The House That a Community Built

Mission Complete, Yet Also Just Beginning...

2013-03-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

It is with a sense of sadness (as evidenced by the fact that this post is more than two years after we have moved in), but also with satifaction, that I write the last post in this blog. Sadness because this project, which was so much fun to do and to share it with all of you, has come to an end. But we are also very excited because a new chapter of our lives has started. Even though our mission of building our home is complete, the journey in this home has really just begun.

In finishing this blog I am including photos of my two favourite rooms - our ensuite bathroom (which has an amazing view of the mountains and ocean that I savour every day) and our kitchen (which has become the heart of our home). Also included is an outside shot of the back of the house where we have already spent many, many happy hours together by ourselves and with friends and family. If you want to see the rest of the house just drop us a line. We would love to have any of you, our friends, come and see it in person instead of on a computer screen.

This last picture is a view from our house of the sun setting on our very first full day living in our new house. I found it a fitting picture to end this blog. Thank you everyone who participated in this adventure with us - it was truly a community that helped to build our home.

Moving Day! and Thanks

2010-12-01T09:23:00.006-08:00

Moving day finally arrived and look what we ended up with. It started at about 6 the night before and continued all night.

The only thing worse than having to shovel your driveway the morning of a move is having to shovel two of them! It was hard to be too mad though - it was so beautiful.

I would love to post a ton of pictures right now; however, I feel a bit like that would be cheating and skipping over a huge part of the building process. I wasn't able to post much in November as it was a little bit crazy so my blog suffered immensely. So I am going to take time this month to post pictures of the house development in November that I missed. When that is all complete I will post pictures of the house in its finished state.

I want to take a minute to thank all our friends and family who helped us out through this entire process and most especially the move. The day could have been a complete disaster and because of you all we finally made it into our home. There has been no transition at all adjusting to this house - it feels so comfortable already (even though it is piled with boxes and debris) and it finally feels like we are truly 'home'. Thank you so much.

Random House Pictures

2010-10-30T19:59:00.004-07:00

I introduce to you our beautiful finished fireplace. Wyatt is really admiring it and he spent a lot of time figuring out which piece of metal will finish it off perfectly. There is a space right in the middle of the fireplace surround that we can either put a circular piece of metal or a rectangular one. I think the consensus was the circular one to break up the straight lines a bit. We are in love with our fireplace and know we will spend many nights curled up on the couch by it.

Ella also put the first finishing touch to her room - a poster she purchased. We tucked it in her closet so that our painter won't get mad at us!

Our window bench is also complete and today Ella was the first one of us to curl up on it with a blanket and read her book.

The tiles are also up in the kitchen and some of the moulding has been added. This week our island countertop will arrive.

Fireplace

2010-10-25T18:34:00.004-07:00

I am the first to admit that I am getting a bit tired right now. You may have guessed so by the lack of posts this month. Between school and extra-curricular activities, packing and last minute house decisions I am ready to move on. Except that our last move was pretty horrific so I am not exactly looking forward to the moving part. For the most part I would be content just to stay in our current house and visit our new house every once and awhile to admire it!

And then something exciting happens at Ocean Oasis and I feel re-energized and really excited about moving on. That something exciting is our fireplace. Like many of our light fixtures, our fireplace is something really special and personal to us. As John's Dad was involved in our lighting my Dad is involved in our fireplace. He made us this absolutely beautiful mantle out of yew wood and it has finally gone up. It weighs about 2 tonnes (well, it feels like it does) and is almost 8 feet long. They built two pillars to help hold it up and Rob and Anne are going to cover them with the same rock work that is on the front of the house. It is something very special and something we will be able to look at and enjoy every day. Thanks Dad!

For My Birthday I Received...

2010-10-20T18:33:00.005-07:00

A driveway, new kitchen cabinets, a kitchen sink, and deck railings!

Now before you all inform me that one of my gifts is defective, with a gaping hole in the middle let me explain. We were super worried that the large driveway would take up the entire front yard and just look like one big hunk of concrete. John is also worried about drainage. When I mentioned this to Foreman Dave he came up with a brilliant idea. He suggested that they make an extra form (or more if we wanted) and put them throughout our driveway. This way they wouldn't put concrete in those forms and we could fill the empty spots with something else to break it up. John and I aren't totally sure what we are going to do with the diamond in the centre of our driveway. I would love grass but it would probably get pretty trashed. We thought maybe some more of the K2 stone, or even crushed gravel. We are open to suggestions if you have them. So my gift isn't really defective, it is just a little unique.

Tile Work and Kitchen Cabinets

2010-10-18T19:37:00.005-07:00

The tile work is almost completed. Almost all that remains are the tile countertops in the kitchen and the backsplash.

The exciting part right now is watching the kitchen cabinetry come together. We showed up today as they were putting the fronts on the cabinets and they are perfect! They are exactly what we wanted and they look so great.

Tomorrow they will probably be pouring our driveway. I took the last action shot as Cam, Sonny and Peter were just finishing up building the forms. They have finished almost all the flooring inside. The only parts that need to be completed are the stairs and our closet.

