tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83420046057650390442011-11-27T16:43:47.233-08:00Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-23140885758448030272010-04-22T05:42:00.000-07:002010-04-22T05:44:34.541-07:00

We aren't updating anything in the house at this point. All of our time and effort is outside, so please view Global Chirp Garden Almanac to see what we are doing.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-60932457297081931372010-03-14T19:50:00.000-07:002010-03-14T19:50:45.561-07:00

The "soil" in the yard is just loose sand with very little organic matter, so we decided to try a raised bed to grow a few vegetables. Gerad built a garden box this weekend and added a wire cage on the top to try to keep the squirrels out. I'm trying to decide the best place for the box in the yard. After watching for a day, I realized the current location doesn't get enough sun, so I may move it

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-25771048439687095542010-02-15T15:02:00.000-08:002010-02-15T15:48:56.155-08:00

I'm still trying to determine how and what can be recycled. When the construction and remodeling equipment was removed from the garage, a blue recycling container emerged from the mess. I knew I needed another bin, so I called in to see how to get another one. It was dropped off for free a few days later. That is good service.I watched the neighbors, and sorted out that the recycling bins were

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-45273241730069387562010-02-06T17:21:00.000-08:002010-02-06T18:05:14.130-08:00

We love the beauty of the granite counter tops and the polished terrazzo floors. Inside each cupboard, however, is a nightmare of hard-to-reach space. We received an advertisement from ShelfGenie in one of the many packets of ads that arrive in our mailbox. I called them this week to get more information. It seems to be a top quality product, so they came over, measured and gave us an estimate.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-112660066077687882010-01-24T18:40:00.000-08:002010-01-24T18:53:24.191-08:00

We've been thinking about painting the outside of the house. The tan color is good and only needs touching up in a few places, but Gerad has wanted to paint it since we moved in. We are experimenting with sage green. Our experiment included getting everyone involved one day during the Christmas holiday, but we only painted the two walls adjacent to the patio. We never did finish the windows and

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-89605082265552450882010-01-24T18:08:00.000-08:002010-01-24T18:39:44.605-08:00

We looked at the old falling down, propped up wood fence long enough, so we finally made a decision on what would replace it. We had a white vinyl fence installed on the sides of the backyard. The only problem turned out to be the palm on the north side. The old fence was just outside our boundary. We wanted the new fence to be on the boundary, but the palm tree was also right on the boundary. It

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-27522350673167008962010-01-24T17:56:00.001-08:002010-01-24T18:08:16.270-08:00

The good news is that the organization of the kitchen works. There is enough space and counter top for 3 people to be cutting, chopping, cooking, etc. We love the look and feel of the counter tops, and are so happy with the decision to upgrade to granite.During the holidays, Ryan of course, was the chef with the rest of us acting as his sous chef(s). The Christmas dinner in preparation in the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-5253673988513364652009-11-04T12:16:00.000-08:002009-11-04T17:05:33.242-08:00

I read an article, Is this a $6,900 Bargain? (Money, November 2009), about the good buys available for houses in today's market. In Detroit in July, there were 913 home sales, but 802 of those were foreclosures. The median price was only $7,500. That sounds like a deal - even a steal.The Money article listed the following lessons to learn before buying:Forget about Flipping: This is a Landlord

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-5079253807586390212009-11-04T12:04:00.000-08:002009-11-04T12:13:24.265-08:00

The new crown molding is beautiful. I was unhappy with the finish of the walls where it met the ceiling. Ryan and Chris from Universal Construction decided to add the crown molding as a finishing touch to the rooms. It was a quick and impressive process that was completed in a day.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-80526770817384709442009-11-04T11:46:00.001-08:002009-11-04T12:03:53.651-08:00

Remodeling is almost finished. The only project left is to replace the kitchen counter top.A laminate counter top was installed, but it will be replaced by a granite top. An accident during the installation of the laminate counter top, left a round hole in a section near the kitchen sink. Several options for repairing the counter top were discussed. In the end, the decision was to replace it with

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-52095483649807135352009-10-15T11:17:00.000-07:002009-10-15T11:59:35.954-07:00

We have made some progress:1. The front door was painted white and the weather stripping was finished.2. The door to the garage now has hinges that match the rest of the doors.3. Some touch-up work was done to the kitchen island.4. Our decision last week was to add crown molding to all the rooms. The crew doing the work was very quick and efficient in installing it, and it is adding a beautiful

