A beautiful autumn day...in March

A cold, sunny day at the site on Friday...Spring remains a bashful lass.  My friend Vince visiting to check out the progress on the house, this being his 3rd visit.  After inspecting the house and walking thru some items with Project Manager Matt, we did a boundary hike around the property.  Vince pointed out some tree species to me, excited to see some cherry trees here and there throughout the wood.  We also spent some time examining the "lying-down tree" as we call it, a huge tulip poplar (almost 5ft in diameter) that was blown-over a long time ago, now lying horizontal on the ground, but still alive!  Vince also surmises the swale stream is enough to dam-up for a pond, which is exactly what I was thinking, add some of Jenny's weeping willows around it,...but that's Phase IV!

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Siding complete on the front and the screened-in porch, maybe another week till that's complete!

Jenny and I are finalizing our choice of exterior color, a big decision.

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Vince inspecting the screened porch.

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All the plastic peeled from the windows, love the view, even if bare winter's grey.  Warming sun streamed in this day.

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"On-demand" propane hot water heater, similar to what we had in Japan.  Good efficiency and compact.

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Vince approves of our barn doors, with some caveats, to be fixed in the Post-Shake-down Availability.

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General view of the kitchen, some tweaked details since last posting.

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A different view: from the mudroom entrance looking into the kitchen and across to the dining area and great room.  Island cabinet group still awaiting a counter-top.

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OK, who's doing the dishes?

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Kitchen desk installed, awaiting fridge, cover panels, and toe kicks.  Also, Matt's crew sanded the structural beams and they look as good as the hickory floors!

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Mudroom's first addition: a utility sink.

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Looking from master bedroom into master bath, tile floors installed, awaiting white grout,... I already like the light reflection off the marble.

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Tile laydown complete in the master shower and tub area, awaiting white grout application.

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Another view of the master shower, showing tile details.

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Matt is trying to have the finishing electrician and plumber start this week, so Jenny and I spent a lot of time buying light fixtures and faucets.  This room is going to have a nautical theme, so I'm showing off the marine lantern wall sconces we selected.

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Views of the house from the boundary hike:  from across the swale.

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From down in the wood, just up from the stream.  My Dad recommends having a lightning protection system installed, and from these views, I think he is quite correct!

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Spring forward

Like the last post title tried to convey, we have fewer big photos of big progress, as Matt and his gang work the smaller but ever important details.  Focus right now is on completing the tiling, starting the fireplace stone face and mantel, continue the siding (55% complete), and start electric finishing.

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Byrnes house backyard during last week's snowstorm, maybe 3 inches?, winter finally arrives in Virginia in March!  Nice to have a snow day, even though the temps were upper 30's (completely melted next day). 

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I think the southern Virginia counties had more snow that week than DC.  A few days after all our McLean snow was gone, there was still snow on the north-facing roof of Bramasole.  View from the upper level guest room.

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Kitchen coming together.  Base cabinets, wall cabinets and island cabinets in place.  Uba Tuba (green and black flecks) granite counters in place.  The island will have a custom wood counter-top.  No appliances yet and some trim panels missing but you can get an idea of the layout.

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Kitchen view, over the island looking south.  Double sink under the window, space for a dishwasher to the left.  Range will go in on the right where there is a cardboard panel.

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 Kitchen view, toward the north.  Space for range & hood at left, fridge space to the right, and kitchen admin desk space on the far right.  Cabinet toe kicks no yet installed.

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A real Stair Master at work.

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The stair railings finished.  Awesome!

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Master shower/roman tub area, pre-grout and before the shower floor has been laid.  This is Greecian white marble with the accent ribbon in a stone chipped face...quite a contrast....we'll see if it works.

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Main floor guest bath, looking into the shower.  Ready for grouting.  It looks a bit dark now but keep in mind all the light in this photo is from a 2'x2' north-facing window, no lighting here yet.

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The upper floor guest shower, pre-grout.  What I like about this photo is the late afternoon light streaming in.  After a day on the lake, friends & family can take a refreshing shower and step out bathed in warm sunlight from the west.

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Probably the latest we've ever left Bramasole for the trip back to Northern Virginia, looking from the driveway towards the western sunset.  Remnants of snow on the roofs, tomorrow it will be 60 deg.