Part 2: Here goes everything...

We knocked down the house. It was knocked down and scooped into a dumpster in about 3 hours! The fun part was that we got there right in time to watch the first scoop. So cool and perfect timing.

When we first were looking to build we started out by searching online. Our checklist for a dream design looked like this: no garage needed (we still had the detached garage), fits onto our lot (fairly narrow about 36 feet), low construction cost (we were looking for a design in our budget)

photos above from eplans.com

After searching the internet for lake front designs we got some more ideas. We wanted to show off the view with windows along the lake, and we wanted vaulted ceilings. 

When we first started planning we wanted a balcony off the master suite. Original plans included a second level for the master bed and bath. 

Here is part of the first design draft we received:

This plan included a walk out, which we later took out along with the second level. You'll see that more changes happened as I take you through these photos. 

After many back and forths with the designer and builder we came up with a simple two level plan. It would have a master suite roughed into the lower level that we could later finish ourselves. We had a good plan to start with. Some things we changed were window placement and vaulting the ceiling, as the cost for those changes were minimal. We made a set of windows into a sliding glass door for a future deck. I added a window above the kitchen sink, so I could look out while doing dishes. One window was moved from the center of the room to the corner for a panoramic effect.

Shown here are some of the window choices we made that I listed above. The slider and the corner window. 

It was very fun to pick and work with the design team and builder to create our home plans. We knew that we would be able to do all our finishing work. We did meet with the builder's interior designer when we went to get our doors and windows. She knew the product line and was able to quickly help us get our door hardware. At that point she also asked us about our design. We told he modern but classic. Modern in that we wanted it to look like a new home, but classic in that we weren't going to add things that would be dated quickly. We told her our color scheme and the materials we planned on using. She  offered to pull some granite samples, but I think she was most helpful with just her knowledge of inventory. It made it easy for us to coordinate all our hardware. I was very thoughtful to match things. I didn't want it to look pieced together, so staying coordinated mattered a lot. We went with contemporary squared brushed nickel pieces. Nothing too ornate, nothing that didn't go with our classcally modern theme. 

It was winter and we had moved out of the home we had been renting for 6 years. Moving out of our first home, and into a transition home, was a big project! My goal was to get rid of a lot of things we weren't going to need. Lots of hand me downs, leftovers from former roommates and just stuff collected over the years had to go. I only packed what I wanted at the new house. We stayed with family for 6 months. It was a nice transition and a way to separate the old from the new. It also allowed us to save some money up for the big move in the spring! 

Staying with family is an experience all in itself! We took time to relax and do things that we would be too busy to do come spring and summer. I took a trip to Florida and had a few staycations in town for a little get away time. 

I fell in love with the modern look of shaded light fixtures that we were able to add to our home! Also warm pops of color (orange and red look great with dark floors and cool grey walls). To see more of my design inspiration look up #frostfinefinishing on Instagram or follow me 2_and_fro

I love the Radison Blu! I wanted to go back for Valentines day. We couldn't go. I was so bummed, and kind of let the change ruin my mood about the weekend. Then this happened:

We spent a lot of time at my friend's warehouse. It was a place we could go get away and for me to get some work done. Adam did painting in the shop and I could post out in the office, watch housewives and get some computer work done. I'm crabby from the whole "we did nothing for valentines" thing, and then my friend walks in with this huge window box. "Happy Valentine's Jaclyn!" He said. "Did Adam tell you I was crabby?" I asked. He said "No I just remember you saying you loved window boxes," I started bawling. 

Adam and I had a conversation about window boxes. I like them, and because he has to paint around them he hates them. I got my window box regardless. And the thoughtfulness of the gesture was touching. 

That night we went to see all the windows that had been installed in the house. Notice anything???

Now I felt silly, for making such a big deal about one day when I had a lifetime ahead. Now every year I can just look out my windows and remember all the love that I am blessed to have. Valentines is forever a part of my home with the date stamped Feb 14 in each window.