Can you tell Ella has started decorating our new house for Halloween? Bonus points to whomever can spot it.

The Art of Rock

2010-10-18T19:23:00.005-07:00

I want to do a special post in honour of the rock work that Rob and Anne have done over the past few weeks. They have worked tirelessly on this part of the house and it has turned out beautifully. Apparently at one point Rob was up on the roof at 3 am with a flashlight looking at the work that had been done and determining how to move ahead and not replicate a pattern.

I think he is proud of the front of the house and we are thrilled to have a very unique piece of art work. Thanks Rob and Anne!

The rock itself is from a company called K2. We used Tofino Sky Fieldstone and Black Pearl Ledgestone. In most applications the rocks are just placed horizontally but Rob bucked the trend and has them vertically and horizontally. All the rock is from a quarry here on Vancouver Island.

Our Resident Squirrel

2010-10-07T20:42:00.005-07:00

We have a squirrel at Ocean Oasis that likes to take our hazelnuts and hide them in our dogwood tree. The kids thought it would be fun to give him some peanuts too so they climbed up into the tree the other day and hid peanuts all throughout. Lo and behold, the next day when we returned they were all gone!

The squirrel isn't the only one that has been busy at the house. We have more tile (including my foyer which I so desparately wanted to lay with black and white checkerboard tile), more cabinets and a tub finally in place! They have finished the flooring on the main level and are going to get started on the top floor soon. It is hard to get some good pictures as they are covering the floors as soon as they are done to protect them. Great idea, I think!

Our Second Picnic

2010-10-03T15:30:00.009-07:00

When we first took possession of Ocean Oasis we celebrated by having a picnic. We headed to the house this morning and had a small picnic for the first time inside the house next to our new island. Phil installed the base of it on Friday so that the countertop people can come on Monday to measure.

John and his Dad spent more time this weekend putting up lights in the house. Ella's is a chandelier that John picked up at the local thrift store and him and his Dad re-wired it. It

looks terrific in her room with the purple. Tom is working hard on our bathroom, and aside from a few minor tile crises it is coming along beautifully.

Countertop and Shower

2010-09-30T22:13:00.004-07:00

Yesterday John and I went and picked out our countertop for the island. We had known for awhile that we wanted Vancouver Island Marble but yesterday we actually were able to go to the yard and pick the exact piece we wanted. Isn't it beautiful?

Our shower is moving along at a quick pace. After I took this picture Tom started working on the floor of the shower. I can hardly wait to check it out tomorrow.

Here is a great picture of Ella before she stepped in the wet cement. Sigh... Never a dull moment with her! At least it kept her away from the Dogwood tree out front which she loves to climb whenever we aren't looking.

Wow - Thank you!

2010-09-29T08:25:00.002-07:00

As we near the end of our house building journey the views on this blog have hit 3000! Wyatt has been anxiously anticipating this event and asking every day how close we were to it. Thank you everyone for continuing to come back and read, even though life has been getting in the way the last few months and my posts haven't been as frequent. I feel like you have all been sharing in our experience and I have really loved having you all involved.

So a huge thanks for making this project so enjoyable just by continuing to come back. I hope you have all enjoyed being a part of our home.

Stone Work and Kitchen Cabinets!

2010-09-27T20:50:00.002-07:00

Rob and Ann started putting the actual stones on our home today. The stones are from a quarry on Vancouver Island.

And today Phil came by and put into place the bottoms of our kitchen cabinets! This will make it easier for the flooring in the kitchen to be put down.

There are a lot of pictures of Ella on my blog and I think Wyatt was feeling a little left out. While Ella and I tour the house he is usually outside smashing rocks or cracking hazelnuts open so there isn't a lot of opportunity to take pictures with him in them. He actually wanted his picture taken tonight so here he is modelling some of our bamboo flooring.

Ode to a Father-in-Law

2010-09-26T20:35:00.006-07:00

Who has seen my Father-in-Law
with his screwdriver in hand?
For he toils away on ladders
to bring brightness to our land.

You do us so many great favours
those you ask of us are few.
I am so very grateful to have
a Father-in-Law like you.

Thanks Dad!

Busy Weekend

2010-09-26T20:25:00.003-07:00

Weekends are usually pretty quiet around Ocean Oasis but this weekend the place was busy. Saturday Rob and Ann started working on the stone on the front of the house. John and his Dad spent part of Saturday putting up lights around our house too.

On Friday more flooring was laid. They are covering the bamboo with paper as they go so it doesn't get damaged. Tom cemented the heat cables into place on our bathroom floor. I don't think we are allowed in there!

Our First Flooring

2010-09-24T20:51:00.006-07:00

Here is our very first strip of flooring laid!! We picked out this beautiful espresso bamboo flooring. It is such a rich colour and looks fantastic with the green walls and the white trim and mouldings. It is a shiny finish so it might not wear well, but we are looking forward to our house showing a bit of wear from being loved over the years.

The heat wires have been placed on our bathroom floor. Next they will be cemented in place and then the tiling should begin. Our shower will have a built-in shampoo and soap area - you can see the beginnings of it installed in the shower wall.

