Category: News

What an incredibly productive two weeks, full of good moments and some challenging situations.

The new year started out with the excavator filling in the trenches that we had to dig to run the power from the electrical transformer. We now have permanent electrical power. Yay!

The garage door installation began with drywall installation around the interior opening, then the installation of the beautiful doors. Woohoo! We can now heat the house!

The great room and the master bedroom fireplaces were framed in preparation for the installation of the electric one in the master suite next week. 

Perhaps the biggest WOOHOOO was the installation of the patio slider doors. They are gorgeous! The opening is 12’, made up of four 3’ doors that completely slide into exterior pockets, so that the entire span of 12’ is open to the outside deck. The view is amazing!

To get the whole house buttoned up, the temporary front door was added and Tyvek was added to the exterior of the turret and to the facia all around the house. 

Avdo and his crew started to install the HRV system which is required in new construction in WA. It’s a system that provides airflow throughout the house. The Zehnder Heat Recovery Ventilator is a high efficiency ventilation system that continually brings in fresh outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air, significantly reducing energy loss and improving indoor air quality. It requires two 3-½” flex tubes to run to every room in the house.

I left on the 8th to visit my brother, Johnny, in LA who is suffering from a horrible disease called Primary Progressive Aphasia. It’s very similar to what Bruce Willis is dealing with. He’s 7 years post diagnosis and we lose a bit more of him every day, which is why we visit LA often. 

While I was gone, the team continued with the plumbing, electrical, audio rough in and HRV installation. Unfortunately, our architectural team made an error on the mechanical drawings they provided and the installation team informed me that we needed to order another THOUSAND feet of flex tubing to complete the job. When I walked into the lower level of the house I felt like we were being eaten by a sea monster with large tentacles in every direction. Gone were my beautiful ceilings and in place was a 4’ soffit right by the curved window wall. How was this intentionally designed?? I was on the phone with the manufacturer that afternoon, trying to determine where things went sideways. Unfortunately we discovered that our architectural team provided incorrect drawings without doing the research necessary to design it properly. Likewise, the local distributor of the Zehnder system, Small Planet in WA was unhelpful and just wanted us to purchase another 1000 feet of tubing. I’m SO grateful to Joe at Zehnder for his kindness and expertise in helping us solve this problem. 

After a few days of tearing things out and reinstalling the manifolds then running new flex lines, the problem seemed to be solved. The huge, ugly soffits by our beautiful windows are gone and instead, we have a well designed small soffit in one room only. What a difference! Thank you James and Joe for your diligence and positive attitude when I was ready to jump off a bridge. 

My reward for hanging in there came the next day, when I was able to actually stand on the floor of my meditation room at the top of the turret. Thanks to Patrick for the design and to Loren and Aiden for your time and talent in creating such a beautiful wood floor! This was the first time I’ve been up in the turret and I was literally jumping up and down with excitement!

Thanks to Blossom Solar for the quick installation of our solar panels on the south side of the swoopy roof over the great room. It’s actually pretty- if solar panels can be pretty!

We’re getting ready for the trades coming in next week now that the house is buttoned up. Darryl and James and the team installed heaters and dehumidifiers throughout the house. It’s toasty already! Thank you Darryl!

I had hoped to share photos of the spiral staircase, but although Patrick and Garret worked hard to accomplish it for the last two weeks, the first steps have not yet been laid. They are built and hopefully next week they will be installed and completed. 

I’ve been busy finalizing a bid for the future subs and sourcing the rest of the materials, as well as designing the plans for the hidden staircase behind the bookcase, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

We’re looking forward to maintaining the pace and moving in soon. Thank you to James who has made a huge difference in the momentum of this project. Know that we appreciate your kind spirit and your positive attitude. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! The job was a bit slow with progress for these two weeks, as many of the subs took time off to be with their families over the holidays. We dealt with rain and more rain. Everytime I’m ready to complain about the rain, I remember 27 solid days of rain in October of 2017 when we broke ground for the treehouses in Montana, and then the coldest winter on record with TONS of snow…. And I’m grateful for the rain. 🙂 

We celebrated the holidays with pumpkin pie and Godiva chocolate, and everyone enjoyed it. 

