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Spygirl
Member
04-23-2001
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:02 pm
I'm approaching my 3 year anniversary here at TVCH and can't believe how much a part of my life this place has become. I realized that in the past three years, you guys have 1). done much of my homework in graduate school, 2). participated in my dissertation research (either by recruiting participants or by being a participant), 3). supported me through a national job search and subsequent relocation, 4). helped me celebrate birthdays, holidays, and major life events, 5). made my travels more exciting and enjoyable, 6). been with me through major, life-changing surgery, 7). aided in the planning of the classes I am teaching, 8). listened to me complain as I get used to being an instructor, 9). and most recently offered advice as I begin the rigors of dating (lol). Since you all have been a part of virtually all aspects of my life for this long, it is only fitting that I consult with you all on the design of my house. So....I'm building a house and want to invite the good people of TVCH to help me decorate it. I'll bribe a good moderator (if I find one) to move the discussion from my folder into this thread.
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Moderator
Moderator
06-30-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:11 pm
Did I hear bribes? I'm listening! Mod hd
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Moderator
Moderator
06-30-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:11 pm
Hey, I'm here too - and I'm really cheap affordable. How can I help? Mod (22)
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Spygirl
Member
04-23-2001
| Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 11:32 am
Here are some pictures of the house... Here is the front of the house (mine will not have the additional third car garage)
This is the living room view
... This is the dining room view
... Here is the kitchen
...
This is the master bedroom and one view of the master bath.
... In this view you can see the slanted ceiling, and the sunburst window. I am not going to get the sunburst window I don't think. It is extra $$.
Here is the walk-in closet in the master bathroom
........
And the shower in the master bath
... Here are two shots of the plant shelf in the master bedroom.
... Spare bathroom
Here are the two spare rooms
... Closet in the hall and the utility room (mine will not come with the copier - lol)
... And here is the unfinished basement view
... And last but not least...the back of the house
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Spygirl
Member
04-23-2001
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:13 pm
Hahahahahaha - so which one of you actually did it so I know where to send the check???
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Moderator
Moderator
06-30-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:13 pm
Dang, I'm always too late to the party! NK
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:14 pm
CONGRATS Spygirl! We moved into out newly constructed home 4 weeks ago. We designed it ourselves, we love it...we wish you the best. Most important for us: wide open spaces and lots of windows! Our "living area" includes the kitchen, dining room and living room. It's one big rectangle of 32' by 30'. One wall has 14 feet of windows that are 6 1/2 feet tall. The second wall has another 7' x 6 1/2' window and an 8' slider. The wall that connects the kitchen/dining room has another 8' slider and a 4' window in between cupboards. The only "wall" in the whole space (other than the outside walls) is an 8' island. If you have a yahoo account, you can sign in and see pix at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glerums/ Have fun!!! It's a wild ride...but one we thoroughly enjoyed!
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:15 pm
Looks like you've got both the "spaces" and the windows! GORGEOUS! Best wishes!
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Spygirl
Member
04-23-2001
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:20 pm
Here is what I have to choose... Flooring: I have to choose vinyl flooring in the kitchen and carpet. Paint: All colors Tile: Tile in Bathrooms and Kitchen, Counter Tops: In kitchen and Bathrooms Lighting: All light fixtures and ceiling fans The bad news is I have no design sense. Things to consider...I have light sage green furniture in my living room with medium dark wood coffee table and end tables. I don't own a dining room table. I have light oak furniture in the bedroom with ivory white bedding. I have some sage greens and soft yellows in my kitchen with white appliances. This is a picture of my living room furniture:
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Spygirl
Member
04-23-2001
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:13 pm
Thank you, Teach!! That seems to be good advice (the windows) that I'm hearing from many people. The sunburst windows - all four (dining room and all three bedrooms) - are options, including the beautiful inverted ceiling in the one bedroom and in the dining room. They are expensive options, unfortunately, so I'm debating them. They are "extras". Because I'm a dog lover, I have to negotiate the things for my dogs that I need (fencing) before I can negotiate the things for myself (gorgeous windows) - lol. Either way, I have a meeting with the builder tomorrow to go over the options and pricing. I know how much I can spend and without the windows and including the fencing, I'm already at that limit. He would have to come off of some of the things significantly in order to make the things like the cabinets and windows "workable".
