Lampton House

Finished, Complete, Whole. The End and Beginning...

2010-12-31T16:17:00.000-08:00

CLICK ON ABOVE PHOTOS FOR GALLERY. Photos Courtesy of and Copyright by StudioMet.

it is the last day of december 2010. it has been quite the journey, buying the piece of land, knocking down the health hazard of a home, working with and designing the home, hiring a builder, making selections, watching and monitoring the build. the year went by fast. it was fun, frustrating and extremely fulfilling to put this house together. blogging was both therapeutic and also a good way to keep track of progress of a home. thanks to our architect StudioMet (http://www.studiomet.net/) for designing a wonderful, efficient, nod to the mi-century modern past home. su nguyen and steve andrews really came through with a beautiful design. thanks to our builder fish & lyons (http://www.fishlyons.com/) for working with us and allowing us to enjoy the ride as well. we can't wait to work on project #2...coming soon. did someone say butterly roof?

finished custom millwork photos - stonewood studios

2010-12-31T16:05:00.000-08:00

CLICK ON ABOVE PHOTOS FOR GALLERY. Above and linke photos courtesy of and Copyright by Stonewood Studio - Photos taken by Fulton Davenport

one of our favorite features of our home is all the custom millwork throughout the house. we chose a quartersawn walnut for all the millwork in the bathrooms and kitchen. finished with a light coat of poly. the natural grains of the walnut really shines through. the millwork was done by stonewood studios, aka sandy kay. sandy has done some amazing custom work for some of houston's most amazing modern homes - i'm a big fan, and was glad to have him work on our cabinets. the dovetail joints, attentional to detail, and use of blum drawer hardware and hafele tabs really set these cabinets above and beyond our expectations.

lampton house brochure

2010-07-16T20:23:00.001-07:00

If you are interested in the Lampton House or just want additional information, please click HERE for more information

box and gate

2010-07-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

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the polycarbonate panels have been installed on the carport, fireplace face plate has been installed (though wrong model...so goes the story of construction sometime) and the mailbox and doorbell have arrived. all the personal touches are nicely going in. we've got sod next on the list and the never ending list of punch-out items. slowly but surely this house is coming together. we've had some friends come through, and even several drive by - and the consensus so far is that this would be one sweet party house. that is music to my ears, since our initial design idea was to create an inviting space for small to large gatherings. with a spacious living room, a huge off living room deck and an intimate patio space on the otherside of the home...a wondering guest easily float around. can't wait to see how the home works with a party.

fixtures and hardware

2010-07-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

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This week saw the installation of the plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware. these usually are installed later in the "game" since somehow these shiny things walk away pretty easily from the job site. the installation of the hafele tab hardware shows the detail of the mill work. each tab is slightly recessed so that the hardware sits flush with the mill work. the front door got a healthy dose of stain and poly. still mulling on the stain color...will have to give it some time to sink in. we will shortly have the master tub, fireplace and gate panels installed soon...so stay tuned.

its all in the details

2010-07-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

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its in the small things, the details, that make something truly interesting. with this house, there are several things that are incorporated that have made this process a joy. in the photo above the interior fire sprinkler actually uses a real bell. in this modern age, who in the world uses a real bell instead of a digital horn? additionally, there are door stops, walnut cabinetry and plumbing hardware that all have their own features. as these things are installed, the home is slowly being put together. the weather has not been very cooperative. with so much rain, the exterior sod and landscaping have taken a back seat. instead, the finished cabinetry is going in the kitchen and bath. this quarter-sawn walnut looks amazing. anyone agree? carpet has been on the agenda, and it is not an easy choice. berber? frieze? loop? who knows!!! let the fun/confusion keep rolling!

button it up

2010-06-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

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The finishes are starting to be installed. cabinet fronts, sinks, plumbing hardware, disposals, lights, etc. there are countless details yet to be filled in, so the list is long, but it is fun seeing every little thing being crossed off the list. at this stage you always start to wonder how all your selections will work. will it be cohesive, will it be an eclectic mix, or will it look like a mistake. we were going for a timeless modern. the mid-century design and architecture was the base we started with, and we have pulled a few things from that era directly and indirectly. obviously the large beams that run in to out and the George Nelson bubble lamp are all the direct take-offs from the past. the large courtyard home, open floor plan were things taken indirectly.

hit the floor!

