This is view from the southwest (the front door is near the small group of trees)

From the south, looking north -- there will be a nice couple of oaks to the north of the building overhang

From the north looking south -- this big oak will be just off the living area and front porch

From the north-east corner (back of the shop, looking towards the pond) -- we'll clear those oaks out somewhat

From the northwest corner, looking towards the pond

From the south-east (future driveway) -- that big tree in the middle is right in the middle of the third bedroom!

Dirt brought in for concrete pad (looking from the south)

Project Lifecycle View #1 (dirt brought in for concrete pad)

Digging the outside beams for the foundation (looking from the south)

Where the front porch ties to the building foundation

Plumbing in the foundation (better get it right before we pour concrete!)

ready to pour (looking from the south)

making it smooth with the little hovercraft

like an ice rink!

Project Lifecycle View #2 (foundation poured)

Project Lifecycle View #3 (metal structure skeleton, no walls yet)

Metal structure skeleton, no walls (looking from the south)

Where the porch will be

Walls going up -- see where they frame out the window openings

They're building the porch

view from the driveway

First section of metal skin ("Desert Sand")

They put this door on to "secure" the building

Project Lifecycle View #4 (metal building complete)

Metal building complete -- this is the unfinished front porch/entrance)

Back (east) wall

Rear overhang -- used galvanized purlins here instead of red oxide

Sweet! Inside view of the "hockey rink" from the open garage door

Front porch -- those columns will be wrapped in wood and stone

View from the living area back towards the shop

Front porch and the view out

Living area -- very sturdy window frameouts!

View through the trees

Looking from the north

View as one drives in from the pond

The overhang is 40x20

Project Lifecycle View #5 (initial framing underway)

Project Lifecycle View #5--closeup (initial framing underway)

This will be the front door and double window

View of the living area from the shop

Other side of that wall is the kitchen

Our builder (Ryan)

The shop area was full of framing material

View from the trees

View of the cabin from the main driveway (coming from the pond)

Project Lifecycle View #6 (framing started on porch)

Project Lifecycle View #6--closeup (framing started on porch)

Wrapped columns and framed-in soffit underway

Women in the kitchen

Looking into the master bedroom

Hallway, coat closet, and master bedroom

Bedroom #2 (the longest)

Rustic-looking living area (view from the shop)

They'll cover up that framing soon -- this will be a workshop area

No one gets between Lisa and her front porch

First family pic in front of the cabin!

Hmmm... maybe we should build real cabinets instead

Front view of the porch (from the west)

Project Lifecycle View #7 (framing done except for Hardi)

Project Lifecycle View #7--closeup (framing done except for Hardi)

View from the driveway

Half-bath in the corner

Soffit finished

The pumphouse for the water well ("Mini-Me")

Here's the pressure tank

They installed plywood above the living area

Plenty of room to store things... this is the view from the attic stairs

Project Lifecycle View #8 (may not be much different than #7)

Trenches for the plumbing

Trench to the half-bath

Susan and Rodney trimmed these out on a Friday evening

Susan and Rodney trimmed these out on a Friday evening

Project Lifecycle View #9 (Front porch doors, windows, and Hardi complete)

Project Lifecycle View #9--closeup (Front porch doors, windows, and Hardi complete)

Hardi lap siding is done; electrical roughed in for lights and ceiling fans

This will be the additional covering over the actual well

One pipe to fill the pond (good luck!), and one to service the house

At this rate (20gpm), we can fill the pond in one year!

Dusk-to-dawn lighting on the rear porch

The front door has internal blinds

Door and window into shop

Ready for stone wainscoting and painting

Living room electrical

Kitchen electrical

Sink plumbing

Master bath electrical

Living room electrical (with recessed can lighting)

New view through the living room window (we cleaned out those oaks!)

Shop area, now ready for a workbench (see the pegboard?)

