While Suzy and I were thinking back about how the new 109 has evolved into a magical residence, we realize how lucky we are.  We are most fortunate to have six terrific children and five beautiful grandchildren.  We are truly blessed that Kip and Judy watch over us and have provided us such a magnificent residence on a special street with very fascinating neighbors whom we like and admire.  Each day and night we pinch ourselves to make sure we are not dreaming.

We are also grateful to Team Marini.  When we look back on our building adventure, one of the best things that happened to us was meeting Lisa Gallivan at one of the Marini subdivisions.  Prior to meeting with Lisa, we had met with two architects and two builders.  We were becoming overwhelmed with hard, expensive decisions. 

The minute we met Lisa, everything became clear.  Here was a person with whom we connected and who wanted to listen.  Not only did Lisa hear our vision, she had experience at putting dreams together.  Had it not been for that chance meeting with Lisa, we doubt our dream house would be built.  In fact today, we called Lisa with another stupid question.  As always, she was patient and concerned, but most important she had answers.

While Lisa was the beacon of light we needed to start the ball rolling, Steve Marini was always Johnny-on-the-spot.  From the first time we met, there was no doubt in our minds that Marini’s site work would be as efficient as their top-notch sales staff.  The first time we met Steve was on a Saturday afternoon.  He really did not have to come… but he did.  He patiently and perfectly sited our new house on our existing lot.  Once we saw how the house would fit, what terrific views the house would present and how Steve would personally grade the site to perfection, our decision was finalized.

After Lisa walked us through the contract process, we had the pleasure of spending time with Monika at the Marini Design Center.  Fortunately, Monika and Suzy hit it off from the beginning, or was that after Suzy informed Monika that she was not to listen to any of my design ideas.  What a relief!  My role was to sit back and relax.  I did.  What a house those two put together.  Now, I really sit back and relax!

After Suzy and Monika figured everything out, work started quickly.  We had the fun of watching a very reliable and experienced builder come to our site just about every day.  Bob Marini, sr. is an easy guy to like and a very good fellow to have on site.  Anyone that could put up with our crazy questions qualifies for sainthood.  We could not have found a more organized site manager than Bob.  Like everyone we met with Team Marini, we always felt Bob was on our side, watching over all the stuff about which we know nothing. 

We had a few people over for the Super Bowl yesterday.  They were quite impressed.  We could not wait to tell then that we had the good fortune to have the best builder in these parts construct our new home. 

We are so fortunate.  To anyone reading this web log, we hope you have the good fortune to meet a building company like Marini Builders.  If so, you will come to realize that building a new house can be every bit as rewarding and fun as it should be.  Thank you to Lisa, Steve, both Bob senior and junior, to Monika, Noreen, Ron, ace general handyman Tom and all the employees and contractors that worked so successfully on our house.

Thank you to all for beautifying our life!    

The Evolution of a Piano Room 

Begin with a plan

Ask Lisa how to customize it

Add tight windows and high ceilings

Make sure everyone is welcome

Sheetrock and tape

Select a great painter

Let your husband pick the color

Before you ask him to carry in the baby grand

Then, sit back and have a blast, or concert!

Happy New Year to all from 109 Woods Lane.  It looks like we will be ready to host and roast sooner than expected.  Team Marini has deployed their forces well during the holidays.  Although Bob Sr. has again run to the sun, Steve has been here every day to coordinate bathroom tiling, kitchen cabinet and counter installation and floor work.  We could not be more pleased.

In their usual accommodating style, Team Marini allowed our painter, Scott, to get in and put some color in the Little General’s key rooms.  The General did not seek a lot of advice about her color scheme (that relieves the rest of us) and Scott did a commendable job.

Scott also does plumbing, bathroom upgrades and a wide variety of odd jobs.  If you need something done, give the Little General a call.  She might give you Scott’s contact info.

This week, we expect to have a water connection and hope that the permanent gas line is linked.  Then the finish work begins. 

A word to the wise, the Little General is recruiting for her on-the-job packing 101 training course.  This may be one you would like to miss!

Dining Room Perfect!

Piano Perfect!

Kitchen From Plant Room

The Little General is Planning Something!

Kitchen from Great Room

Plant Room With Counter

The General’s Vanity

Author’s Vanity

Waiting For Boys & Girl!