2010-06-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

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the estimate is 4 weeks....to completion. it sure looks like it will take longer, but everyday something is changing. this past few days, the stonework has been getting a fresh layer of grout. wow, the slate, blue stone, carrara marble, and glass tiles look great when hit with a crisp grout line. i will get photos of these up soon. also this week, the sprinklers have been laid and awaiting inspection on Monday. additionally, the floor guys are back. did i mention that the air conditioner is working? not too soon. the floors required about a week to adjust to the cool a/c air, to ensure that the moisture content is low enough to sand and stain. we are hitting the floors with a dark ebony finish. almost black at low light levels. death star is the inspiration :) = just take a view of a star wars movie....you'll see. we hit the floor with some alcohol to pop the grains on the 5" solid northern white oak floors. with the first coat of stain, the floors already look amazing...with room to improve. of course, with all the stain and paint, the house is a deathtrap for the oxygen dependent. oh well...i guess it requires fewer brain cells anyways to be building a home in this economy. one thing to note as well, we had two agents stop by the home to get their input as to sale price, etc. we will touch base with them later, but their initial comments were highly favorable.

we're out of the gates

2010-06-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

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new addition to the house...the gate for the carport. this will provide separation for the detached garage. the gate is split in a 70/30 configuration. the larger portion will usually remain closed, while the smaller part of the gate will provide the main access when walking through this area. the gate will probably remain closed most of the time, but occasionally we will probably open it up to create a huge pass through for gatherings, parties, etc. the gate is made of steel, and will have polycarbonate panels installed vertically. also making an appearance is the large format glass tiles in the kitchen. enjoy!

rock on!

2010-06-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

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every time i visit the home something is new. this time around, the counter tops were being installed. i went to the slab yard about two weeks back. searched approximately 5 yards looking for not only a beautiful piece of stone, but also one that would fit our home. we wanted to try to keep as many surfaces to be one piece...since the kitchen bar area and master bath were about 10' long...it required a slab that was greater than 120" long. not an easy task. those that fit the size, didn't fit the style, etc. finally found this venatino carrara marble up in hempstead area. we are using this in the kitchen and master bath. the powder room gets a little extra kick with some Calcutta oro marble, while the utility room, study bath, and jack/jill bath are getting honed absolute black granite. notice the mitred edges in the kitchen - cool feature that is accomplished with 45 degree cuts on each slab, and joined together with epoxy/adhesive. smooooooth..

deck the halls...i mean courtyard

2010-05-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

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trying to wrap up the outside. we have graded the site, and now working on installing the deck. the deck was not originally planned, however, due to the elevation change of the main house foundation, it made for an 18" difference between the home and grade. originally we were just going to have large concrete slabs, but due to this change we are installing a deck. we looked at composite decking materials, pressure treated lumber, but at the end of the day we decided to go with ipe. a Brazilian hardwood, that if went untreated could last for 50+ years without treatment. installation is hard work, as ipe is one of the hardest woods in the world. these carpenters went through several drill bits and blades to install this deck.

fencing for now

2010-05-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

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the exterior of the home is on the fast track now. currently the fence is being installed. we opted for an 8 feet fence, hung with horizonal cedar boards to give it a slightly different/modern look. fences are always a necessary evil here in houston. everyone has them, some share fences and some have their own fences back to back. luckily we were able to convince our neighbors in the back to tear down their ugly rotted fence, and to split the cost for the rear portion of the fence. thus saving us half of the 80 linear feet of fence. thank goodness we have good neighbors. next up will be more interior work, followed by the ipe decking!

square it up with tile!

