The house looked a bit different from the driveway today! Three major changes are visible since the last time we showed the outside: the stone fireplace is done, the porch has railings, and everything is 100% stained. The color of the rock is great with the roof, and really pulls the house together. The biggest change we made to the original plan was moving the covered porch and fireplace from the back to the side, and a big part of it was because I thought it would look really good from the driveway. I think we nailed it.

A somewhat odd-ball thing about the house is that the front porch has steps from the two sides, but no steps directly in front of the door. We did this so that there would be enough space to drive a car in front of the porch and park past the house. From there, there are steps up the side. The other logical parking spot is right where this picture is taken from, so there will be another set of stairs (well, 1 step) on this side. Paul (the framer) asked how people would get furniture in the front door, but I think that huge french doors on the side of the house present a much better entry point for furniture anyway, so I’m building a set of stairs just for that.

   

The fireplace rock goes all the way around and the porch feels well enclosed now with the rock and pickets in.

Here’s the steps on the side of the front porch. There’s a big flat area to the left that has been used for the burn pile, but will make a perfect parking spot.

This side has 2 steps, the other side will only have one. It was a little weird to not be able to hop up anywhere along the porch.

Going up the steps and through the front door, you’ll run right into one of the other big changes. The inside fireplace is done as well. It’s the same stone as outside, but it does look a little bit darker inside. The fireplace also looks much bigger than it did before, and actually makes the living room feel smaller since there’s nothing else for scale inside.

This is going to be a great place to sit. A lot of people put their big tv’s over the mantle in these cabins, but I don’t think I’d want to cover up the stone.

From upstairs, the view is much improved!

The kitchen cabinets are nearly complete.There’s a few drawers left, but otherwise, everything is done and ready for the countertops. There’s also cabinets built into the island that are accessible from the left (or “inside” of the kitchen”). The right side of the island will overhang so that bar stools can slide underneath it.

The rough temporary stairs have been replaced with real stairs, and we’ve upgraded the safety of the house with a nice solid railing. This feels like a sign that the house really is approaching completion, as the steps were one of the last truly rough or temporary parts left. (side note: For those of you that have been to the house and seen posts holding up the deck, those were finally replaced as well with some massive supports that are buried about 6′ into the ground. I don’t have a good picture because I was too much of a weather wimp to hike down the hill in the frigid 20 degree weather. Yes, Pittsburgh people, that is 20 above, not 20 below, and it was cold.)