It's a numbers game

It's the 9th inning and bases are loaded.

(Excuse the lame sports analogy). As I write this blog, searching for an appropriate header to sum up the enormity of what we are doing to get this house to market, I look at this image and realize that it really is a numbers game. Not only what you pay for a house and what you get for a house but every single step along the way, from a fiscal and logistical standpoint.

The final touch. I jumped the gun because this is the stuff I love. But then Lance got tied up and the tape fell off the wall. LOL. Hopefully, the next time you see the house, the actual numbers, not just the template, will be up.

We are one week away from staging, which means all the interior (and ideally exterior) surfaces need to be complete. I've done my best to schedule all the logistics but daily I am reminded of something I forgot. For example, yesterday Lance asked about the mirrors in the bathrooms. I realized that we set the scones slightly closer than the width of the vanity so the mirror has to be custom. This means, the company has to come template and then go make the custom mirror and come back and install it. Within one week.

So I pulled off that miracle yesterday. But there are many more like that. The current stress is how to get all the workers out of the house (meaning finished) so the floors can get their final sealer coat. Which also means we lose that day in the house as the sealer dries. Oh, and when does the cleaning crew come in to do the deep clean before the furniture and blinds show up? Oh, and what about Thanksgiving? As thankful as I am for all of this, the holiday is just getting in the day this year.

Bar with Antique Glass

Once we realized that we had this space in the wall (which is behind the washing machine and drier), my lazy side wanted to just dry wall over it. But it is usable space. Its also a major thoroughfare and one of the first things seen as you walk in. Being that we love our cocktails, we decide to turn it into a bar. And what does every bar need? Antique glass!

I'm super proud of this. I love the look of mercury glass. Lance told me that we could make it so I looked it up. I was shocked at what a simple project it was. I got an estimate from a glass shop to make it for me. $1600. So I decided to do it myself. Super easy. Super immediate gratification. And the total cost was about $100. I'll probably do another blog on this one day. But in the meantime, here's what I followed to do it.

The stairs

This is my first time being intimately involved in the stair making process. I should say the stair installation process. If you remember, all the components were sent to us but it is still a giant feat to install everything. What you see below is a rig that Lance designed so that the painter could spray all of these balusters with ease. Amazing right?

Below is the lower Newell post installed. Lance had to re-jigger (is that a word?) the first step up about 1/8" so the Newell post was perfectly square. And here he is making sure the post at the top is perfectly square as well. — Below is the lower Newell post installed. Lance had to re-jigger (is that a word?) the first step up about 1/8" so the Newell post was perfectly square. And here he is making sure the post at the top is perfectly square as well.

Antique dresser becomes bathroom vanity

If you recall, we purchase two 1920's vanities for each of the bathrooms in the main house. The guest bath is getting an above-the-counter sink (like you see above). The master is getting a trough sink. Below, you see David cutting into the top of t… — If you recall, we purchase two 1920's vanities for each of the bathrooms in the main house. The guest bath is getting an above-the-counter sink (like you see above). The master is getting a trough sink. Below, you see David cutting into the top of the vanity (eeeek, it hurts me) in order to retrofit the sink and the plumbing (not an easy task).

The next time you see this, it is going to be splendid!!!

Landscape

One of the best decisions we made was to put in this black and white gravel in the front yard. I love it so much. It's simple, clean and gives that sort of Italian look. One of the worst decision are these trees which as supposed to be shrubs to give the house some privacy. But, at this point, I can't deal. So we'll talk to the new owners about it and see what they want to do once it sells.

I'd like to give another plug to my Landscape Designer, Audrey Newell, at The Foxy Garden in San Francisco. Audrey is ReScape California certified. She is also a APLD member (Association of Professional Landscape Designers). The Foxy Garden is a Bay Area landscape Design company using sustainable practices such as using climate appropriate plant palettes, improving soil health, lawn conversions, and much more. Contact her to talk about your next landscape design project.

Here are the succulents I brought from home to populate the two small pots sitting on the fence in front. And below is a shameless plug for my landscaper (for all you locals). He is so kind and hardworking!

For all you local folks, here's a plug for Ubaldo, our landscaper. He's hardworking and nice. Such a great guy. Always smiling!

THIS IS WHAT HALF OF 24 TONS LOOKS LIKE

We are using gray Decomposed Granite on the driveway and back path. So there is a lot of space to fill!

Garage Door

This week:

Finish Paint Interior: Master Suite and Stairway
Finish Exterior Paint: Front window, garage door, touch-ups
Install hardscape: DG on driveway and path to cottage
Install vanities and mirrors
Install all fixtures: hardware, lighting and faucets
Carpet install
Construction clean (deep clean)
Staging
Professional photography
Closet installation
Cocktail Party
Open House (God willing)

Disaster of the Week

Too many to count (like the 24 tons of DG delivered was not enough). But none that will break us.

Many, many thanks

We are grateful to you for following us on this journey. And we hope that you'll stick with us through the end of this one and, hopefully, to the next one.