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-57241734646975203822009-10-09T07:53:00.001-07:002009-10-09T08:10:35.415-07:00

It was unsightly, but my first attempt to improve the garden was to smother the weeds in the front of the house by cutting off the sunlight with a tarp in one section and with cardboard in another section. The plants remained covered for about a month. Although the plants are still active at the roots, the tops are dead and they are easier to remove than the weeds in other sections of the lawn.On

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-13121348471755680492009-10-08T12:52:00.000-07:002009-10-08T17:15:17.499-07:00

We know from our years in the Middle East that throwing down carpets is an important step in establishing a home. We've been in this house since early August with our carpets wrapped and piled in a corner. This week we decided we couldn't stand it any longer, so we unwrapped and distributed them throughout the house, even though we still have a few boxes to unpack, and even though the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-69063792000908025562009-09-25T18:42:00.000-07:002009-09-27T05:11:59.740-07:00

Work resumed on the house this week. The island trim has been redone, one of the missing kitchen cabinet doors was installed, and the pole in the middle of the island (left in place to support the ceiling) was stained. The wood frame around the island pole has a wonderful grain. I'm anxious to display some of our decorative plates on it.The outside doors were also worked on today and will be

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-12934080831148847662009-09-22T18:12:00.001-07:002009-09-22T18:25:33.730-07:00

I finally have a desk, a table for the printer and a chair! Gerad took time out tonight to put it all together, so I have some place to work during the day.The rest of the room is still stacked with suitcases and carpets and clothes waiting to be stored. Most of it will go in the garage when the garage is no longer a tool shed.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-21685864345402629112009-09-22T17:39:00.001-07:002009-09-22T18:05:47.724-07:00

We like the American clay walls, but there is still trim to finish and to repair. There is paint on clay walls and clay on painted ceilings and baseboard, and areas where it was not completely applied or where it was applied unevenly.We are also waiting for doors to be finished, cupboard doors installed, island trim repaired, back splash installed in the kitchen and the kitchen counter top

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-87706917858936171492009-09-15T18:16:00.001-07:002009-09-15T19:05:50.134-07:00

The work isn't finished, but it is starting to feel like home.Mom's chair is ready for her. It is close to the TV and under a good light, so she'll be comfortable watching TV and able to read - a major activity for her.The dining room table was delivered yesterday, so we can sit down to dinner at the new table instead of eating in front of the TV. We spent last Saturday going from store to store

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-57982816972239452492009-09-15T17:41:00.000-07:002009-09-15T19:06:26.204-07:00

We blatantly blend cultures on shelves and walls and floors. On the top shelf is a Japanese Mount Fuji plate, a present from a parent in Kobe, Japan last year. On the right is a statue we bought in Bali, Indonesia 25 years ago on a fun trip that included our young children, my mother, and Gerad's brother, Charles and his wife, Sabrina. This statue and 2 others, are still beautiful, but cracking

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-47105573581048339852009-09-15T17:06:00.000-07:002009-09-15T17:33:46.251-07:00

The house was built in the '50's so few things are standard for modern sizes. We kept the kitchen cupboards, but replace the doors instead of painting them. The problem?? The cupboards aren't standard size, so we are waiting for some of the doors to be made and delivered.We need a new door between the dining room and garage. They purchased the door, took off the old door, then realized the new

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-65858098016724816742009-09-15T16:56:00.000-07:002009-09-15T17:06:25.655-07:00

Bill is one of the guys working on our house. He helped to make sure that our boxes were picked up by someone that would recycle them. He also mowed the lawn one day for me. I was busy working on a blog post for finalsite and didn't have time to do the lawn, but mentioned that I needed to get it done soon. The next thing I knew he was doing it. I appreciated the help.Bill ended up in the hospital

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-89669173220534921052009-09-03T19:00:00.000-07:002009-09-03T19:16:13.746-07:00

We have a Slumber air sleeper sofa and a tan leather sofa arriving on Saturday. I need to clear out boxes and paper to make room for them and to make room for us.We emailed Crown, but they don't have any trucks in the area at this time, so they don't have anyone to pick up the boxes and paper. We need space. To help, the construction group loaded all of the paper that had been used as packing

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-59665491768958529322009-09-02T16:30:00.001-07:002009-09-02T16:55:42.316-07:00