The Little General’s Computer Space

Cawee Sleeps Here!

Master Bedroom Shaping Up!

Powder It Here!

Kitchen Design at Work

Shaping Up

Since Thanksgiving, 109 Woods Lane has been filled with youthful exuberance.  Team Marini’s coordinated teams have come and gone and in their wake has arisen a pretty spectacular home-to-be.  The Little General’s energetic enthusiasm and guru-like inspiration were inspired by the arrival of the Four Tom & Jerry Musketeers and her favorite acupuncturist who impaled the author twice in one day, much to the delight of her mother!

In fact, the only thing missing around 109 has been Bob Marini, sr. who relinquished his Team Marini captaincy to his able Lieutenant Colonel, Steve, so that the senior Marini could bask in the Palm Beach sun with his bride while we all went about our work dealing with power outages, freezing weather and sniffles. 

Despite Senior’s prolonged absence, our beautiful new house has taken shape.  The insulation has been completed, the sheetrocking, taping and trimwork perfected and the hardwood floors laid magically.  And, amidst all this activity, siding, soffits, shudders and a sparkling new garage door rose above our magnificent snow clad lot overlooking the icy apple orchard.

This past week, The Little General has been setting out early on her eight mile jaunt through the meadows of Loudonville so that he could do her morning readings at the early St. Pius masses before frequenting various Christmas parties.  Her 5:15 departure has been noticed by Team Marini and now that she is returning around 8:30, we have noticed that The Team has coordinated their morning coffee break around this time.  The arrive back from Dunkin Donuts in time to wave The Little General Godspeed as she heads out for her two hours of yoga and “body pump.”  At 109, we do not ask any questions about “body pump” as it has been explained that it is “necessary.”

Amazingly, Team Marini proceeds quite well sans Bob sr. and sans The Little General’s directives and there is a high energy level as 109 gears up for the final push.   

Warming up for next Thanksgiving at 109

There will be music here

And  a huge dessert table

and a nice warm fireplace

a flowered wet bar behind the kitchen

where all will be welcome

to climb new stairs

and watch the games

on a big screen here

and where sparkling hardwood scoops up spills

a computer for David

a football field out back and windows for spectators

fun people to see!

and horses to ride

and bubble baths with a view

and we can climb to new heights

and listen to cool stories

and everyone better show up

and bring a friend

or you’ll feel like Lola looks!

This week Mr.  Jim Nightingale arrived and set about installing lots of beauthiful, new Marini insulation.  The first thing we liked about Jim was his music.   Even the Little General was impressed with his classical repertoire and gave the Nightingale a strong note of approval.

We now have electrical outlets, cable and security wiring and The Little General’s special bathtub arrived today.  This was all pretty exciting and was accomplished in a remarkably efficient and clean wormanlike manner.  Kudos to all the gang.

After Jim left, the sheetrockers rocked the house.  These fellows work fast.  The upstairs was sheetrocked in about a half day and the downstairs will take a little more than another half day.  They have left for the weekend but will finish up Monday.  Then, the heat goes on so that the tapers can start Tuesday a.m.  We may even have siding soon. 

We have lots of little people and some not so little arriving next week, so we want to thank all Team Marini for their help and wish all who visit our new site a very Happy Thanksgiving.  The bad news is that there will not be any desserts left over!

There must be music!

Looks Toasty Already!

Maestro Nightingale’s Work

Even the Garage is Warm

The Master Bedroom – Where to put the Bed?

Going Down?

Down the Line from Kitchen to Plant Room

Soon to Be Home of the Hanover Troopers!

This can only be Good

Great Framing by John & Derek

Even Peter Listens to The Little General

And, this is what we gain – Suzy’s New Display Shelf!

A Room For Cawee!

The Little General’s Tub Guys

When the Little General is here, we will listen – or else!

Dinner will be on!

Down from Garage

Hanover Sweet Spot

We are getting there!

This week, we had Bob sr. on the job.  In fact, Bob is so on the job that we start our day a little earlier.  Bob likes things done right.  He gets his ducks in a row early in the day and makes sure work is up to snuff.  All you have to do is talk to Bob and you immediately know everything will be okay.