Sheetrock stacked and ready to go up in a week or so

A/C installed above the first floor

View as one drives in from the pond

Delivering the stone

It'll be a "Texas Mix" of white, cream, and weathered limestone

R-30 in the metal walls; R-19 on the front porch (2x6 walls)

R-30 in the ceiling

Sheetrock! View from the living room towards the kitchen

Towards the kitchen (refrigerator and desk)

Master bath (to the left is the 4x3 shower)

Master bedroom

Towards the living room from the kitchen

You can see the view out of the living room windows

Down the hallway

Knotty pine doors ready to be hung

Project Lifecycle View #10 (first time the stone was installed)

Project Lifecycle View #10 -- close-up (first time the stone was installed)

Let's just say Rodney didn't like the first attempt at installing the stone

Try again... This time with feeling!

Much better size and color variation now

Project Lifecycle View #11 (stone porch re-done)

Project Lifecycle View #11 -- close-up (stone porch re-done)

front door entrance

stone-wrapped columns on the porch tie it together (left-side of porch)

stone-wrapped columns on the porch tie it together (right-side of porch)

stained concrete ("Cola" stain color)

The cracks give it "character"

knotty pine door and trim installed

Kitchen cabinets in progress

Master bathroom cabinets in progress

View from the "second floor"

Air conditioning unit in the attic

Drop-down stairs in the hallway

Base cabinets in the kitchen -- we angled the final cabinet

Upper cabinets -- we angled the final cabinet here too

The opening is for the stove/oven and the microwave

Desk and opening for refrigerator

Kitchen island

Master bathroom cabinets and armoire

These are some free cabinets we picked up in the neighborhood

We swept and lightly mopped the stained concrete

The stained concrete hasn't been sealed or buffed yet

Cabinet drawers are ready to be installed

Shelves are in... now waiting for the cabinet doors

Cabinet doors have a 2" beaded panel; the hardware is all hidden inside the door

The island is 4'x3', with two sides ready for barstools; note the beaded pine around the island

Shelves above the future washer/dryer/shopsink

The stain is 50% WoodClassics "Fruitwood" and 50% WoodClassics "Natural"; it's not too light or too dark... and it matches the table/chairs real well

We were real happy with the way the stain came out. It's a 50/50 mix of WoodClassics Fruitwood and Natural

Closeup of the kitchen cabinets -- the beaded inserts really make the cabinets "pop"

The master bedroom/bathroom and smallest bedroom are painted Sherwin Williams "Clary Sage"

Project Lifecycle #12 -- painter preparing to paint the porch

Countertops installed (laminate called Deepstar Flint)

note the beveled edge... a very nice touch

They clipped the corners on the island

Paint in progress on the front porch (SW Basket Beige)

Spraying the paint on

kitchen with stained cabinets and installed countertops

Living room painted SW Nomadic Desert

Bedroom #2 painted SW Respite

Cultured marbled countertop installed in hallway bath

The 1/2 bath has Antique Brown marble

Master bath has a nice swath of Antique White cultured marble

Project Lifecycle #13 -- main color painted on the walls (awaiting trim color)

Project Lifecycle #13 (closeup) -- main color painted on the walls (awaiting trim color)

Project Lifecycle #14 -- exterior paint completed and fans/lights installed

Project Lifecycle #14 (closeup) -- exterior paint completed and fans/lights installed

The white ceiling fans accent the stone, and the lights are well-positioned

"Mini-me" (the well pumphouse) all painted

electrical trim-out, plus appliances and cabinet hardware

plumbing trim-out (the toilets work!)

ceiling fan and light over the island look nice

slate tile backsplash installed with under-cabinet lighting

stove and microwave installed

view of the living room from the kitchen

I like the way the kitchen island turned out

view of the living room, towards the front door

Move-in! The large wood table wih carved Texas stars looks great in the room

The island supports 3 to 4 barstools; the overhead light fixture sets the island off nicely

Comfortable seating in the living room makes the cabin a great place to hang out

A little personalized touch, with caricatures from our trip to Florida

The shop area is a huge gameroom, with a foosball table, a ping-pong table, and a dartboard, with a family-made backboard

Trundle bed in the small bedroom

Master bath is a very nice size

Plenty of room for storage, on and underneath the countertop

Master bedroom has a window at the foot of the bed

The paint color is very soothing!

Project Lifecycle #15 -- move-in complete; Texas star now installed

Project Lifecycle #15 (close-up) -- move-in complete; Texas star now installed