Last Sunday, Gerad sits in the midst of boxes trying to get some work done while I unpack kitchen things. Today we finally feel like we are making progress. The bookshelves are installed and books are sitting on them. The kitchen looks like it might be done some time soon. Maybe Ryan will show up to finish the bathroom this week. (I hope) If I could get rid of the pile of boxes and paper in the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-46565748656809707572009-08-31T17:48:00.000-07:002009-09-01T18:13:54.118-07:00

For 20+ years, we've had a fully furnished house overseas and a fully furnished house in the USA. In planning the move to Tampa from Japan, we had to plan what to keep and what to get rid of. We are trying to downsize where possible, but downsizing a kitchen is difficult. The goal is to get rid of anything we don't need and only keep the essentials and the beautiful things that we can't (won't)

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-28858202000577425982009-08-23T12:01:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:19:49.778-07:00

The cupboards are not all finished, but the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and new sink are installed, and the island has cupboards. The cupboard doors still need handles and some of them still need the doors reattached, but they are close to completion. The microwave is missing but that should happen on Monday. The warm American clay wall color and terrazzo floor color provide the contrast for

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-7424035785464372942009-08-23T11:25:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:01:06.382-07:00

The first photo shows the master bath shower wall being built tile by tile. The toilet is installed in this bathroom, but not the sink, since there would be no room to work on the shower tile if the sink were already in place.The second photo shows the installation of the shower doors in the other bathroom.The white tile against the sanibel-sunset color in both bathrooms is a nice contrast. The

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-71230538524913531772009-08-18T15:57:00.000-07:002009-08-18T16:49:23.894-07:00

The 1st photo shows the bathroom as it looked when I saw it last week. Gerad stopped in to see it after school today and to take the photo for me. He was pleased with the progress.The tiles and bathtub were resurfaced today turning it into the spotless white bathroom in the 2nd photo. Included in the process is the installation of a non-skid surface in the tub to make it safer to get in and out.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-62706678856117657072009-08-15T21:09:00.000-07:002009-08-15T21:27:19.814-07:00

My son, Ryan, recommends that I read the followingThe Not So Big House by by Sarah Susanka and Kira Obolensky - It is part of a series of books on the topicEarthship: How to Build Your Own by Michael ReynoldsI have also found and bought Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Ecological Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything by Daniel Goleman. I hope this book is as good as his others,

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-4729486046508629002009-08-15T20:10:00.000-07:002009-08-16T06:28:37.290-07:00

Ryan and Chris from the construction company, recommended Trex for the deck and for the fence around the back yard. It is a very durable material but expensive. Based on consumer reports, Gerad decided on treated southern yellow pine for the deck instead of Trex. Yellow pine is cheaper than Trex and it is a more pleasant, natural surface. It is a small enough surface that we will be able to seal

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-12583281492264543922009-08-15T19:22:00.001-07:002009-08-16T06:37:13.947-07:00

Our shipment finally arrived from Japan. It left Kobe in mid-June and arrived in Miami in mid-July where it was stored until we could receive it. Our shipping allowance from the school covered 12 cubic meters, but we only shipped 10.25 cubic meters. This included 2 lazy-boy chairs, a desk, coffee table, books, clothes, some kitchen equipment, and way too many pictures and decorations.The Crown

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-38585324067041637462009-08-15T18:58:00.001-07:002009-08-15T19:20:12.486-07:00

Even ceiling fans have energy star ratings based on the efficiency of the fan. The fan on the far left projects light below and also above the fan to bounce light off the white ceiling. We had to drive to Leesburg to get this model since it was sold out here in The Villages. Two are installed in the new open front room. The other ceiling fan model (middle photo), but with white blades, is

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-79832544272712923512009-08-15T17:45:00.001-07:002009-08-15T18:53:45.951-07:00

I learned a new word, listello - a tile border. Were the mosaic borders that I saw in Greco-Roman mosaic floors and walls in Jordan (see Mt. Nebo Jordan) the original listellos? I don't know, but I like to think so.I learned the word "listello" in Home Depo. Gerad and I were looking at tiles to use as a border in the tile wall for the master bathroom. An assistant taught us the term and showed us

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-32143858551976835152009-08-10T16:43:00.000-07:002009-08-10T17:44:14.207-07:00

The kitchen walls, including the front of the island, are being resurfaced with the American Clay earth plaster. The ceiling has been repaired and is painted white throughout the house. Vince and the crew are also in the process of painting the cupboards white. When I decided to paint the cupboards white, Gerad was afraid it would look too clinical since the appliances will be white also. With

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-28313284982140026132009-08-07T17:56:00.000-07:002009-08-07T18:23:13.487-07:00

