November 5 - Construction Prepwork Begins

Demo is coming to a close, and prepwork for construction is beginning. The bulk of demo debris has also been removed from the living room, which provides more storage space for construction materials including kitchen appliances, which are all scheduled to arrive over the next few weeks.

I first spent some time on site with the contractor to survey the overall progress. Then we went to specific areas of the house to discuss construction details, especially how the work of different subconcontractors would need to be coordinated.

The contractor already had several subs (electrical, tile, cabinetry) there to give them a preview of their work, so they knew what to expect (locations, measurements, etc.) when they return to do the actual work at a later date. With me on site, it made it easy for the subs to ask the contractor questions then for him to relay them to me immediately. We were able to resolve a few issues on the spot. Most of the discussions happened in the kitchen.

With the electrician, we specified outlet and phonejack locations along the backsplash (aligned horizontally, low, and centered between specific cabinets) and at the bookshelf, island, and bench. The idea in all cases is to keep locations visually discreet yet functionally convenient. We also specified device locations (along wall opening: 1 switch for pendant, 1 for recessed lights, 1 for undercab lights, all with dimmers.)

With the tile installer, we discussed the need for me to approve grout samples prior to complete installation. This is for the purpose of approving both grout color choice and grouting technique (backsplash tile has rugged edge and requires grouting before rather than after tile mounting.) In terms of grout color, the installer has a light beige in mind that could pick up the tones of the brown-beige floor tile. That seems to make sense for our first grout sample. I also asked the contractor to ensure coordination of electrical and tile at the backsplash, so that the tile is cut appropriately around each outlet.

As for the cabinets, they were ordered but still in pieces, awaiting assembly. The contractor and I discussed the alignment of the soffit to cabinets both in depth and in height, and will resume the discussion once cabinets are assembled and we can check measurements to precision.

The contractor and I also discussed built-in elements, especially how the kitchen windows will be framed out and will align with the bench. We also discussed how the bench would be built to maximize comfort and storage practicality. For the seating surface, we discussed using cherry or mahogany, which I requested samples from the contractor in order to show the clients. The contractor and I discussed that a custom dining table made of the same material could really cohere out the space - this is a decision left up to the clients, outside of the current design and construction scope.

The contractor and I also began discussions on the living room esp. the overall framing of the antique wood screens, and will resume in more detail at our next work session.