the island. He didn't show up Wednesday and he hasn't shown up today. Apparently, there are other projects more important than Steinback Mountain.

Speaking of the island, it's now got a name. We're calling it "the Big I," a term of endearment Hawaiians use when referring to not the state but the big island of Hawaii. The third photo shows Dave on top of "the Big I" holding one of the pendant lights and trying to figure out how long to make the plank the lights will be attached to. We originally scored six of these lights on eBay for $243 and they remained in their unopened box in the garage for 18 months. Yesterday evening we decided we love them so much, we're going to use the remaining three in the main house kitchen. That space is getting a much smaller island (it's really a peninsula) so two of the pendants will be a perfect fit. The remaining light will go above the sink. Fortunately, the lights' rods are actually two pieces that screw together, one piece is about a foot in length, the other is about two feet. We'll probably eliminate the two foot length for the one above the sink.

Yesterday we also got emails from two different Plyboo reps confirming that the paneling would ship out on Thursday. Like the electrician, it hasn't shown up today.

Today we woke up to rain which conveniently stopped around 7 when Dave and then Corey arrived. John Laughton soon followed to take some final measurements for the BBQ room shelves behind the Big Island and also for the cover he's building for the mantle.

Right after John left, the Frost tile gang started arriving. Two of them started unloading their supply truck and the other two started prepping the shower in the guest house. A few minutes later, their boss Mark arrived. We met with him and Dave in the BBQ room and went over some of the final details, like how much did we want the counters to hang over the cabinets and the framing of the under-mount sink. We then went to the guest house and made some final detail choices there as well.

Shortly after Mark left two of the plumbers arrived. One worked on reinstalling the old toilet in the half bath. It'll get replaced in a few weeks but, for now, it gives the guys a place to do their business. The second plumber started working under the sink in the Big I. Within an hour they were gone.

The 18x18 inch "Metro Steel" porcelain floor tile all stacked up and ready to go.

 

Paco, the tile guy working on the shower, is very fast. We're having another inspection tomorrow and then the tile goes up.

If today was any indication of how phase two is going wind down, the new few weeks are going to be very hectic. And very exciting….

No rest for the wicked(ly talented)

Veterans Day is a holiday for some (like the two of us who are state employees) but apparently not for those in the construction trades. Dave and Corey arrived early this morning and continued installing the cabinetry in the BBQ room. They've set up a temporary wood shop outside the BBQ room and the circular saw has been buzzing most of the day.

It's really fascinating to see how John and his crew at Laughton Cabinets have masterfully assembled the many individual components so that they can be recombined into two single units: the island and the cabinet behind the island. Everyone who has seen the cabinets so far has commented on how amazing they look. Master craftsmen, wickedly talented.

Around 10, John and one of his crew showed up. Then all six of us huddled around the island cabinet figuring out how we were going to get it up and over the plumbing. The plan: Five of us would lift it while Dave would get below and feed the electrical wiring through the pre-drilled holes at the rear of the cabinets. Then we would gently lower it into place. Fortunately, the plan worked.

Shortly thereafter, the replacement shower window for the guest house arrived. Corey and Dave wheeled it across the back yard and, within an hour, the new window was securely in place. Everyone, especially Dave, is much happier with this one.

The drop-in electric range, dishwasher and sink arrived yesterday. We still need to buy the small fridge.

The area above the shorter cabinets in the photo above will be shelving in the same style. The shelves will have flush LED puck lights.

In the photo below, see the wood plank connecting the beams in the ceiling? There use to be fluorescent tube lighting on top of the plank that uplit the ceiling. We're replacing them with LED rope lighting, the same lighting we'll be using in the boxes Dave built that are going above the five windows.

We also have some very cool authentic MCM spun aluminum pendant lights for above the island, an eBay find from a while back that we knew one day would find their perfect spots to shine. Dave has built a custom plank system, similar to the existing one, that will attach to the beams and be centered over the island.

After lunch, Dave and Corey attached the end unit to the island. It frames the spaces for the dishwasher and small fridge.

Around 2, Scott showed up to check-in on the electrical and to make sure he will have everything he needs when he returns for a full day tomorrow. We're also expecting all of the tile supplies to be delivered tomorrow so that work can start on Thursday.

And, fingers crossed, the Plyboo paneling is supposed to be delivered either Thursday or Friday. Dave is hoping to get the paneling installed before the tile goes in.

This is what the end of the day looks like. It was a very good day. BTW, thank you Veterans!

The cabinets have landed

Kind of a slow renovation week on Steinback Mountain. Most days there was only a single person on site. A few days there were just two. Early in the week the painters finished the final coats on both the guest house and BBQ room. Dave and Corey installed the railings for the deck stairs. They also removed the soon-to-be-replaced shower window. And on Thursday, Scott finished installing the electrical fixtures in the guest house. It was quite dramatic to return home Thursday night to see the guest house all lit up for the first time and the full moon only added to the spectacle.

But Friday was definitely the best day of the week because yesterday the cabinets for phase 1 arrived. Around 10, Gary (the cabinet finisher recommended by John Laughton) drove up with the main part of the BBQ room island. John and one of his crew soon followed with the vanity for the guest house.

The cabinets are very heavy because of the dense bamboo plywood and it took five guys to lift them off the trucks and onto the dollies so that they could be carefully maneuvered through the doorways and into the BBQ room.

It took a few trips back and forth from Gary's shop to get all of the cabinets delivered. Most of the doors and drawers remained at his shop, they'll be delivered and installed after the tiling is done. Monday, Mark is coming to start the under-floor heating installation which will be followed by the tile installation. We're hoping the durapalm coconut paneling for the guest house arrives early in the week because Dave wants to install that before the tile flooring gets started there.

Midcentury Modern returns to Steinback Mountain!

By the way, Jack has overcome his fear of the deck.

We're loving the high-density plywood detail on the backside of the island and the way it divides it into three panels. The cabinets are, without exaggeration, beyond beautiful.

We're starting to notice a pattern here. Something exciting happens on the construction site and the neighbors are the first to stop by to check it out.