The house looks better day by day. The first coat of the American Clay Earth Plaster looked like mud was spread on the walls. (previous photo) The photo on the left shows the front room walls with the second coat that includes the color. When it was first installed, it was a dark brown color but lightened as it dried. The next part of the process is to rewet the clay to compress it. Application

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-22914482831383873012009-08-07T17:40:00.000-07:002009-08-07T17:54:12.268-07:00

The following sites provide information about ecology-friendly, green homes.Green Home Checklist - Since we bought and didn't build, we can't control all of this but we are trying to do what we can.US Green Building Council The Green Home GuideBuildingGreen.com Resources listed above are from Real Estate 101

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-87847866375303557722009-08-04T11:40:00.000-07:002009-08-04T11:51:56.305-07:00

We stopped at the house yesterday to see the progress. They had started to apply the 1st layer of the American clay earth walls. They assure me it will be beautiful, but right now it looks like they smeared on mud. The layer with the color will be applied by this afternoon. I hope it will look as good as we are expecting. In the photo is the same wall that was pockmarked with holes from the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-51027696282557871852009-08-01T19:20:00.001-07:002009-08-02T06:53:20.509-07:00

The 1st picture shows the deck the first time we saw it. The 2nd picture shows the deck last Friday as it was being reconstructed. The trees will be trimmed and extra brush removed from the yard next week. I won't do any real gardening until we are settled in the house.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-14052783635052952902009-08-01T18:45:00.001-07:002009-08-01T19:06:40.116-07:00

The 1st picture shows the floor as it looked last week. The 2nd picture is the floor after the terrazzo was polished. Wow, beautiful.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-62425296447840131512009-08-01T18:26:00.000-07:002009-08-02T06:52:27.249-07:00

Vince and Gerad examine the walls and ceiling in one bedroom. The electricians left the ceilings and walls pockmarked and the holes must be repaired before the American Clay earth plaster can be applied next week. Luckily for us, Vince is a stickler for details. In this room, three of the walls were constructed with different thicknesses of materials. He has to use 3 different thicknesses of

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-31937968637749652632009-08-01T17:44:00.000-07:002009-08-02T07:01:54.330-07:00

We found when they tried to remove the tiles in the master bath that the tiles were embedded in the plaster walls. (1st photo) In the end, the contractors had to remove everything in the master bath down to the wall studs.The sink in the 2nd bathroom (2nd photo) has already been removed and the toilet will be removed next week. The problem is the bathtub. We have thought about putting in a shower

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-85739218985247019372009-07-30T19:15:00.001-07:002009-07-30T19:31:50.450-07:00

Remember the pink tile master bath where the flood started that ruined the floor? It has been demolished. We were going to put in a shower insert, but decided against the idea. Instead a shower pan and door will be installed and the walls lined with 12" white tiles throughout the room. We'll see the samples tomorrow when we visit the house.I think they have purchased the toilet and pedestal sink

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-26757935590840441702009-07-28T18:56:00.000-07:002009-07-28T19:36:30.273-07:00

We've decided not to paint the walls. Instead we'll use American Clay earth plaster on the walls. "American Clay Earth Plaster is a practical, environmentally friendly alternative to cement, gypsum, acrylic, and lime plasters. It is compatible with the “breathable” construction recommended for both historic and new buildings."According to eartheasy, "Paints and finishes release low level toxic

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-11006533510186242852009-07-27T11:39:00.000-07:002009-07-27T11:47:01.763-07:00

We are remodeling an old house and trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. We can't put a garden on the roof like this Japanese couple did, but we keep looking for ideas and inspiration. I identify with the woman's comment that she has to make decisions about what to do and what not to do. We're having many conversations along that line. What can we do? What should be do? What is the cost and

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-65068602044548715072009-07-25T06:43:00.000-07:002009-07-27T11:50:00.774-07:00

The kitchen in our house in The Villages is white. (top photo on the left) I like the open and clean feeling of the kitchen. My Tampa kitchen will have many similarities.In the Tampa house, the inner kitchen walls are down, an island is being added, but conversations continue about colors. We wanted energy star appliances, and we were looking for the best prices. I wanted appliances that were

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-48108212891404700582009-07-24T20:50:00.000-07:002009-07-24T21:48:32.917-07:00

We just returned from a week in Vancouver, Canada, so we were anxious to see the progress in the house. It is hard to believe that this space was four separate rooms. I love the open arrangement and I love the light in the area.The floor is still covered with the glue from the parquet floor. (The parquet floor was destroyed when the pipe broke and water flooded the house.) Polishing the terrazzo