2010-05-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

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the tile is being installed, and it is a mix of black ash slate, steel gray slate, oceanic bluestone, and carrara marble. we are sticking to rectangular pieces installed on half, and also a cool planking pattern in the entry and powder room. things are starting to be tied up nicely, and seeing the finish details coming together is exciting. 10 decision down, now only 550 more decisions before the home is finalized. keep it going!

progress is as progress does

2010-04-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

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the finished kitchen cabinets are being installed. these cabs were designed and milled by stonewood studios. can't wait to see them fully installed. the installation slowly brings the scale of this room to sight...only a few more weeks till we are there. tile flooring is also in the works, the pics show the utility/laundry room. also installed are the tongue and groove cedar ceiling in the entry and carport area. this will be stained a medium/dark color. hopefully this project keeps rolling...anyone want to get in with me on another one?

millwork and break-ins

2010-04-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

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Finish work is happening inside the home. the trim and finish carpenters are working on the built-in shelving and closet casework. the carpenter is amazing, and is building and customizing all our closets. the study will have a wall of book shelves with built-in areas for stereo equipment and tv. the living room will have a floating walnut cabinet that is over 7' long. also, the laundry room lower and upper cabs and the secondary bedroom built-in dresser are looking amazing as well. with all the great progress, we had a brief set-back yesterday. we had some douche-bags break into the home and stole some plywood and materials. nothing worth too much, but they did destroy the framing of the doors, which need to be replaced. oh well, the driveway are awaiting some inspection before the pour, so it is just a holding pattern for now until it dries up (which won't happen until next week due to forecasted rain).....

diggin' it up

2010-04-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

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time to beautify the site. the removal of the tree guard, and digging up the old driveway, the site now looks like a war zone. the flatwork forms are done, and after some tweaking, the rebar has gone down. hopefully, this thought of a landing strip-type driveway in my mind works well in reality. with the weather cooperating, the concrete will be poured sometime early next. additionally, the interior casework is going in. all the built-in closet casework is going in.

floor and door

2010-04-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

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The solid oak wood floors are installed and they look great if i can say so myself. they are solid 5" wide northern white oak floors. we will stain them a dark ebony as the project finishes. also being planned are the cabinets for the closets and study bookshelf. designed both on the plans and also on the wall, quick drawings were made directly on the sheetrock with the finish carpenter. also on the garage is a temporary garage door while we decide on the final doors. things from now on will come fast, with interior doors, trim and cabinetry starting at the end of the week...hold on tight...

tar in the house

2010-04-03T22:15:00.001-07:00

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the flooring installation has begun. the black gooey stuff in the photos is tar. yup, tar on the floor. because this is a single story home, the solid hardwood flooring would buckle if it was directly installed on the concrete floor, which is a porous material. therefore, the technique of screeds embedded into a tar covered floor is used. the tar is heated up to a high degree to make it more viscous, and poured directly on the slab. once the tar begins cooling down, the screeds, made of 2x4, are placed into the tar. once cooled, the solid hardwood floor is nailed to the screeds. this technique creates an air cushion between the slab and the floor, therefore enhancing the thermal break of the house. in the meantime, don't breathe too heavily since this tar can be extremely smelly!

pink sheetrock with details

2010-04-03T22:07:00.001-07:00

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here are some pictures of additional details of the home including the main beams travel from inside out of the home, the recessed main mirror in the master bath and the level 4 drywall finish, which explains the pink mud on the wall. next up, flooring.

light me up!

2010-03-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

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the brick on the fireplace has been installed, and it is nice to have an earth tone color in the home now to warm things up a little. the brick on the fireplace against the commercial type windows looks great. it make it look like the brick goes from outside-in just like the main beams of the house. additionally, the main beams have been painted its light gray color. these beams pop nicely against the soft white exterior. a few more swipes of the mud on the wall, and paint and wood floor will be put in.

gypsum it up!