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Melfie1222
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:22 pm
Yay Spy! Congratulations on your new home! Your living room furniture looks wonderful... maybe it does want some accents with a hint of color. Just a few pillows, and an area rug, instead of the plain beige. They don't even have to be expensive... just colors that you like! Almost everything goes with sage green. I would bet that you have more design sense than you think... it's all about what you like anyway.
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Melfie1222
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:44 pm
oh, and if I had to choose, I might take the sunburst window, first in the Master and maybe the Dining but not the others.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:02 pm
After you get everything picked out, are all settled in, and find you want more, call me to come and paint a mural!
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Lancecrossfire
Moderator
07-13-2000
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:07 pm
Spy, if you can afford it, granite counter tops. The look is amazing, the durability even better. Ceiling fans are great! They look nice, and circulate air very well. With the higher ceilings, they will move your warm and cool air around better than about anything else you can do. If you can't get that, go with some type of solid material. Tile breaks easier, and the grout will stain by many things you use on the counters. I don't know if you have any option for windows in the ceilings. They are great in the rooms where you most like natural light. Vinyl flooring in the kitchen--if you like earth tones, a light earth tome of some type would make for easier cleaning, as it wouldn't look dirty at the first spec of dust or dirt. Pick the colors you like best above all though. Dining room table--talk to BD about building one for you!! Lighting--go with the kind of light you like best. Some like soft light, some like the light of fluorescent tubes. Some like low light (to the ground) that lamps would create. Some like light from the ceiling. Check out what you like when you go into someone else's place. Carpet--go for a good quality pad if you have to choose where to put your money between the pad and carpet. For the dollar investment difference, a really good pad will have a huge affect. Colors--I believe you have a good idea of the colors you like?? If you don't, narrow it down by thinking of the kind of lighting you want in the room--do you want it to be darker, or very light in nature? That's all I can think of right now. Oh, if you can't get the granite for counter tops, ask Glenn, BD or RG's husband what they have known to be good products. Others might know as well, but right now the names are popping into my head. Go with good quality windows over god looking windows--your check book with thank you later. Fencing--if you like to work on fences, you have more options. If you don't want to do that kind of work, go with what they suggest for durability and keeping your doggies inside the yard and safe. Most importantly, if Glenn tells you anything different than what I've said, listen to him and not to me.
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 3:31 am
Spy, Glad you like those cabinets. Lance is right about granite (beeeautiful!!!), runs aboout $10 a linear foot, The ones we carry come in 12x12 tiles. They seam together very nicely and are less then half the cost of the solid pieces, also Silestone and Corian are very nice, but spendy. For vinyl flooring I love the Congoleum Ultima, it's a 5* rated floor but is priced very reasonably. It has a wear layer that no other floor can rival. Very tough and easy care. Window treatments are a really fun thing to choose and I would suggest looking at Hunter Douglas or Graber. When you're here this summer I'll bring all my books and you can look through them. If you're not at the point that you've already chosen all your flooring and cabinets, you can go to the store and look at that too. I'm sure there are lots of stores in your area that carry the same products, so you can browse in your swimming suit , with beer in hand, and take the information home with you and order there! 
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Ddr
Member
08-19-2001
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 4:49 am
Spy, what I found helpful when I was renovating (and before when I was thinking about building) was cutting pictures out of home magazines of things that I liked. Eventually, I noticed a pattern in things that I liked and it gave me a general focus when it was time to choose things. I used the vinyl flooring that looks like slate in my study and I very happy with it. It comes in 18" tiles that I laid down myself in 2 hours. As for color, I would probably go with a neutral taupe or gold in the living, dining, kitchen and hallway. Your plan is open, so it would flow well together. Keep in mind that you can add volumes of color in throw pillows, rugs, art, accessories. I personally would stay away from "fad" colors when selecting carpets, tiles and countertops. My mother choose a "mauve" formica for her kitchen when it was popular in the 80's. Doesn't look so hot in 2004. Also, window treatments can be expensive. Are your windows standard size? I bought the $12.00 bamboo roll up shades at Lowes for the 23 windows I need to cover. From the outside they create a utilitarian look. Eventually I'll get curtains to go over them, but for now the windows are "dressed".