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-7982067505085189152009-07-24T19:45:00.000-07:002009-07-24T20:28:30.244-07:00

The energy star rating for Whirlpool appliances is good. We'll have an all-Whirlpool house including the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer and clothes drier. We ended up selecting a front loading washer. I didn't realize that front loading washers were more efficient than top loaders."Different models vary in the amount of energy they use. Front-load washers generally use less

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-33857685436803105652009-07-24T19:33:00.000-07:002009-07-24T19:43:44.995-07:00

Even toilets have energy star ratings. We look for the green tags on appliances and even on toilets. The rating for toilets is based on the "flushability" and amount of water used.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-82356553300707111962009-07-24T19:21:00.000-07:002009-07-24T19:33:19.041-07:00

Appliances - how many hours have we spent looking at appliances? We are looking at models, price, color, and we want appliances that have a good energy star rating.ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Results are

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-14575912681113173822009-07-18T10:48:00.000-07:002009-07-18T10:52:47.043-07:00

We visited the house last week. For the first time, we looked at it and thought, "this will be a comfortable house. We'll like it here."

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-84044156435939825262009-07-18T10:35:00.000-07:002009-07-18T10:46:48.219-07:00

Out with the pink but keep the turquoise. We've decided the pink tile in the small bathroom will be completely removed. It will be replaced by 12" white tile. Most of the turquoise in the other bathroom will be kept.The master bathroom will not have a shower insert but the shower will be placed with modern faucets and showerhead, a shower pan, and door. The other bathroom will have a bathtub -

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-74367365629866622162009-07-18T10:14:00.000-07:002009-07-24T20:30:26.675-07:00

Gerad and I continue to have deep conversations about bathroom sinks and vanities. Pedestal only? Round? Square? Color?We've decided the small master bathroom is too small for a vanity, so we will get a pedestal similar to the top left. We've asked them to get the tallest one possible. Although Sue Paskert recommended that the other bathroom should have a pedestal also to make the room look more

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-61401571052978381292009-07-18T10:04:00.000-07:002009-07-18T10:13:51.946-07:00

We are still waiting to see what the terrazzo floor looks like when it is polished. I thought there were flecks of gold with a strong rose color, but when we looked at it again, we discovered there is no gold. The colors are white and gray with various shades of pink and orange. The walls will be champagne, the color at the bottom or the strip. I wanted the kitchen wall color to be the 3rd one

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-56425676514069402322009-07-18T09:42:00.000-07:002009-07-18T10:04:07.295-07:00

The old rotting deck slats are gone from the deck in the back yard. Luckily the supports underneath are in good condition. We've debated about what to use to replace them. Trex decking was recommended for durability, but we've decided to use southern yellow pine:The most popular choice of deck materials in the US, primarily because it is long-lasting and the most economical. About 80% of pressure

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-13914154664380972672009-07-18T09:07:00.000-07:002009-07-18T09:41:04.155-07:00

When Vince and the crew removed the walls they discovered that ceiling was not fully supported. We needed to make a decision about the floating beams in the photo on the right. Should we leave poles in place to support the ceiling, possibly with shelves attached? That was not what we wanted since it would mean adding a divider to an area that we wanted to open up. Vince said he could add a beam

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-88230502522922654182009-07-13T19:57:00.000-07:002009-07-13T20:15:00.758-07:00

The second bathroom is a little larger. The turquoise tile with pink tile trim is in good condition, but very '70s. The vanity under the sink was also damaged in the flood of water from the broken pipe. The toilet is old and very dirty as is the bathtub. The toilet and sink with vanity will be replaced. I think we will replace the bathtub with an insert shower. Is that wise? Can we resell a house

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-40833409397365565212009-07-13T19:25:00.001-07:002009-07-13T19:56:25.922-07:00

The master bath is a tiny space with pink tiles and wall paper peeling off the walls. The toilet is on the right, the sink and vanity cabinet are in the middle, and the shower is on the left. The shower does not have a shower pan, but has the terrazzo floor as a base.Our original idea was to remove the tile, rewire the electrical, put in the new toilet, sink and shower, then possibly replace the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-81821473952663576302009-07-13T19:10:00.000-07:002009-07-13T19:21:58.320-07:00