2010-03-26T18:52:00.001-07:00

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in a day the gypsum board crew put up the sheets lightning fast. the shape of each room is finally taking shape. additionally, the white color of the boards really give a sense of how the finished rooms lightning level will be. this house has a great glow during dusk as the sunset light streams into the home through the three clerestory windows that were a late addition. stay tuned for additional mud and tape of the Sheetrock and the installation of the brick on the fireplace.

no more echo

2010-03-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

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additional progress has been made over the past two weeks. the exterior has been caulked, primed and painted. exterior has been painted a soft white, while the beams are painted a light gray. the galvanized flashing around the brick and main beams are left exposed, while the flashing near the panels have been painted the same color. inside, speaker wiring and conduits have been run, and insulation installed. hopefully all has been put in order now, since the drywall will go up this week. this will make a very large difference when on the inside.

brick and mortar

2010-03-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

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it has been a few weeks since my last update, work has been keeping me very busy. since last time, the brick has been installed. additionally, the galvanized trim and flashing have been installed as well. there is just a little bit of finish work on the hardi panel and planks before everything is ready for prime and paint. i'm very happy with the choice of brick...made by lakewood, called light grey. thanks to the Aker house in the kessler woods development in dallas for the inspiration. next up is finalizing the mechanical and framing inspections before drywall is installed. it is crouch time now for finalizing appliances, tiles, flooring. going fast, so hang on tight.

siding and colors lay down

2010-02-21T18:17:00.000-08:00

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new updates for this week are the paneling on the courtyard facade has been installed. the fire sprinkler system has been installed. paint color has been finalized. the brick is still scheduled to be installed over the next week or so pending inspections. drywall is just around the corner once we get all the wiring, plumbing, and other rough-ins finalized. soon enough we will have a hvac system up and going. upcoming will be the installation of the tankless water heater. one large heater will be able to service the whole-house. additional "green" aspects of the home are the foil-backed OSB boards on the ceiling/roof, the commercial type windows with argon gas middle and a thermal layout that keeps the hot west facing portions of the home low and unexposed.

oranger - primer?

2010-02-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

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Today the painter primed the majority of the soffit and facias on the home. additionally, he also primed the main structural beams on the home. having the same color on these areas has helped us see how the home will eventually look...no longer the factory color of the panels. the roof is coming to a finish, the tpo guys were working hard again, hopefully we will have a few dry days for them to finish up. we need to decide on paint colors, hence the few sample colors. not easy to decide, but luckly, paint is always something that can be changed later so we will try not to lose too much sleep over it. something to not lose sleep over, is the interior fire spinkler system that is currently being installed. you will see orange piping through out our home right now. becuase the home is built so far deep into the lot, the fire code require sprinklers. this was an expense we did not originally budget, but in the short term, the cost will be recovered by the small discount in insurance, and of course, the peace of mind sure doesn't hurt.

clerestory votes are in

2010-02-05T23:07:00.001-08:00

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After a quick vote, we have gone with the clerestory window on the south facing side of the home. though this is usually a fairly warm side of the home that you want to reduce window, the large tree up front provides shade that prevents direct sunlight from streaming in. furthermore, it is the tree itself that spurred the idea of adding the slanted clerestory windows. also, as you can see the brick has dropped, the metal support pole on the master patio has been installed, the a/c vents have been cut. the tpo roof is not complete due to the recent rains, hence the water in the house. after the next 2-3 days of sunshine, the roofers should be able to get in and finish it up.

top, side and pipes!

