So we went to the Planning Board two weeks ago and submitted our case for architectural review. The board looked at the plan, reviewed the colors, siding choices and shingles and was happy with all selections. They told us that we have to wait for the next meeting so the public could have the chance to review the plans and make any comments. So yesterday we went back to the planning board, walked in and they took our case immediately. Within 2 minutes we were in and out of the planning board with an approval to move forward on the house. I think that may be a record for time at the planning board!!! We are so happy about it.
In other news, we are still waiting for our blue prints to arrive, but in the meantime Trudeau's has started excavating the foundation and smoothing out the lot. It is so exciting to see the process start!!! They got about half of the foundation dug out yesterday. I asked Taylor how they could do this without having the blueprints and he said they have to dig additional space around the foundation anyway, so it does not have to be uber exact. That works for me!! Taylor and I are going to be cutting more trees down all through this week. We want to level out the lot in the front, so we have to cut the trees down so there is a place for all the fill. Trudeau should be done with the excavation in a few days and hopefully we will have our blueprints by then so that we can start building the actual foundation.
Our foundation is being built with Logix blocks, so it's like building with legos that snap together. I think you then pour the cement inside the blocks after everything is built. The blocks are a little more pricey, but way more energy efficient and you can nail your siding and drywall directly to the blocks without any framing. They are awesome!!
I will post some additional pictures up tomorrow...Taylor has the camera and is taking pictures of the lot through the whole process.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Planning Board Meeting
Taylor and I were scheduled to attend the Planning Board Meeting this past Wednesday. I was so nervous, just from hearing all the horror stories of what can happen at a planning board meeting. Anyway, we had to submit our plans for architectural review; which means we had to submit the exterior layout of the house and shingle/siding samples. Basically, the board wants to make sure that we are not painting the house hot pink!
Things went well and the meeting and we were in and out in a matter of 15 minutes. We have to go back later this month so that people from the community can attend and tell us how much they don't like the look of the house! I'm not anticipating anything, as it is pretty much and Adirondack-style vacation home look and the brown siding is going to meld right into the hillside.
In other news, Taylor and I were struggling to get our piece of property sub-divided from Commercial/Residential to Commercial & Residential. I guess we got the papers signed the other day, because now we are able to be sub-divided for the bank which makes me feel a whole lot better. Before, we were going to have our home and business under one mortgage; so if the business went sour, we would lose our home. Now that won't happen and I can breathe just a little more!
Things went well and the meeting and we were in and out in a matter of 15 minutes. We have to go back later this month so that people from the community can attend and tell us how much they don't like the look of the house! I'm not anticipating anything, as it is pretty much and Adirondack-style vacation home look and the brown siding is going to meld right into the hillside.
In other news, Taylor and I were struggling to get our piece of property sub-divided from Commercial/Residential to Commercial & Residential. I guess we got the papers signed the other day, because now we are able to be sub-divided for the bank which makes me feel a whole lot better. Before, we were going to have our home and business under one mortgage; so if the business went sour, we would lose our home. Now that won't happen and I can breathe just a little more!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Big Wishes...Big Constraints
When you say you want to build a house, you don't really have any clue what goes in to that kind of investment. You think, I'll get a loan, pick a floorplan, and pay someone to do the rest.
I guess that mentality works for someone who is independently wealthy, but not for the rest of us. Taylor and I have known for 3 years that we wanted to build a house. I've been pining of floorplans for 3 YEARS!!! I finally scraped most of them and designed it myself with my needs in mind. See, we're buying a pre-fab; so there are only so many things that you need to do, or have to do. I am limited by structural "boxes" and maximized lengths and widths of those boxes. It can be a pain, but at the same time it is kind of nice. I know my limitations and where I have creative freedom and where I don't. I need those boundaries sometimes!!
Taylor and I live in Lake Placid, where most of the houses are beautiful and are designed to enjoy the views of the mountains. Taylor bought our lot a few years ago for his business and we are lucky enough to be able to build our home on the same lot. We are also very fortunate that the view from our lot is of the Sentinel Range Mountains. We want to make sure that we take advantage of the view, but it also means that our house will not be hidden from the scrutiny of passer-bys. We are building next to a really nice stick-built house and want to make sure that ours fits in with the locale. A typical pre-fab wouldn't cut it for us. The houses around us are all wood siding with beautiful decks and big picture windows. We can't afford all that, so we are doing everything we can to achieve that same look without the cost. It is tricky and very time consuming.
On top of everything else, my mind flies a mile-a-minute when it comes to dreaming up ideas for the house. Paint colors, tile selections, interior decorations...you know; all the fun stuff! If I'm lucky...my head won't explode before the house comes!
I guess that mentality works for someone who is independently wealthy, but not for the rest of us. Taylor and I have known for 3 years that we wanted to build a house. I've been pining of floorplans for 3 YEARS!!! I finally scraped most of them and designed it myself with my needs in mind. See, we're buying a pre-fab; so there are only so many things that you need to do, or have to do. I am limited by structural "boxes" and maximized lengths and widths of those boxes. It can be a pain, but at the same time it is kind of nice. I know my limitations and where I have creative freedom and where I don't. I need those boundaries sometimes!!
Taylor and I live in Lake Placid, where most of the houses are beautiful and are designed to enjoy the views of the mountains. Taylor bought our lot a few years ago for his business and we are lucky enough to be able to build our home on the same lot. We are also very fortunate that the view from our lot is of the Sentinel Range Mountains. We want to make sure that we take advantage of the view, but it also means that our house will not be hidden from the scrutiny of passer-bys. We are building next to a really nice stick-built house and want to make sure that ours fits in with the locale. A typical pre-fab wouldn't cut it for us. The houses around us are all wood siding with beautiful decks and big picture windows. We can't afford all that, so we are doing everything we can to achieve that same look without the cost. It is tricky and very time consuming.
On top of everything else, my mind flies a mile-a-minute when it comes to dreaming up ideas for the house. Paint colors, tile selections, interior decorations...you know; all the fun stuff! If I'm lucky...my head won't explode before the house comes!
My First Blog...so bare with me!
People at work are constantly talking about blogs, bloggers, etc., and I have always wanted to create my own blog, but wasn't sure I was ready to share my thoughts with anyone. I mean, who wants to broadcast their thoughts about ANYTHING on the web? I live in a small enough town as it is where most everyone knows your business, why should I help facilitate everyone else in knowing my business??
Anyway, my husband Taylor and I are in the process of building a house this summer...the trials and tribulations of building a house! Man...it deprives you of sleep, puts strain on your relationship, and keeps you begging for more! It is such a love-hate relationship...building a house. It truly is a nightmare, making sure that you don't forget something, because if you do, it could cost you thousands of dollars!! But you love doing it, because in the end, the house is ours and we created it just the way we wanted it.
So, Taylor and I have started clearing our "Property" for the house and I thought..."this is the perfect time to start a blog!"
So...bare with me as I learn this whole blogging thing!
Anyway, my husband Taylor and I are in the process of building a house this summer...the trials and tribulations of building a house! Man...it deprives you of sleep, puts strain on your relationship, and keeps you begging for more! It is such a love-hate relationship...building a house. It truly is a nightmare, making sure that you don't forget something, because if you do, it could cost you thousands of dollars!! But you love doing it, because in the end, the house is ours and we created it just the way we wanted it.
So, Taylor and I have started clearing our "Property" for the house and I thought..."this is the perfect time to start a blog!"
So...bare with me as I learn this whole blogging thing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