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Ddr
Member
08-19-2001
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 4:56 am
I forgot to mention, check out your local used furniture stores, thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales for the dining room table. You can get a great solid table for pennies!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 4:57 am
OMG I am soooo jealous LOL. What a beautiful house. I am eating my heart out looking at the bathroom. The kitchen is making me want to come move with you LOL. I am so happy for you. You worked hard and you deserve it. I would love a house like that. Of course in NY a house like that would cost at least half a million. I hope you are happy there sweetie.
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 5:00 am
I agree with Ddr on color. Go with fairly neutral flooring and use paint to create drama... much cheaper to paint over Tamale Red then to pull up your Tamale Red carpet when you get sick of the color.!!
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 5:05 am
No wood floors?
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 5:18 am
What great news, Spybaby!!! Congratulations!!! I've heard on a lot of the home shows on TV that concrete for countertops is the hottest thing now. It can be stained in any colors you want and can be seamless so no problem with grout and can be very shiny or muted, is extremely durable, doesn't stain or get cuts and is much cheaper than the usual granite, etc. Just my .
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 6:19 am
Congratulations on your new abode, Spy! If you are considering doing some of the work yourself - DON'T!!! Hustle for some more private clients instead so you can afford to pay some other fool to do it for you. Trust me on this one.LOL Just a few cents FWIW from someone in the middle of renovations: Colours: Neutral earth tones, cushions, wall hangings, pictures etc can take care of the splashes of colour Floors: with dogs, wood floors are much easier to "wipe up". We just yanked our carpet out and will have a floating (phoney) wood floor installed. Our entrance, living/dining room, kitchen and halls are all open, so we decided to run the floor all the way through. According to manufacturer it can take quite a beating and have a lifelong warranty. They better be right! In the kitchen it replaces a linoleum. If you decide on that material, avoid one with indentations. Over time grease tends to "puddle" and adhere in there and only strong, but dulling cleaners will get rid of it. Lighting: If you intend to still live in the house in your fourties and beyond STRONG LIGHTING. Windows: Ours will be replaced after only 20 years. So I am with Lance, quality over style first. Furnace: don't skimp there. In the long run the more expensive model will pay off Ceiling: Popcorn looks nice, but is a REAL pain repainting and tends to be a magnet for dust around ceiling fans. And kiss those nice sparklies they put in the original application goodbye. They can't be replaced after repainting. Fans: reversible, they'll help push the warm air downward in winter as well. Cabinets and closets: There is no such thing as too many. Fencing and porch: we'll be replacing the porch this spring/summer as well and it will be LOW MAINTENANCE Countertop: granite would be nice, but beyond our budget, so we are going with arborite (sp?). The colour range available is quite considerable. I had picked out a light blue colour because I was afraid the stronger blue I prefered would be overpowering, but the carpenter talked me back into the one I really liked. He told me the lighter one would look "washed out" (LOL). Will let you know whether it was the right deicision next week. Tiles: I'll be checking this thread for recommendations since we'll be doing the kitchen backsplash ourselves and have never done anything like that before. Good luck!
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Kaykay
Member
01-21-2004
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 6:20 am
Congrats Spygirl, the house look amazing. We had a home built a couple years back and it SO much fun picking out all the pieces of the puzzle. I have one small suggestion - if it were me (and this is what I did) I would put ceramic tile in the kitchen for the flooring. Much easier to keep clean and it also helps to keep the house cooler in hot weather. Any other questions - just ask. We made a few boo-boo's and I would hate to see you do the same. HAVE FUN!!!!
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 7:04 am
P.S. Spy, I took another look at your kitchen. It seems like it is open to the rest of the house as well. So my strong recommendation is a top-notch exhaust fan that leads to the outside.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 10:58 am
Spygirl, don't have time to read the whole thread, hurrying out the door, but don't forget that all of us here at TVCH want you to somehow afford that sunburst window in the bedroom. When you finance it over 15 or 30 years, it becomes somewhat affordable.
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