2010-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

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As you can see, we have several things progressing. the siding has landed and is in the process of being installed. we are doing about an 8" reveal to distinguish it from old-school siding. most of the siding will be on parts of the house that won't be seen as often. rough plumbing is going in as well. the rough valve for in-wall faucets are installed first. the whole home will be put together with copper pipes. also, the frame work for the sliding pocket doors just went in. the external doors have been delivered and will be framed/installed by weeks end. lastly, the roofing material has also arrived, and was in the midst of being installed this afternoon. hopefully it got done since a heavy pour is coming up tomorrow! the material we chose was 60 mil tpo manufactured by gaf everguard. this is usually a commercial application, but chose it due to its great lifespan, reflectivity, and ease of repair. this stuff can be found on flat roofs of shopping centers, hospitals and even stadiums!

windows, wrap in a week

2010-01-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

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The windows are in, the sheathing is up, and the tyvek(r) barrier is up. we made a last minute change to the clerestory window on the south facing facade of the home. we added two additional slowing windows in order to get additional light, and also view of the magnificent oak tree in the front yard. additional changes and progress this week include framing and installing the 8' windows that flank the fireplace. siding and brick are just around the corner. additionally the doors should arrive soon - and when they do we will be able to enclose the home.

video walk through

2010-01-16T17:06:00.000-08:00

below are some quick clips of the lampton home. sheathing has gone up, and windows put in. soon enough the roof will be popped in and this will be an enclosed house. rain rain stay away!
street view

front door and carport

main courtyard

study and living room

living room

master bedroom

raise the roof

2010-01-07T21:13:00.001-08:00

the main living room beams are in and now the home has taken shape. enjoy the gallery by clicking the above pictures

coming on up

2010-01-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

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the framing packs arrived yesterday, and framing began right away. the picture above are on day two of the framing around noon. with a few extra framers on site, the framing is quickly taking shape and it might all be done prior to the weekend. it is exciting to see a concept finally take shape. i thought it was cool to see the foundation last week, but seeing the actual 3D of the framing and walking through the "rooms" is definitely much more exciting. i will update with more framing pics once the main beams in the living room are installed.

rough grade

2009-12-31T16:29:00.001-08:00

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the forms have been removed and the lot has been rough graded and the trash from the last couple of weeks removed. we were fortunate to pour the foundation last week. the lot across from ours cancelled their pour of the foundation and have not been able to pour this week because of the weather. also, two other homes on our street have sold and one was in the process of being demoed this afternoon with the other one to be torn down soon. lumber drops next week, and hopefully we will start having a glimpse of the home take shape

house on a rock

2009-12-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

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the foundation is paramount to the home. without a strong, steadfast foundation, a structure will not endure the test of time.

"He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." Luke 6:48

let it pour

2009-12-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

the skies cleared up enough this morning for the concrete guys to give the green light. it has been raining almost every day for the past two weeks, and the weather just was not consistent enough to pour. however, with a small opening this morning, we were able to get the concrete down. after some time to cure, the framers will come next.

finishing up foundation before pour

2009-12-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

the preparation for the foundation is almost finished. the under foundation rough is complete, the void boxes are in, the rebar is in place. just some finishing work, an inspection by the engineer, and we are ready to pour some concrete. since it is a one story home, the foundation is pretty large. rain, rain stay away!

piers are in and rough plumbing next

2009-12-13T22:37:00.000-08:00

just a few photos with the plumbing work going in. the ground is extremely muddy, with more rain on the way. need some dry days to get that foundation poured! at least there is some progress right now....keep it going. top picture: view from living room looking south towards street. middle picture: view into master bedroom wing, facing east. bottom picture: view from kitchen sink towards living room, north.

piers drilled and poured

2009-12-10T16:04:00.001-08:00

the ground has now officially been "broken" with the drilling and pouring of the piers for the foundation. there will be a total of 50+ piers drilled, hopefully making this foundation one for the ages. the houston soil can reek havoc on a home with a slab on grade. hopefully this will prevent the great expansion of the soil from shifting the foundation!