Since I last wrote…. the front door arrived from the craftsman in Montana, and it is beautiful! These double doors are each 3’ wide, 9’ tall and about 4” thick! The wood is raw, so it will need to be installed, then stained and coated, to protect it from the elements. We’re going to wait a few months to install it, to protect it from the sheetrockers and the painters. I can’t wait to see it fully installed!

All windows are now installed- including the change to fix the error to the kitchen windows. They were removed, reframed and reinstalled so that they now match the specifications on the plans. They are beautiful!

The last remaining window to be installed is the patio slider doors. Thanks to Garrett, Patrick and the framing team who built pockets for the doors. The patio sliders still need to be installed by the crew from Windows, Doors and More. Hopefully soon!

We got our first snow on December 27th and the mountain view was stunning! But back to the house…

The CeDur shakes arrived and Gil installed them on the roof of the turret. They look amazing!

Electricians are moving forward with their rough in. The lower level has been completed and the upper level is almost finished too. 

The Zehnder supplies have arrived and Avdo started the rough-in for the HRV system. 

I spent five full days finding light fixtures for the foyer. How is that possible, right? It’s more difficult than it sounds.This home combines traditional English Cottage/French Chateau vibe, with sustainable mountain modern. I found the perfect light fixture for the foyer and can’t wait to see it installed.

And, drumroll please…… FINALLY, we got permanent electrical power to the house on January 2nd. Grateful to CJ, the excavator and to Tughan Electric for all of their help! Thanks also to Aimee at PSE and to the crew at Patelco for completing this installation. 

We’re looking forward to a productive 2026 and completing the beautiful project!

It was a busy week with most of our crew back at the job site. Yes, it’s still raining, but we think the worst of the damage from the flooding is behind us. 

The great room roofing has been completed and the turret roof was started on Friday. It looks GREAT! Thank you Gil and crew for the great work!

Ryan, Jason and the team at Tughan Electric  completed the electrical rough-in for the lower level by the end of the week. Monday they’ll move upstairs to work on the rough in there. 

The plumbing rough-in was completed and we passed the inspection. Yay! Thank you to Kyle, Tyler and the crew from Lakeside Plumbing. You guys are so good!

The framing is continuing, with the framing crew just keeping in front of the other trades. The framing WILL be complete soon. We’re going to celebrate that accomplishment!

Our original framer misread the plans and installed the two gigantic windows in the kitchen more than an inch too low. In other words, if left as they were installed, the cabinets and counter tops would have met the wall above the bottom of the window. Oops! Therefore, the  windows were removed, re-waterproofed and they’ll be reinstalled next Monday. 

I spent a lot of time working with the cabinet company to finalize the designs throughout the house. We should be ready to order them early next week.

Months ago, we found the perfect door for the front door, custom made in Montana. It arrived this week and it’s beautiful! 

Avdo at Perfect Temp completed the rough-in for the air handling system for the house. We’re installing a Zehnder air system. Thank you Avdo and team.

One of my favorite snow ball lights was ordered months ago from China, and it finally arrived this week. The pieces are all coming together. I’m so excited to see it in a few months!

Overall, a good week. I feel like the most difficult part of the build is behind us. I’m excited to see the next few weeks and months unfold into something truly beautiful. Thank you James, Patrick and the rest of the team for all of your help!

This was a week of torrential rain in Seattle, creating significant flooding throughout the region. Many of our framers couldn’t show up for work as they live in the Carnation/Duvall area, which had turned into an island.

Framing seems to be the first thing I write about each week, and this week is no different. Pick up framing was completed throughout the house. The main framing crew from Chieftain completed the deck and the roof over the great room deck! YAY! It looks so pretty and I can’t wait to see it with the decking down too… but that’s a few months from now.

The framing for the interior stairs was started, but other squeaky wheels were squeakier and that project was put on hold. We’re going to have a party when the interior stairs are completed!

Plumbers did more work on the rough in, so things are moving forward. 

