Engagement

Here's a picture of the engagement ring. We are so thrilled!!

The Home Stretch

It's the end of February - and we THINK we are at the home stretch of the project. The floors are just about all laid and the decks are almost finished. But there's still a bunch of work that needs to be done: painting of the exterior, landscaping, installing of kitchen appliances, installation of a toilet and bathtub, and attaching final lighting, switches, knobs, buttons, and the like. Hopefully, all will be complete by on/around March 10. We shall see....

In the meantime, here are some more pics. Enjoy!!

From the beginning

Here are the photos taken from the beginning of the project.

A house emerges

Welcome to Laurel Avenue! As you can see, things have changed. The old blocky columns were replaced with the new 'victorian-style' bungalow columns. I can safely make out a bright kitchen painted in my favorite color....parchment. The living room is taking shape as well as the bedrooms. And wait....are those French doors in the back of the house?...just off the master bedroom? Nice. I love the hardwood floors. This once dark and cold house is now looking warm, welcoming, and just beautiful!

Interview with Richard Whittow

On January 17, 2008 Deborah Sommers sat with Richard Whittow to discuss the creative process involved in the construction and design of 23 Laurel Avenue. Here is an excerpt of that interview:

DS: What made you decide to endeavor on a construction project like this one?

RW: I always wanted to do a construction project like this. But I didn't want to do it this soon. I got involved in this one through a number of unforseen events.

DS: Events like...?

RW: Not going to talk about those.

DS: Ok. Let's move onto another subject. The subject of choosing a contractor. What goes into choosing a good contractor?

RW: It's like choosing an employee. You want someone that is going to do a good job. Someone that is honest and trustworthy. Someone that you communicate well with. And someone that comes in at the right price.

DS: And how did you know that Shawn was the one for you?

RW: It came down to personality and how we vibbed; how we gelled. A lot of the other quotes came in at the same price. But it came down to someone who I enjoyed working with and who enjoyed working with me. And would be responsive. One of the things I did shortly after we met was I called him to see how quickly he would get back to me or answer the phone. Most contractors would go right to voicemail and it would take two days to hear back. Shawn picked up the phone or returned my call in less than half an hour. And has done all along. I also checked his references and they were very positive.

DS: What is your favorite food?

RW: Indian food and sushi. Curry and sushi. I also like prosciutto.

DS: What do you think makes a house beautiful?

RW: (long pause) Very interesting question. Difficult to answer. (long pause) I can't really speak to modern architecture because I don't fully understand modern architecture. But in older buildings it's about character. Characteristics of rooms that are distinctive and interesting. Combined with balance and proportion.

DS: What does a typical day for you look like?

RW: Right now?

DS: Yes.

RW: I wake up at about 8am. First thing I do is have a cup of tea and turn the computer on. I check email and voicemail. Which takes about an hour or so. I normally have a task list for the day which usually involves a bunch of phone calls and paperwork I need to do. And then I may go up to Petaluma to meet with Shawn. Or I may be out looking at products - wood floors, granite, paint. That kind of stuff. I talk to Shawn pretty much everyday. And try and visit the property two or three times a week. In the evenings, I like relaxing, watching some TV, surfing the internet, enjoying dinner with my girlfriend, and recently, I try and get an early night.

DS: What do you think about the prospect of a US recession?

RW: I think it's probably likely, but I suspect it will be mild. I think most of the sub-prime costs have been made public and it's now just a media story. And it seems like the Fed are more than happy to lower interest rates. Which while not a good long term solution, will probably reduce the risk of recession. I think economic growth in the US will be slow for the next 3-5 years, but I'm not expecting a severe recession or depression. The presidential race will have some impact.

DS: What advice might you give to someone who is interested in investing in real estate the way you have done?

RW: It's all about...it's very long term. It's very hard to make money short term. And you'll likely loose a bit of money in the first five years of your real estate investment. If you can manage to somehow subsidize it and keep it for maybe 15 years, then it will turn out to be a very wise and lucrative investment. But don't expect to make a quick buck.

Appliance day

My grandmother would be most proud today. After searching high and low for the best deal on appliances, Richard finally settled on purchasing the troika (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher) at Home Depot. While waiting at the sales agent's desk, he noticed what looked to be an internal memo: "10% off January 17 - 23". When the sales agent returned he boldly waived the paper in the air and said, "Can I have this?" 10%-off later, he went off to purchase the rest of the supplies he'll be needing to start painting this weekend.

Happy New Year!

We returned from the holiday break to find windows and walls installed. Richard now has the daunting task of choosing paint colors. After picking up a few paint chips and some literature published by Kelly-Moore Paints, he now boasts about his new appreciation for "color harmony" and can identify the difference between an monochromatic color scheme and an analogous one. Preferring the later, he's leaning towards a "haystack" color for the living room and an "brown fox" for the dining area. He'll cast off all convention by choosing an "evening glow" for one bedroom and possibly a "prairie brush" for another.