permit in hand - let the good times roll

2009-12-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

above: view from front entry

above: view from back northwest corner

above: view from north to south looking down toward front door

above: view into garage

we were able to secure the building permit this week, and have begun laying out the foundation. the foundation envelope is done (see below pics) and will hopefully be able to drill the piers this coming week. we actually had snow this past friday, but it appears the workers worked through that. we have several decision to make now that the foundation is on its way, including: windows, exterior, beams, etc.

redesign of the plans

2009-10-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

what do you do when the original design is 5' past the build line? you end up redesigning the home into an arguably better floorplan. though it was not what we wanted to do, it ended up being a positive thing. see for yourself

driving up to the house

2009-10-13T20:52:00.001-07:00

a final rendering of the front of the house. i believe we have decided to go with a painted beam for the exterior/interior. this was done with the eichler homes of the 50's from which we drawn some inspiration. becuase of this, we the choice of beams used may need to be reconsidered. stay tuned for permitting news. again, another fine rendering by ramy hanna www.ramyhanna.com

permitting

2009-09-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

the list of things to do before even building the home is very long. it has taken quit a bit of time getting to the permitting phase. the city of bellaire has so many "above and beyond" requirements from the city of houston that it can be a daunting (and expensive) road. i believe we will hopefully get to submit our plans sometime next week. from there, it should take another 2-3 weeks for the permitting to either be approved, or.... hopefully with fewer builds, it won't take as long.

above is another ramy hanna (http://www.ramyhanna.com/) rendering of the interior with furniture!

eye candy - yum!

2009-09-11T15:21:00.001-07:00

few additional renderings. these are looking more and more lifelike. with the addition of light fixtures and furniture to come...can't wait! let me know your thoughts? any changes?

one day...gone

2009-08-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

only took one day to tear the house down, remove the foundation, chop down a few trees and clear the overgrowth. Wow, the lot looks so much bigger than i had imagined. the fun is about to start soon....

demo day is here

2009-08-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Eight months since getting the lot and we are finally ready to tear the existing home down. Hopefully the permitting process will be smooth and we can get this house framed and enclosed as fast as possible. Stay tuned for demolition pictures.

Update: 3:00 - pictures of the destruction!!

additional renderings

2009-06-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

finalizing plans with a builder is not all that easy. there are so many variables to decide, the process can easily slow down to a snails pace. i believe we are close. in the meantime, additional rendering from our friend Ramy. These are close to being ready for import to full rendering where additional items and textures will be added. we are continually excited about this project, and are ready to breack ground...fingers crossed.

front elevation

2009-05-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

rendering for the home is coming along. we've had several meetings with potential builders and are slowly coming to the decision. hopefully within the next two weeks we will of heard back from all builders and make the decision how to proceed. the process has definitely taken longer than expected; however, we have enjoyed each step so far.

hanna rendering

2009-05-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

we have an extremely talented friend who is helping on some renderings for our lampton house. this is the first rendering which will be imported to 3-D. eventually windows, brick, trees, paint, etc will be added...just like building a real home. for a glimpse at our friend's 3-D rendering talent, check out his website (http://www.ramyhanna.com/) or his blog (http://3dsmaxrendering.blogspot.com/)

finalized...design that is....

2009-05-04T21:17:00.001-07:00

site plan, floor plan and elevations

well, we are finalized with our drawings. have the architect and engineer's stamp of approval. so what next? well, we are continuing to wait on two bids for the home. we have sent it to bid with a construction company that specializes in modern builds, and has a great sense of how to effectively execute the modern home. on the other hand, is a builder who has an extensive advantage in material purchase and experience in many new green building techniques including sip panels, spray insulation, and other materials. our tenant is moving out at the end of this week, which clears the way for ...clearing the lot. slowly but surely we are crawling forward. hopefully by June, we can be up and going...witha possible completion before summer 2010.

renderings

2009-02-27T22:23:00.001-08:00

we are getting close to finalizing the design. here are some sketches of the courtyard area and also one of the living/dining/kitchen area. there still is a lot of decision to be made...both for things not seen (framing, insulation, hvac) and those things seen (siding, brick choice, finishes, appliances, etc.). literally thousands of choices to be made.

