In April 2006, I decided to move back to my home state
of Texas. One reason for the move was the over-priced real estate
market in South Florida. I signed a one-year lease for an apartment
to give me time to do some research and decide where I wanted to
buy a house. At the end of October 2006, I started a new job at
Raytheon Professional Services located in my home town of Garland.
I decided to look for a house east of Garland along Interstate 30
between Rockwall and Royse City. I knew this would put me closer
to my parents and two of my sisters. In addition, I knew that the
further from Dallas I could get, the darker skies that I would have
for my astronomy hobby. So, in December I began seriously researching
available houses in that area.
Around Christmas, my parents told me that they would
give me the lot adjacent to theirs near Quinlan in Hunt County.
The lot is approximately 5 acres with a pond between my lot and
my parents' house. The lot is mostly treeless (great for astronomy),
but plenty of trees along the front (south) line of the lot, and
trees on the lots behind mine. One of the big decisions was whether
I wanted to drive that far to work each day (around 41 miles each
way). But there are so many positives about the lot. The skies are
much darker than being in the city (though some sky glow to the
north towards the town of Greenville, and a growing sky glow in
Quinlan with the new Wal-Mart and more stuff coming). It is so peaceful
and quiet out there. The lot is within a development area that has
enough restrictions to keep "eyesores" from popping up
next door. And, well, free is always good.
In early January 2007, I began looking at house plans.
I made a list of things that I wanted (and didn't want) in the design.
After looking at what seems like thousands of plans, I finally found
"the one". However, there were a couple of things that
I wanted to change. Most of the house had 8' ceilings. Even though
I am "vertically challenged", I would still feel closed
in with only 8' ceilings. So, I changed them to 9' ceilings (with
exception of tray ceilings in Master Bedroom and Living Room). In
addition, I decided that the house, which is country in style, would
look better with siding than brick. So, at the end of January, I
requested a quote to customize the house plan. On February 14th,
I received the preliminary drawings, and one week later, I received
the final plans.
View of my lot from parents' house. My lot
is on the other side of the pond.
02/10/07 (cold, overcast day)
View of my parents' house and the pond from
my lot.
02/10/07
My future backyard. Unfortunately, TXU has
a 100-year easement with the power poles on my property. But,
they are mostly on the far edge of the property line.
02/17/07
My neighbor's farm house. You can see a couple
of temporary stakes for one wall of the house.
02/17/07
My Dad cleared this spot on the front of the
lot for the driveway.
02/17/07
This is my road looking west.
02/17/07
This is my road looking east. It dead ends
at my neighbors' house.
02/17/07
This is a view of my lot from the road. My
Dad put a stake there so that the county could find it.
02/17/07
This is a view of the pond from my lot, and
my Dad's shop is on the left. The two stakes represent approximately
one side wall of the house.
02/17/07
This is a view of the front half of my lot
from the pond.
02/17/07
This is the farm land across the road from
my lot.
2385 sq. ft. under roof plus bonus room = 2635 sq. feet
Front elevation (brick will be siding).
The window above the garage is where the bonus (media) room
is located.
Main floor. Features sitting area and 2 walk-in
closets in Master Bedroom, tray ceiling in Living Room and
Master Bedroom, covered porches on front and back, huge walk-in
pantry, storage closet in garage.
We will be adding windows on the left and
right side of the dining area. The media center next to the
fireplace will be converted to a built-in desk and bookshelves.
Bonus room above garage. This will be the media room (I have
always wanted one). It will not be very large, but it will
have a screen, projector, reclining home theater seating for
at least 4-5 people, and a popcorn machine.
The challenge will be the partial sloping roof, but I have
seen photos of great media rooms with the same problem.
The opening night premiere will be "Apollo 13".
The Stars at Night Observatory
In addition to the house, I plan to eventually construct
an observatory. It will house my Meade 8" LX200 GPS telescope
(unless I get serious aperture fever and buy a bigger scope).
In keeping with the style of the house, I am considering
installing a SkyShed
roll-off building to house the observatory.