This week it felt like not much got done, but it was a crazy week all around, due to the extensive flooding in the area. Our thoughts go out to those directly affected by the flooding waters. I got to see a lot of it first hand when I drove to Bellmont Cabinets in Sumner, south of Seattle. Just off the 405 freeway I saw a field that had been turned into a lake, dotted with hundreds of floating pumpkins. I did a double take and would have taken a photo, but I was going 60mph on the freeway. It was a bizarre thing to see. 

Amidst all of the angst around us, we have much to be grateful for, even when it’s still raining.

I hope you all enjoyed a very Happy Thanksgiving with your friends and family! It was a short three-day week, then the holiday, followed by a long, quiet weekend enjoyed by all. The following week the crew was back at it, creating a masterpiece.

The framing crew worked on the interior pick up framing and then to the great room deck and the deck for the primary suite deck. It looks beautiful! We especially LOVE the truss for the exterior deck roof support. Thank you Patrick and Jon for your talent in creating this!

All of the windows have been installed except for the east and west side of the great room. We’re still waiting for the entry door and for the back deck to be completed so that the patio door can be installed. The window waterproofing has been completed.

Speaking of windows, we have to remove, reframe and reinstall the two huge kitchen windows, as the former framing crew installed them an inch too low. Think an inch doesn’t matter? It does, because without the correction to make it higher, the countertops would be higher than the window sill. We’re hoping that correction will be completed this week.

Meanwhile, the plumbers have been busy with the rough in, along with fire sprinkler prep and rough in.

The electricians were busy helping prepare for the connection of permanent power from PSE. The electricians will be back this week to complete their electrical rough in.

CJ, our excavator fixed the ruts by the property and smoothed the terrain by adding mulch to the side and the back area. It will be nice to not have the manlift and the forklift stuck in the mud!

James and I have been busy with meetings for sheet rock and painting, doing the take off to order the trim, and finalizing the order for the cabinetry. 

Still so much to do, but it’s moving in the right direction!

The framing was completed this week on the interior walls, the drop down ceilings (between the beams to hide the sprinklers, and plumbing and electrical rough in). The deck framing will begin next Monday and will be completed by 12/5. YAY!

Patrick and Jon built a beautiful exterior archway to support the exterior great room deck roof. They have two more to be built in the next few weeks that will be decorative for the interior of the great room. 

The windows are still being installed. The primary suite is complete, and another 6-8 windows in the house are already installed. With the exception of the windows/doors in the Great Room, all the remaining windows will be completed by the Friday after Thanksgiving. That’s SO exciting!

This week, the plumbers started to do their plumbing rough- in. All of the plumbing rough-in should be completed by 12/5. 

We ran the ditch for the electrical line from the panel to the mechanical room. (Thank you Darryl for digging the ditch!) The other trades are filling the mechanical room with their equipment too. It’s starting to come together. 

We were busy with meeting with the architect, the engineer and also the County inspector, to keep the project moving along. 

The front door has been completed in Montana and will be shipped to us ASAP!

We moved forward with the interior trim/door package order, and finalized the fireplace purchase for the great room and the primary suite. 

So grateful for this team that is making things happen!

Wow, what a week! The new framing crew stepped up in a big way and got a lot of catch up work completed. James has taken over as the project manager, which will allow Patrick to apply his talents to the woodwork that has been waiting for him. All of the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall into place this week, and I’m so grateful! 

The original framing crew completed the turret framing this week, and started on the front and back walls of the great room. James will direct his crew next week to complete this unfinished task. 

All of the interior framing has been completed for the primary suite, and all of the lower level interior framing will be completed on Monday. YAY! This week all of the window openings were treated with the vapor barrier (red goop) to keep out the moisture. The window guys from Windows, Doors and More also installed the windows in the Primary Suite!!! These are our first installed windows and they look beautiful!

Patrick and Jon were busy in the shop making gorgeous beams for the great room, from wood cut and milled on the property! How cool is it to use wood that grew right here on the property and never left.

I spent time at Granite Marble Specialties and made the final selections for all of the countertops. The stone is so beautiful! I’m especially excited about the Blue Gaya Dolomite that I choose for the master bathroom. 

