Best. Week. Ever.

We had a great week at the house this past week, which is a huge blessing since we've been bumming about the slow pace lately.  The trim upstairs is all installed (although not filled and painted), so other than carpeting and finishing touches, the upstairs is finished!  We've now moved on to the main floor and some major projects that we've been excited to tackle.

New Front Door!!

It's so nice to not have to kick the door to get it open.  Plus, as much as we loved the peep hole right next to a full glass pane, we're much happier with this simpler (peep hole-less) door style.  And it's a double door which will make moving in a breeze!!

Countertops!!

Aah!!  I've been waiting anxiously for their arrival, and they came on Friday!

As I expected, they look gorgeous.  The templaters and installers did such a good job...the fit is perfect!

Master Shower!

I finished grouting the walls and ceiling this week, and Pete has started pouring the mortar bed for the floor.  Hopefully that will be finished this week.  Then all we'll have to do is caulk, clean, and install the glass door!

Backsplash!!

On Saturday, we installed the backsplash, and I love it!!  I've been waiting for this for months.  This tile is what really pulls the kitchen together and makes it pop.  I love how it looks and it's not even grouted yet!

Built-Ins!

Since he finished the upstairs trim this week, my dad has begun working on the custom built-ins on the first floor.  The first picture is the start of the cabinet and bookshelves next to the fireplace.  The second is the window seat/storage bench in the window bump-out.

 The Pretty!!

I have patiently awaiting buying "pretty things" for the house.  I've picked up a few here and there, but now as we finish rooms, I'm beginning to fill them with more "pretty" things.  Above are the shelves we rigged to fit in the area above the master toilet.  We had to rig them because the space is 35.5 inches and standard length for a floating wall shelf is 36 inches.  My dad shaved some wood off the sides and we squeezed them in.  Let's just say, these shelves are now permanent fixtures.  Anyway, my vision is that these shelves be decorative and functional for storage, so I've started collecting various things to accomplish that vision.

Sadly, these towels are not going to be on those shelves...: (  I've had my eye on them at World Market for a while and have been patiently waiting for a coupon.  I bought them this week (with my newly delivered coupon), but the color is just a little off.  My theory on matching color is that the colors have to be a perfect match or a complete contrast.  Otherwise, it looks like I got close, but not close enough.  These towels were close, but not close enough.  Sad day.

The poor little light was another bummer this week.  After the countertops went in, I was all excited to get the pendants hung over the bar area.  I thought these little buggers were super cute and a bargain at only $8 a piece.  Well, you get what you pay for.  These sad little buddies did not match the quality of the countertops, cabinets and backsplash.  The cord was all crinkly and the shade was smushed.  They had to go.  I bought new ones that were way more expensive, but when I got them home, they didn't look anything like the store display.  So, those went back, too.  We've since bought a third set of pendants....hopefully these will be perfect!