Introduction: The Evening Installation When you live right on your build property, you never really “clock out.” At 7:30 PM one evening, we noticed the countertop installation crew had finally arrived. They were set to install our brand-new quartz counters in the kitchen, on the island, and in both bathrooms. Larry made a beeline over there to talk with them, especially about the sink clips. We had ordered a heavy-duty single granite sink—the same kind we’ve had in a previous home and absolutely loved—and because of its weight, it requires special hardware to make sure it stays securely attached. The Carrara Gold Choice For the countertops, we decided to splurge…
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Introduction: The Long-Distance Reveal If you’re building a custom home, you quickly learn that life doesn’t pause just because the contractors show up. This week, while Larry and I were out of town on a short trip, we got the notification: The kitchen cabinets are going in! Talk about a mix of excitement and anxiety—how do you inspect your kitchen when you’re hours away? Fortunately, we have the best built-in safety net: my parents live right on the property. My dad was able to step in, walk the site, and oversee the whole installation for us. From the progress photos he sent us, I could have cried. They look even…
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Living in our tiny home for the past five years has been a blessing for my husband, Larry, and me. However, as our five adult children have married and started families of their own, we quickly outgrew our space. This led us to build our dream home—a transition that also allows us to move my aging parents into our tiny home where we can help care for them. Because cooking, baking, canning, and preserving are vital to our family, we knew our new kitchen had to be highly functional. We worked with our architect to design a separate scullery specifically to accommodate large-batch cooking and canning. This room is a…