This will probably be a 2008 or later project. In the meantime,
I have a wide open 5 acre lot and mag 4 to 5 dark skies to
do all the observing that I want. I just have to keep my eye
out for the coyotes, snakes...
The rock was delivered for the culvert on
March 8. This will allow contractors to get to the site
until the driveway is poured.
Dad makes contact with several contractors
for estimates on foundation, plumbing, framing, etc.
Week of March 12:
A soil test is ordered to properly engineer
the foundation. It will take approximately 2 weeks for the
test.
The water meter (left) and temporary electric
pole are installed.
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Week of April 9:
The results of the soil test were received on April 7th,
so the next step was to have the foundation plans engineered.
Ground is broken! (April 11th).
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Pad is finished...looks like a baseball field...if they build
it, will they come??
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Week of April 16:
Foundation work started.
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Trenches dug for pipes.
Week of April 23:
Porta-Potty delivered (yep....that's the name of the company).
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Plumbing works - Master Bathroom.
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Kitchen, guest bath, utility room (foreground).
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Week of April 30:
Foundation is poured.
The ground was too muddy for the concrete trucks, so they
brought in a pump with a crane to get the concrete over to
the house.
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Finished foundation.
Nice sunset while concrete dries.
Week of May 7:
Framing work begins.
Lower left - Utility Room (front of house)
Lower right - 2nd Bedroom
Center above Bedroom - 2nd Bathroom
Top - Kitchen/Dining Room
Master Bathroom
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
Week of May 14
Framing, siding, and roof/shingles completed.
Electrical started.
Front and back doors installed.
Shingles done!
Back of house.
View from Master Bedroom.
Bonus/media room upstairs.
Week of May 21
Windows installed.
A/C installation started.
Termite treatment and insulation scheduled for this week.
Dry wall scheduled to start June 1st.
Fireplace insert installed.
(Photo credit: Kasey Rhodes)
HVAC installed.
Master bathtub platform built.
Week of May 28
Front porch rail installed.
Fireplace hearth built.
Insulation put into walls. Insulation is a mix of fiberglass
and blown-in cellulose.
Work to begin in next week or two: dry wall (June 1st), painting
(June 11th), and driveway and sidewalk poured.
Week of June 4
Dry wall, tape and bed (see Flash slide show below).
Week of June 11
Walls and ceilings (and some windows and the floor) are textured.
This is the tray ceiling in the living room.
Installation begins for interior doors.
Trim work begins.
This is the dining room with a window ledge and baseboard
trim.
Driveway started.
Week of June 18
Driveway poured.
Week of June 25
Cabinets built. Notice rope detail on right cabinet. See
later pictures for crown molding and additional rope trim
added to top of cabinets.
Painting started.
Week of July 2-15
Garage door installed.
Plumbing fixtures/faucets and marble installed.
Countertop installed in kitchen and utility room.
Appliances delivered.
Microwave installed (see trim detail on top of cabinets;
cabinet knobs will have similar rope detail).
Additional work completed: tile for tub/shower in guest bath;
tile for floor in utility room; wood floor purchased; most
ceiling fans and light fixtures hung; door hardware installed.
Week of July 16
Backsplash tile in kitchen installed.
Shutters hung on front of house.
Also this week: dirt grated off around house; A/C unit installed
outside; remaining light fixtures installed; Austin Hill Country
Chalk stone for fireplace started; remaining insulation blown
into attic (rating: R-38).
Coming up next: power is scheduled to be turned on July 23;
A/C will be turned on in order to acclimate wood floor before
installation later in week; septic system will be installed;
mirrors and glass shower enclosure (master bath) will be installed.
Carpet has been ordered. Grass pallets will be ordered and
landscaping begins. Gutters due to be installed first week
of August. Painters will be back for touch-ups.
On August 1st, Kelley writes her last rent check ever (hopefully)!
Week of July 23
Power turned on.
Septic system installed.
Wood floor finished for entry, living room, dining room,
and kitchen.