The kitchen size is 10x11 feet. The stove, refrigerator and dishwasher are in poor condition. The cupboards are relatively new. The kitchen sink can be cleaned, but the counter top needs to be replaced.Work continues to remove the top portion of two walls. An island counter top is ordered that will sit on the wall sections. Two columns will remain to support the ceiling. We've selected a light

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-58224920677478099302009-07-05T08:59:00.000-07:002009-07-05T09:03:03.196-07:00

from Ryan and Chris at Universal Construction Group"An update to what is happening at the house:The tile flooring has been removed from the kitchen & bathroomThe walls have been removed from the foyer, dining, and living room areas.Demolition has begun on the master bathroom.Electrical demolition will begin Monday morning.Electrical panel shutdown and change over will happen Tuesday.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-25666043726450673282009-07-05T07:19:00.001-07:002009-07-05T07:49:00.018-07:00

The photo on the left is the front room as we originally saw it. The photo on the right is one that we received from Ryan at Universal Construction Group after the walls were removed last week.The photo on the left is the kitchen wall as it was, and the other photo is the wall now. Our intent is to add a kitchen counter to the half wall with cupboards underneath. We will see the house next

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-39850515452677708452009-07-05T07:06:00.000-07:002009-07-05T07:18:44.565-07:00

We decided to continue to work with Universal Construction Group. They will receive the insurance money for the cleanup, so it seemed to make sense that they continue the work they were hired to do while starting the remodeling for us. We met with Ryan and Chris in their office in South Tampa last week. The bathrooms are in bad shape and need to be replaced. The appliances are old and need to be

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-76768605129237580552009-07-05T06:49:00.000-07:002009-07-05T07:05:07.014-07:00

After the flood and before the cleanup, the house was formally inspected again. It was determined that the value of the house was less than our bid for it, so we could not get a loan. Now what? We could make up the difference out of our pocket, but we weren't keen to do that since that would cut into what we had budgeted for remodeling and repairs. Sue suggested that we lower our offer to meet

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-11224992596609261482009-07-05T06:32:00.000-07:002009-07-05T06:49:24.608-07:00

The photo on the left is in one of the rooms that had a parquet floor when we first saw the house. The other photo is in the master bedroom that had been carpeted. The parquet pieces and carpet were removed by the time we saw it again. Blowers throughout the house helped remove the moisture.The soaking wet wall paper had been removed as well as some of the cabinets ruined by the water. The

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-86803081894488846002009-07-05T05:32:00.000-07:002009-07-05T07:58:33.885-07:00

We received an email from Sue Paskert telling us that a pipe had broken in the house we were buying in Tampa. Apparently a neighbor called the real estate agency notifying them that water was running out of the house. Ouch. Not a good sign. We hadn't closed, so who was responsible and how much damage was there?A cleanup company, Universal Construction Group, had been called in and the water

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-78686570931046365292009-07-04T19:13:00.000-07:002009-07-04T19:56:53.299-07:00

When Sue Paskert showed us the house, she indicated that it was in short fall. She thought it had possibilities, but since it was in short fall, she warned that it might be complicated to buy. "A mortgage shortfall occurs when a property is repossessed by a lender following significant arrears and is then sold on at a value which is less than the outstanding mortgage. This can happen because the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-68884101103951806502009-07-04T18:28:00.000-07:002009-07-04T18:58:42.041-07:00

The deep red large roses in front and back indicate that at some point, someone with a green thumb lived here. At the very back of the property, a mound of soil supported by railroad ties was the start of a fountain. Back yard trees include a large magnolia, oak, some fruit trees, plus a tall palm. Most of the trees are too close together and will need to be pruned. Branches of a tree from the

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-65568301532253732672009-07-04T13:01:00.000-07:002009-07-04T13:47:48.964-07:00

The living room had a parquet floor, wallpaper on the lower wall and chair rail. The area above the chair rail was partially repainted. A small dining room with parquet floor was through the door on the right. Another room with a white tiled floor was to the left of the room.The small kitchen had old appliances but the cabinets were in good condition. The floor in the kitchen was a white tile.

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342004605765039044.post-8468859034900688622009-07-03T19:43:00.001-07:002009-07-04T12:46:23.949-07:00

We decided 2 years ago that it was time to leave Japan to return to the States to live. Gerad was tentatively offered a job in Tampa, FL, so we flew to Florida in Feb. 2009 for Gerad to meet with people at the school and for me to begin looking for a place to live.Sue Paskert, Tampa real estate agent, spend 3 days showing me houses in South Tampa. We wanted a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in South

Rhonda Carriernoreply@blogger.com