Remember when I said I was going to call it a ‘great room’, because we had so many things in one space?
I’m changing it to the ‘fabulous room’. Because it’s late and I’m delirious and why not? {In the morning, I’ll be furiously erasing this like… Uh, that never happened.} But for now, we shall live in the revelry powered by sheer delirium of being oh so close in the joy of possibilities. #howmanyprepositionscanshefitinasentence
Because I am clinging to it. With every last neurotic shred of happiness that I have.
I have to say… my brain hurts. My body has officially stopped hurting and I can’t decide if I’m getting in shape from all the lifting/planking/painting… or I’m just numb.
Either way, now it’s just my brain.
Yesterday, I had to pick a place to put a plug on the end of our island, and I thought I was going. to. die. Because: a. rules are stupid, b. stop making me decide on all the things, and c. have you seen our x’s? How dare they deface our x’s with a plug. It’s sacrilege I tell you.
At least they asked.
I’m fighting it now but I know I won’t win. Codes are dumb. Put it on a shirt.
But I turned around yesterday as we were leaving our little house and everything was right again. Even if the roof is sagging and the gutters are falling off and we have a never ending list. Because we’re in love with our little house. And the process behind it. And boy… has it been a process.
A frustrating, exhausting, priceless process. That we’re grateful for. Because it’s worth every moment.
It feels like home.
And I also decided, that so many things are happening at once, our little site deserves two posts just for these updates from this week. Things are happening fast, so today we’re talking about the great room. We’ll amp it up in the updates department, and talk all things upstairs early next week. So expect more home posts coming from us. I think that’s what y’all want, anyway? I have this long time infection of a blogger me disease likened to rabies, where I feel like I must put all the things in one place at once a-la posts. Jamin’s standing in the background telling me to calm down. No more. So, you’ll probs see more updates, Monday.
I’m living on the edge, y’all.
But the good news is, if you’ve been tuning in for house updates, today is a post that is totally full of it.
Wheee!
So since we were in last, the windows are in! We paired stained glass with our little finds from Window World And we couldn’t love them more. In the afternoons, they cast colors on the floor. It’s magic.
We’ve been painting like crazy. I had my head so far in the bathroom closet the other day to reach an obscure corner, I thought… “Is this even normal?”
And then, “If there was an earthquake right now, they’d never find me in the rubble.”
Deep thoughts by Ashley.
And the beams are up. Almost. We only lack one. That will be fixed, tomorrow. They are gorgeously perfect and just what we wanted.
It kind of feels like we’ve peeled back the layers in this old house, and revealed the potential. Made it ours.
There’s nothing more gratifying than these little moments when we’ve waited for so long. What are all those boxes you may ask? The hardwoods are acclimating, and they go in next week {We think? fingers crossed? We’re doing it so stay tuned.} Right after the HVAC. We figured it out, and we’re waiting and it’s all just a process.
And the fireplace got its long awaited facelift this week.
Tune in, because I’ll have more details on this mortar rub.
I originally intended to do this with the first fireplace. But if you remember for our post, it was a bit of a conundrum, when we removed the drywall. It was ready to topple. So out the whole thing went, and we’re pretty pleased with how it turned out.
I grabbed up this old barnwood at the local flea market, and we’re so glad to use it here.
We still have to trim out the planks on the ceiling, and paint the TV area. I plan to place some art that can be easily switched out, to disguise the teli. {Yes, sometimes I say ‘teli’ because why wouldn’t I?} More on this next week!
Lights are being installed as well… even though technically, we told them to hold off on some since some of them are dependent on furniture arrangement and I’m just not there yet. I’m picky about my chandies.
And you may have noticed {drum roll please} the countertops came in yesterday.
I loved our last house. I really did. But it’s like I had this list of what I truly wanted in the next house.
And this is one of them. I’m so happy, I could kiss these countertops.
But I won’t. At least not while anyone’s looking, anyway. Instead, I’ll just show you some fun photos.
You can see where our cooktop and double ovens are going in… the hood will be here next week, and the appliances, as well.
It’s happening, for sure.
I’ve wanted soapstone for years. And so here we are. I’m dazzled by them. And just grateful the fabricators got them in place, because that big one could have crushed a person and it felt like someone was birthing a baby and I was so nervous I literally had to leave the room.
But the movement is just so glorious and natural and one of a kind. Like works of art for our countertops. We’re smitten.
It’s hard to see in this shot, {I had to photograph in the late afternoon when we were all cleaned up from paint and putty} but the farmhouse sink {via wayfair} goes perfectly with it all! We’re getting so excited.
We’ve come such a long way.
Stay tuned for next week’s posts! They should be good ones.
Have an inspired day!
Karen says
Wow! What gifted designers you are – it’s looking gorgeous.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe, thank you Karen. We’re more than ready to live in it.
Jennifer Smiga says
Gorgeous! I can’t get enough of this fab room! The veining on that marble and soapstone is delicious. Love all that natural earthy beauty. It’s going to change and grow with your family. Soapstone is definitely going in my house and SOON.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe yay! Three cheers for team soapstone/marble. Thanks so much Jennifer! So excited for you.
rose l. says
Do not know how you live thru it all. I guess in the end the stress is worth it.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Well, we’re hoping so. Thanks so much Rose. The light at the end of the tunnel for sure.
Kim says
Love. Just love. You are very talented! And I do believe I just found my inspiration picture for the peaked ceiling in my sunroom just off my kitchen 🙂
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe so glad! Can’t wait to see what you do! Thank you so much
Bonnie says
Everything is just beautiful! After all your hard work, I’m so happy for you that it feels like “home”.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so much, Bonnie!
Melissa says
I love reading these blog posts about your house process. I maybe living vicariously through you… Theyre so fun & facinating, but it wouldn’t be half that if you weren’t such a gifted writer. You are so hilarious to me! I really enjoy your blog.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe thank you so much Melissa! I think my neurotic delirium is showing HA!
Leah says
I can relate to the tantrum you want to throw about ruining your dreams as having a “piece of furniture” for your island piece. After I got myself off the floor from kicking my feet like a two year old, a lightbulb moment went off for my electrician. He knew he would be a hero in my eyes if he had a solution. He couldn’t promise it would fly with the inspector, but worth I try! It worked!!! Hidden plug in my masterpiece!
Solution: Do you have a place to hide the plug under the countertop where it comes out from the island? I’ll email a picture to explain my rambling!
ashley @ the handmade home says
I am not sure we have space, but I would love to see yours. Thank you so much Leah! I feel like a freak for “getting upset” but it’s ridiculous to spend so much money on something and then have it ruined with a trivial plug. It’s like a metaphor for the entire house because septic ;D [email protected]
Laura says
I love soapstone also, but I’m intimidated by the upkeep. Please give an update after you’ve lived with it for a while!! I hate hate hate the granite I have now, but it’s “fine” so I feel guilty getting rid of it just because I inherited a previous owner’s choices. Plus it’s a snowball effect..if I change the counters, then I have to change the backsplash and then do I paint the cabinets? And if I’m doing that, I’d prefer new cabinet doors….all in a kitchen that’s “fine.” Sigh.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I know. It’s very if you give a mouse a cookie with a house. ;} I will keep you posted!
Hollie says
We are just finishing up our new house and we have so many of the same elements y’all have! It’s so fun to see your space transform. 🙂 You can see our home on instagram at #thesingletonsbuild. 🙂