Next week the interior framing will be completed throughout the house, and the deck framing will begin on the deck base and on the roof. The rough in for plumbing and electrical, as well as for the in-floor radiant heat will also start next week. Lots of good things are coming. 

Thank you to all of the hands and hearts who are bringing this project to life. We are very grateful for you!

This was a stressful week getting back on the job and discovering that not a lot was completed in my absence. When they started in July, the framers gave me a completion date of September 21, and here we are 6 weeks after that date, with a lot of work still incomplete. Sigh. We’ve made some changes and hopefully this situation will be resolved over the next week or so. Still grateful for what IS done, but I’m getting impatient on the severe delay that the framers have caused for the other trades that need to follow.

This week the buckouts were completed and all of the windows are now being treated with waterproofing (that’s the red goop), prepping for window installation starting next week. Finally! We’ll start the window installation in the primary suite and work south through the kitchen and into the curved section of the house. Within the next two weeks, most if not all of the windows will be installed. I can’t wait to have the house buttoned up so we can start the interior trades.

The framing of the great room was completed on Friday, with the ice and water shield installed on the roof. The framers are so far behind that the deck and the deck roof haven’t yet even been started. Hoping to see this completed in the next two weeks.

The turret sheathing was also completed and the crew started to cut out the three windows that will follow the tower steps up to the next level. 

This week was also super frustrating in that it seems our well went dry. How can that happen during a rainstorm in Seattle, right? Darryl has been diligent with turning off all outflow from the holding tank and checking for leaks, to monitoring the water level each day. We’re not using water, yet the tank has less in it each day. We’re looking at options including adding storage tanks, expanding the current well to increase the water flow, or possibly even digging a new one. Decisions and options… we’ll know more in a week or so as the mystery is solved. 

In the meantime, we’re getting the job back on track and moving forward, albeit more slowly that I’d like. Still, there is much to be grateful for and the house IS coming together! Thank to the team for all of their efforts.

As you can probably tell from the lack of a weekly update, I’ve been on vacation, but I’m back now. Patrick and Henrick held down the fort and the work continued in our absence. The cooler weather is upon us and the leaves are changing. It’s so very beautiful at the property!

The framing continues…. (ALMOST FINISHED!). The turret framing is completed, the roof sheathing is on and the ice and water shield has been installed too. The roofing membrane (which will be underneath the green live plant roof) is on the curved section of the house is complete- yay! The great room roof isn’t complete yet, but they’re working on it.

The crew has worked on the sheathing around the house, to prep for the window vapor barrier and window installation to start next week. 

Patrick created what looks like a skateboard ramp, which is actually the curve for the swoops for the roof. It looks amazing! Thank you Patrick!

The rock, called Montana Moss, has arrived from Montana. This gorgeous rock will be used around the interior fireplace in the great room, to create the fireplace on the outdoor deck, and for the front of the entryway and it will also cover the turret. I can’t wait to see the exterior of the house once this stone has been applied. 

Next week we’ll be back with a more detailed update as well as a weekly video. I had planned to do one but my shoot was interrupted by a visit from a large neighborhood dog. Sorry!

I’m in Europe for two weeks, so there are less photos than I normally post. Thank you to Patrick for sending these photos in my absence!

This week the first layer of the roofing membrane was installed over the kitchen, dining room and curved area to the garage. This should be completed next week!

The turret is progressing, albeit more slowly than I’d like. With the cooler autumn weather here now, along with our rainy season, I’m anxious to get this fully dried in for the winter. 

The framers have spent this week working on the sheathing (so that we can prepare to install the windows), and also started the beams for the great room roof. It’s finally starting to look like a house. 

We had a beautiful full moon on the night of the 6th which was spectacular to view from the house! 

This week we also moved the time-lapse camera as the view was blocked by the addition of the garage walls. So, from here on out, the time-lapse will be a bit different. We moved it to the north so that the view now includes the front of the house, with as little blockage as possible. You’ll notice a blip in the existing time lapse from this point on, where the footage will move from one location to the new location. Sorry for the problem, but hopefully this will be a good long-term solution through the rest of the build. 

Thanks for everything this week!