Our social life this summer has consisted largely of talking to the people working on our house and, while that is certainly more stimulating than, say, an isolation cell in a maximum security prison, it is hardly a night out in the theatre district. As well, these people work for us, so there is the remote possibility that they are more likely to treat us differently than would our friends. Last week, we had a visit from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Bob. He and his wife Laura were up in the area picking up his daughter from camp in a nearby park, and they all stopped in to catch a glimpse of the new house. A few weeks ago, another good friend and his family visited for a few days, and these visits were much-needed breaths of fresh air. I’m not saying I don’t love my wife, I adore her, but three months in a small RV, with a bathroom the size of a phone booth, has been a bit trying for both of us. To boot, Jasper always steals the best chair.
I’m sure that many of you reading this report are thinking to yourselves, “what a cakewalk … they’re living in a beautiful area, for an entire summer, and they have the unique opportunity to watch their house being built!?” While this is true, let me explain why this project is not a walk in the park.
Our day begins about 6:45 AM, when Jasper barks frantically at the first trucks arriving. By 7:15AM, the chainsaws and hammering begin and by 8:30AM, we are on the phone or the web, researching everything from bathroom fixtures to floor coverings. Shauna leaves nothing to chance and researches every finish and design option. As well, we are personally designing our railings, bathroom cabinets and sinks, fireplace surrounds, ceiling treatments etc. All of this requires a lot of time. We go through a pad of graph paper per week. By 10AM the phone is ringing off the hook, the contractors are dropping in to ask for alternatives to an electrical outlet location, or one of a hundred other design glitches which present themselves on an ongoing basis. Because this is a custom design, one the log supplier has never before created, there are little surprises at every turn. For instance, last week, we learned that a frame wall dividing our master bathroom from our bedroom had inadvertently been placed in such a way as to hide an important log feature of the bedroom. No change can be made without consulting all (electrical, plumbing, structural) plans which could be affected by the change. I’m sure the builder could have made a decision without us, but very possibly it would not have been what we chose to do. A log home owner whom we interviewed early on in the process told us that building a log home is an organic process. Things can change in the design as the home goes up, but timing is everything. In truth, the home continues to “grow” and develop long after it is up. While many people leave all the decisions to their builders, we are heavily invested (emotionally and otherwise) in this house. For better or worse, when the home is finished, we will know that we were actively involved in its creation from beginning to end.
You won’t believe how we plan to use the Guelph wood stove from the old cottage.
-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2007 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I’m sure that many of you reading this report are thinking to yourselves, “what a cakewalk … they’re living in a beautiful area, for an entire summer, and they have the unique opportunity to watch their house being built!?” While this is true, let me explain why this project is not a walk in the park.
Our day begins about 6:45 AM, when Jasper barks frantically at the first trucks arriving. By 7:15AM, the chainsaws and hammering begin and by 8:30AM, we are on the phone or the web, researching everything from bathroom fixtures to floor coverings. Shauna leaves nothing to chance and researches every finish and design option. As well, we are personally designing our railings, bathroom cabinets and sinks, fireplace surrounds, ceiling treatments etc. All of this requires a lot of time. We go through a pad of graph paper per week. By 10AM the phone is ringing off the hook, the contractors are dropping in to ask for alternatives to an electrical outlet location, or one of a hundred other design glitches which present themselves on an ongoing basis. Because this is a custom design, one the log supplier has never before created, there are little surprises at every turn. For instance, last week, we learned that a frame wall dividing our master bathroom from our bedroom had inadvertently been placed in such a way as to hide an important log feature of the bedroom. No change can be made without consulting all (electrical, plumbing, structural) plans which could be affected by the change. I’m sure the builder could have made a decision without us, but very possibly it would not have been what we chose to do. A log home owner whom we interviewed early on in the process told us that building a log home is an organic process. Things can change in the design as the home goes up, but timing is everything. In truth, the home continues to “grow” and develop long after it is up. While many people leave all the decisions to their builders, we are heavily invested (emotionally and otherwise) in this house. For better or worse, when the home is finished, we will know that we were actively involved in its creation from beginning to end.
You won’t believe how we plan to use the Guelph wood stove from the old cottage.
-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2007 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