This week, Bob oversaw the pouring of our basement and garage floors, the installation of heating and cooling ducts and the tedious installation of plumbing piping and vents.

Our hero Steve spent Monday re-grading the lot and tidying up.  A day in our clay patch inspired Steve to head to Key West, where he’ll entertain his bride, Lisa, and the local boating officiados.  The Little General was disappointed not to be invited, but she took it well.

Work is going so well that the Little General was noticeably absent this week.  However, once she saw the basement floor, her demeanor changed a bit.  An immediate call went out to her favorite handyman who is arriving Saturday to lay out her 30 foot basement cedar closet and the author’s ten foot subterranean cot space.  Hmmm…

A Truck for Auggie!

Pour On McDuff!

Bob’s Plumbing Supplies on Garage Floor

Hanover Tub Will Soon…

Look Like This!

Gotta Couple!

Nice Pipes

Flush Me Soon!

Gary – The Plumber

The General’s

Real Heat!

Steve and Tom dug our trench for inground power, cable and telephone.  Working with National Grid, everything went beautifully and all power utilities are now connected.  National Grid arrived early Saturday to connect the gas line to the house.  We are now ready for plumbing, heating and electric installation.  That’s big progress in a very short time!

The roofers completed phase two of their work.  We have some trim and insulation work to do, but the roof is dry and looks great.

The stairs were installed and Suzy’s wrestling with the ladder will now end.  She is very pleased with the width of the staircase. 

John and Derek have installed all the Andersen windows.  They sure are snug.  The windows get style and insulation points.  The dividers are spiffy and the windows are deep.  The bow in the piano room is coupled with a front double window to create the brightest room in the house.   Our expert framers also framed in the archways.  The main floor only has two interior doors; a bathroom door and a pantry door.  The high arches at the dining room, piano room and plant area/wet bar create the exact openness we wanted, yet the rooms remain clearly delineated. 

Upstairs, the Hanover Room is big!  With its added alcove area, this room has lots of character and tons of sunlight.  We will be spending some serious time in here.  Of course, it has been made clear by the General that HBD may not bring one piece of paper into the room.  Ugh!

HBD was also a little surprised with this week’s declaration that ”your space is here,” as the General pointed to the guest bath and the small room off the bath.  HBD was relieved that, as of now, the little general has agreed to keep the bars off the window!

It was noticed that the little General’s soaking bath had a glorious window and stunning view.  As this may be the only time HBD sees this particular area, he gathered many photos!

The results of this week are that 109 Woods really looks like a house!  Several outsiders toured the progress on Saturday a.m. and were interested that HBD was unable to enter the Hanover Room, the Master Bath or The Wellsley Room.  One guest asked if the basement was out-of-bounds.  He was delighted that the basement was an approved space.  He mentioned that in his redinece, that is the only place he can be alone!  It was duly noted that as the house progresses, more and more restricted areas will ineveitably surface.

Do You Believe in Miracles?

Looking Good

Welcome!

Imagine The Shudders!

Roofers at Work

Laying Shingles

Suzy was determined to have as much glass and open living space as possible.  There is only one door on the main floor!  Suzy calls the doored room David Semo’s reading room.  The piano room, the dining room and the plant/wet bar area all have arches.  Wherever you are, you see the outdoors.

You are in the hallway

From Front Hall into Dining Room

From Hall into Piano Room

From Hallway up Stairs

Great Room from Hallway

Plant Window from Kitchen

Eating Space from Counter Top

Hanover Only Room!

Hanover Only – West Window

Today, the roof and trim will be complete.  The doors and window will be in and we will be ready to pour our basement and garage floors tomorrow.  Steve and Tom have completed the electric, telephone and cable installation.  Wow!  Way to go Team Marini!

Only one question;  Where’s big Bob?

Our New Roof

Almost Done!

Our First Window!

Soon to Be a Black Front Door

No More Ladders for Suzy!  Phew!

Piano Room Window 1

Dining Room Window

Ohhhh!  It’s so BIG!!!

Front – from west

Back – East Corner

East Side – Back

PIano Room

Great Room with Great View

Kitchen Counter From Great Room

Master Bedroom From Closet

Master Bedroom View

Hanover Room- Upstairs

Hanover Room – East Window

Hanover Room – West Window

Wellesly Room