3rd draft computer schematics

2009-02-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

here is the third iteration of our floor plan. things are coming together nicely. the master bath has been reconfigured, as well as the dimensions of the kitchen and study. also, the a/c work in the master closet has been reworked to keep the wall facing the entrance door clean. given the hard economic times, we are hoping that the lending will work out as planned a few months ago. if not, then it has been fun :) fingers crossed- and lord willing....

computer schematics

2009-02-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

we just finished our markup of the computer generated floorplans and elevations. As you can see, the plan has been flipped. also, the general layout has changed slightly from the initial handrawn floorplan. there is a jack-n-jill bath configuration for the two smaller rooms in the back, the masterbath is not switched with the master closet. the master bathroom configuration is going to change from the above, and it should be incorporated in the next draft. the kitchen is being tweaked, as well as the roofline on the garage, and the layout of windows. we will have 25 ft beams running throughout the living space/dining space, which will look great. the beams will be somekind of engineered beams. also, there is talks of wrapping the ceiling in the living, dining, kitchen with either wood planks or sheets of maple, birch,etc. the living, dining, and kitchen will get hardwoods which will require the slab to be dropped about 2.5 inch es so that the installation of the wood floors with the tiles will be flush...without any kind of joints or edges. things are progressing and there is talk of breaking ground in march....we will see. next drafts should be back by the weeks end. [click on picture to enlarge]

first round of floorplans

2009-02-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

well, we had our first meeting with studioMET regarding the schematics of the home and the floorplan to the right is the result of our initial meeting. [click on picture to enlarge] when we started the process with studioMET we gave them a list of things we wanted in the home. some were specific, and some were just a list of feelings we wanted to evoke when someone comes to and into the home. we plan on flipping the floorplan horizontally so that the "C" formation faces east or up on the floorplan above. other features we like are the study that can turn to a 4th bedroom b/c it has a closet and a connected bathroom. also, we totally dig the carport. just for reference, the space of the kitchen, dining and living room is approximately 22x40 feet. for those that have been to our townhouse, it is roughly the size of our second floor but 6 feet wider. also, notice that the living, dining room has a wall of windows...probably sliding glass doors since fold-away windows (like nana walls) would thoroughly break the budget.

below is the list we initially came up with for the architect, let me know your thoughts on whether you think the design embodies our list:

~mid-century inspired design

~1 story~2500-3000 s.f.

~indoor/outdoor feeling

~courtyard feeling

~home that runs the depth of the lot

~at least 3 bedroom

~at least 3 full baths

~possibly a study that could convert to room if needed

~possibly a small sitting area

~main living space (kitchen, dinning, living room connected) towards back of home so you don't walk right into the main area from the front door

~master bedroom towards back of home

~large kitchen space

~low-slung roof

~stone/cmu on the front elevation

~possibly 3 car garage, or 2 car garage with carport

~exposed beams

Schematic Forthcoming

2009-01-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

Well...we are in the early phase of design. Studio Met will be getting us the initial schematic drawing in about a week or two. Hopefully our first meeting a month ago conveyed enough of what we had in mind. Fingers crossed.

soil testing

2009-01-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

soil testing occurs today. this is done so that the engineers can design a good foundation for the home. being in houston, the ground is usually either sand or clay, and causes great expansion both in winter and especially in the summer. designing the correct foundation can either "make or break" a home. also to take in consideration is the likelihood of flooding on the lot. luckily for us, the lot is not in the flood plain, which will eliminate several costly issues.

architectural firm decided

2009-01-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

well we finally made our decision for the architect for the lampton house. drum roll......studio met of houston, texas (www.studiomet.net) or their general construction site (www.mdgi.net). we look forward to working with the principal architect su nguyen.