Moulding, Stonework and Shower

2010-09-22T18:21:00.003-07:00

Sonny and Pete have mostly finished up the trim around the doors and the windows. Today they came and picked up all our flooring and are hoping to start installing the flooring at the end of this week!

Rob the Stone Guy has put up the scaffolding and is about to begin the rock work at the front of the house.

Tom the Tile Guy is also starting to do all the tile work. The picture below is what our shower looks like now - it will be fun to watch it change over the days. He will also be doing tilework around our tub, on our bathroom floor (they will be heated - how great is that?) and our foyer.

Baseboards and Subfloor

2010-09-17T20:29:00.004-07:00

Today the group (Cam, Sonny and Pete) continued work on the trim in the house and installing doors. Baseboard installation was started and the subfloor for the entryway tile was also started. The tile is going to be started next week.

We Have Doors! And Light Fixtures!

2010-09-16T20:56:00.005-07:00

Today found doors installed inside our house!

There were also a few light fixtures put up, including Wyatt's. He is a bit of a soccer fan so this new light suits him perfectly. My wonderful Father-in-Law has offered to put up most of the lights in the house (thanks Dad!) so there won't be any more going up until he is ready. We are really excited about this because it will make the house feel more special having family contributing to its completion. We have been saving light fixtures for years for our new house, finding some at antique stores, some on-line and some at thrift stores and storing them patiently in our basement. John and his Dad have re-wired some of the older ones and John has painted some of them. It is thrilling to think of these light fixtures, which we have so lovingly picked out and waited patiently to use, actually installed and working. Yet again this house is feeling more and more like our Home.

When it Rains, It Pours

2010-09-15T20:18:00.003-07:00

There are times when it seems like even though there is a lot of work going on, there just ìsn`t much to show for it. And there are times, such as today and yesterday, when it seems like there are huge leaps and bounds in the completion of our home. Today you could see the vinyl flooring being complete, the window trim almost completed (it looks great!), the floors getting sanded preparing for the final flooring and actual light switches being installed. It has been, so far, and will continue to be, a great week at the house, which is really starting to feel like our home.

Put your Sunglasses On

2010-09-10T10:06:00.003-07:00

The first coat of paint has been finished. Whoa - it is the first time I have been seriously worried about something regarding this house! All the rooms are fabulous - just what we wanted. Ella's is a lilac purple (you can tell she doesn't like it at all!), John's 'guy' room and our room are a beautiful grey and Wyatt's room is a soft turquoise blue which will go beautifully with his favourite colour yellow. My sewing room and our kitchen though - hold on to your hats! I was trying for an apple green on the lighter side. This colour literally glows - the pictures do not do it justice. You can actually hear it humming in the house. Luckily it is just the first coat, and John and I have some time to contemplate how we want to proceed.

The rest of the house is a silvery white. I am hoping to add some fun wallpaper throughout the house over time to break it up but that is a project that will take some time.

Drywalling Complete

2010-08-31T20:23:00.003-07:00

Not only was the drywalling completed today, but our garage doors were also installed. It was a monentous day at Ocean Oasis! That's Cory installing our doors - he was still working when I left at 6:15 tonight.

Tomorrow Al (our painter) will start the painting with the primer coat and will then put one coat of paint on the walls. He will come back in about a month and put the second coat of paint on the walls. I am looking forward to seeing some colour inside.

Siding Complete!

2010-08-30T20:43:00.003-07:00

The siding is pretty much finished around the house! It looks great. When the house is done the dark grey will be on the top storey of the house and the light grey will be on the bottom storeys.

The drywall is almost complete. Three coats of mud have been applied and the sanding is underway. Next up is the painting. It is exciting to be in the finishing stages inside. It will be great to have some colour inside and to see changes happening quickly.

That's my parents in the picture; they are visiting from out of town. Hi Mom and Dad!!

It's Been Awhile

2010-08-25T20:00:00.003-07:00

I realize it has been awhile since I have posted. I haven't been to the house much but here are some pictures of what we have been doing, including meeting new family members and digging potatoes with them (welcome Eve!), swimming at the river, family reunions, ice cream eating contests (I am the proud mother of a son who came 2nd), and ziplining with friends (Happy Birthday Carlie!). I hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as we are.

More Drywall

2010-08-06T21:02:00.003-07:00

Here's another room to take a guess at. I will give you a hint - Ella is in the picture but it isn't her room.

The pictures from yesterday were of our foyer above the front door and taken from the landing at the top of the stairs. The drywallers had to build a special structure to get to the top level of the foyer.

Name That Room

2010-08-05T20:46:00.006-07:00

There are going to be a lot of drywall pictures in the next little while that will probably all look the same. In order to spice things up and add some excitement to my blog I thought we could play 'Name That Room".

So take a guess at what room or area of the house this is and if you are correct you will get... drum roll please... the immense satisfaction of knowing you were right (which is highly underrated sometimes!). To make the game easier I will post two pictures of the same area.

In order to add to the suspense I will wait until the next post before I reveal the room or area. Can you handle the excitement?!

Oh, and today they started the siding on the North side of the house.