The evolution of siding

The siding is progressing more quickly now; it may actually be complete one day! We love the look and can't wait for the paint to go on the lap siding. (The cedar stays the way it is.) We've been playing with sample siding paint colors and have settled on a dark charcoal for the trim color and a gray called Iron Mountain for the main siding color. Can't wait to see it!

The Barn's siding is almost complete. That's one beautiful storage area!

Our backsplash went in this week, too. 

Peter built the laundry room counter and hanging area (at the right end of the counter).

Many of the interior walls are now painted their final color. The boys' bedrooms are being painted now as well; each boy has chosen two different colors for his walls. Unfortunately, when we visited yesterday evening we discovered that one of Hayden's colors was in Cole's room and one of Cole's colors was in Hayden's room. This is an easy fix, though, so nothing to worry about.

We're also finalizing our planting and landscaping plans; we'll be chipping our giant pile of yard debris next Saturday and using some of the chip to make pathways. I've been investigating purchasing boulders and stepping stones and have some great information, so hopefully we can get those up to the land soon. Rachel (my friend and landscape designer) and I will start major planting on May 29 and schedule further planting around the concrete schedule. (We can't plant near where the concrete will be poured or the plants will get trampled.) Concrete starts this week with the east side of the house, and hopefully will finish with the south side of the house the following week, though it will likely take longer. It's hard to plan around the concrete schedule because pouring concrete depends on the weather and the other jobs vying for concrete at the same time, as well as the other contractors involved. Since we have lights embedded in some of the concrete, we have to schedule the electrician to place the lights after the concrete guys have set the forms and before the actual concrete can be poured. It's all about scheduling!