raw materials

i took this (very amateur) photo of the raw materials we are planning to use for the house.

the river white granite (middle far right), white ceramic tile and slate (center) are for the upstairs bathrooms; the green/grey pietra granite (to the far left) and the slate are for the master bathroom; and the flamed absolute black granite (triangle shape) and white limestone (2 small chunks) will be in the main living area - the granite on the counters and the limestone on the fireplace.
you can click on the photo to enlarge for a better look.

relaxation

even with all of the construction and the oppressive insulation work everywhere, my girls found a lovely spot on the upstairs deck and did what we hope this house will do for all who share it with us - they kicked back, grabbed a book, and RELAXED.

ceilings

so, all of our ceilings inside and out will have this awesome tongue and groove woodwork. this image is an exterior shot of the lower deck ceiling. inside the house, the ceilings will be washed with white paint but outside they will remain a natural color. love that detail.

insulation

as of yesterday, our house was being sprayed with insulation - which does not make for the most attractive images.

here is a photo of the great room - taken looking down from the attic/mechanical room. it shows our new 6' x 6' window in the great room plus the expanse of the ceiling height and, of course, the heavy duty insulation. the room beyond is the future screened porch and the scaffolding is for the masonry work being done on the fireplace.

flat it is

okay, flat corrugated metal it is. we made our decision.

below are a few photos of the bayou bend visitor and education center here in houston. it was designed by leslie elkins architecture and is one of my favorite buildings. it has the flat corrugated metal for its exterior. check it out.

i've also included two photos of the absolutely fantastic landscaping at the facility. it is amazing.

exterior walls complete

two updated photos from yesterday courtesy of our builder. exterior walls are up and many windows are in. now for the siding...

i love the window at the entrance (photo on right). the space between the window and the (wooden) front doors will be wood to complement the metal. there will also be a wood feature between two larger upper windows on the front facade to tie it together.

another glimpse

another view of the kitchen and then the great room (see previous post).

you can see the front door/entry to the right as well as the progress on the fireplace.

a glimpse

as the walls were going up i got this shot of the kitchen and the great room beyond. to the left is the outdoor deck and the grey stone is the beginning of the fireplace.



the kitchen area is one of the only rooms that will have a 'ceiling.' almost every other room in the house will feature the trusses at the roof height. the kitchen's more intimate area, positioned in the center of the first floor, highlights the openness of the other rooms.

walls

the walls have arrived.

metal siding part one

so... which metal siding to use? they all seem very similar. we've decided to position ours horizontally, but which pattern?!... above are the two styles we are considering.

metal siding part two

a better look at the options plus an additional option from my friend's stellar round top house (the larger image) that is a roofing material applied as a siding.