The End of the Garden Bins

Carl and Carl Jr. from up on the mountain, came with our old trailer and their truck and took away all 6 bins, in minutes. We're getting things off our checklist of things to do before we move.

Garden Bins

 We have five troughs that are about 3'x8'x28" and one six foot circular one. All have drilled drainage holes. We spent about $1000 to buy all of these. 

 

Redesigning the Garden

Los trabajadores were bangin' away early on the new house next door, so it was a good day for us to get outside and start doing something about the yard. We planned to transplant the six redbud trees into the back bed but were going to wait until the first frost to killed our flowers. But no...we pulled them out and relocated them in the handy dumpster which lives at the end of our driveway. The white tubs which held the redbuds were hauled on a dolly to the back bed and we rolled and pulled until the trees came loose from their pots. Then they were placed in the empty-ish beds by the herculean effort of SuperDave. The soil from two troughs was used to fill the remaining areas of the bed. We had raised that back bed to two tiers of concrete blocks, and we still have 1/3 of the area to finish. The excess soil is going to cover the low spots of the yard and then we'll sod it. We have lots more soil and troughs to empty.

  The troughs were sitting on ten concrete blocks each, which we used to raise the back bed. To get the blocks we first had to empty the troughs of their soil. More to go...

The New House

This is the Barlow design. with lots of upgrades ($$) on the facade. Brickwork, iron railings and a window in the top, and sidelights and screen door on the front door. They also added the arches on top of the columns.

This is the plain Jane version with a single window on the right and no railings on the porch. We are still discussing what we want to do with the facade, but we are now discussing the color of the exterior. I vote for RED like this two storey below.

And I would like a picket fence like this:

Wish List and Questions

Here's a start on the ideas we are tossing around.
Beginning with the back porch. My husband would like a deck, and we have had one made of Trex (or a similar product from Lowe's) and it is hopefully less expensive than concrete and brick, which we noticed on the back porch. We'd like to extend it the full width of the house, with the roof or something for shade.
The garage: could there be attic storage? For that matter is there an attic in the house?
We'd like to install (ourselves) shop lighting for the garage, which is why we want the ceiling outlets. He likes the idea of windows in the garage for light and aesthetics.
The Master Bedroom: This will be my studio and the closet will store my art supplies, so I would prefer the pantry be moved to extend the closet as long as possible. No closet fixtures need be installed, but I would like an led interior light. I would also like two ceiling lights in the studio itself.
The Master Bath: We would like the same tub/shower combo as in the front bath, no fancy tile, with the toilet moved opposite and a single sink/vanity. The washer and dryer combo against the back wall, with insulation to prevent freezing pipes, which has happened to us once already. A linen closet built where the toilet was.
The Pantry: Place the pantry where the washer dryer were originally, and include shelving (wire) and a wall between the water heater and the pantry interior.
The Kitchen: White cabinets like in the model, a single double wide sink, gas range, white appliances and a single level countertop, no serving shelf.  If there is an option for material other than granite for the countertop, we would prefer something nearly or close to white. White subway tile back splash. Brushed nickel plumbing fixtures in kitchen and baths. Outlets somewhere on the front countertop. Microwave in the cabinet like Vicky White has.
Living room: A large picture window instead of double hung. No fireplace.
Front bedroom: A large picture window instead of double hung.
Front bath: white vanity matching the kitchen cabinets, the same for the second bath. Is there a closet in the bath or in the hall?
Flooring: We would like the lightest possible color, white or gray. Wood and bathroom tile.
Outside, a concrete slab for the garbage can, around the side of the house.

My inspiration

   
The Crush Series
by Melanie Grant.

my start...just making parts out of my scrap bins.

My start.
Meh.

Maybe this way?
Maybe I need orange?



Or just crop it! Wowoowow! 
Picasa saves the day.

But that wasn't exactly finished. I needed something warmer and brighter so I overlayed and cut away a new focal point.

That's better. Here's a detail of the sweet spot.

Nice compositions!

Mitered Diamond Jacket Finale

Electrical work, please

 Here's what is under my kitchen sink: A switch that runs the disposal and an outlet box that is only live when the disposal is running, which is not helpful.

 Our big island has no outlet that I can use to run an appliance. I would like to have an outlet right in front of the sink, if possible. I can easily fit my hand under the face board, between the sink and the back of that face board. If that is not doable I would gladly settle for an outlet SOMEWHERE on the island.