Sinks and disappointing sinks

With much hope the blue glass top is well on its way to being made correctly this time. We discovered today that the other sink (in the downstairs bath) was also screwed up—the part where the plumbing connects to the bottom (drain) is chipped and cannot be connected (according to Bruce the Plumber). So back to Northrup's we go on Wednesday.

I am also returning the handheld shower connection. Initially the guys hooked up the shower head which came with everything else (Moen). It worked fine, and looked great, but I had already paid for the handheld unit which would have been useful for washing dogs in the tub and other practical things. When I had the plumber remove the nice Moen showerhead and connect the handheld, I realized it didn't work as well, and looked pretty awful in comparison. And then I found out I paid $145 for it...so back it goes.

The sink, in the same downstairs bath, was a showroom sample ($50). Good deal. But whether it was already damaged, or happened here after delivery is still up for discussion. Either way, it is the reason we have no working bathroom sink and have to brush our teeth in the kitchen.

So, all is going well, considering. I still haven't taken any new pix, but I will in the next few days. Be prepared...it looks perfect...even if it isn't.

A half-good day

Richie and Jim were both here today and accomplished quite a bit. They hung several doors, and Richie, all by himself, unloaded the doors that came a day late (backorder) and even carted them up the stairs by himself (no easy task). Jim was still under the weather (head cold) but a vegetable beef soup from Mary's Pantry got him breathing and almost back to normal.

The photos are of Lester inspecting the finished dark bamboo floor in the music room, and the 4 porch brackets hanging with their first coat of paint. Looking good.

The downside of today was all on the stone guy: stone dust everywhere—the guys will have to clean every surface in the house before proceeding with any finish work. That, and the nice Kohler drain for the sink required another hour or two of grinding before it would fit. The heavier gauge nice chrome drain did not fit in the same hole as the cheapy one that Todd the Stone Guy supplied.

The real problem du jour was the fact that the soapstone sink is tilted to the back by a 1/4", so the water doesn't drain through the center drain. It builds up (and stays) in the back of the sink. All of the guys here today said it would be impossible to fix because sink and counter and backsplash are all epoxied in place. I am calling Karen the Kitchen Designer tomorrow morning to see if she can make it right. We'll see how that all plays out...

The other good news: Jesse the Electrician came out and hooked up several of the lighting fixtures (pictures to follow). The other bad news: he connected the front porch light over top of the only front door key which was hidden in that box. Can't lock the front door when I leave tomorrow. I've already made the phone calls...

Another good day

…except that Jim P was sick, and Jim the Builder on vacation at the in-laws in AZ, so Richie was here by himself all day with just me and 3 dogs as helpers. We provided the entertainment and snarling and that was about it.

He finished up the dark bamboo floor in the music room, installed the vanity in the master bath, and hung 2 interior doors.

Tomorrow, Bruce the Plumber is supposed to come and connect the kitchen sink, master bath shower and toilet. We also need to discuss a well-water-treatment for the reddish iron stains in the downstairs toilet and shower. And Jerry is supposed to connect the oven, dishwasher and cooktop so that I can test the new kitchen before I leave.

Friends Jane and Mac should be stopping by in the afternoon for a full tour. I don't think they've seen it since the sheetrock went up.

Now if only Jesse the Electrician would come and hook-up some of my light fixtures...