Like the song says - "Get a New Plan, Stan"...

Here's our new floor plans...

Everyone Loves A Parade...

How about a Contractor Parade?  On Friday we burned a perfectly good vacation day to meet with contractors from 8am until 5pm (without time for lunch) working-out details on various aspects of the project.  Here are the trades we met with... welding (stairs & railings), stained concrete (floors, columns, ceilings), electrical, plumbing, fire suppression (sprinkler head moves), and construction (new wall framing).  It looks like we'll be able to start seeing some real changes this week.

Demolition is complete...

For the most part, all of the deconstruction and demolition is complete.  We have re-ordered the photos on Flicker so those from a similar vantage point are grouped to show progression.

Why we live here...

Our front yard... a nice view of downtown dallas.

Our back yard... easy access to the Katy Trail and creeks of Highland Park.

Dozens of dining & shopping options within walking distance... just to name a few.

• Bodega Bar / Chateau Wine Market
• Café Toulouse & Bar
• Momo’s Pasta
• La Duni Latin Cafe
• Adelmo's Ristorante
• Little Katana
• Kozy Kitchen
• Farnatchi Gourmet Oven
• Trece'
• Villa-O
• Taverna
• L'Ancestral
• Ziziki's
• Cafe Madrid
• Sangria
• Abacus
• Hibiscus
• The Porch
• Old Monk
• Starbucks Coffee
• Highland Park Pharmacy
• Restoration Hardware
• Sur La Table
• Pottery Barn
• Crate & Barrel
• Apple Store
• Weir’s Furniture Village

Saving $$$ on CraigsList...

We have been able to find some great deals for appliances on CraigsList.  We already have three (it's 4 if you count the Oven/Microwave Combo as 2) with only two to go -- we have our eye on a Refrigerator and still need the Island Vent Hood, which may be the only one we have to buy retail.

Appliances in "storage" (in our guest bedroom)...

Attack of the wasps

We came home tonight to a swarm of red wasps inside our unit.  Yikes!  Hopefully they can be cleared-out tomorrow so work can continue.

Floating Stairs...

Here's an example of the concept we are planning for the stairs.

Looks like things are changing...

Below are photos showing progression in selected areas.

Undo to Redux...

We expect to complete the majority of demolition this week.  Take a look on YouTube at this video of us celebrating the first day of deconstruction.  More before and after photos to follow.

Home Automation...

We are working with Advanced Electronic Systems to design and pre-wire for a home automation system that provides Audio/Visual, Lighting, and Environmental controls.  Lutron will provide the lighting and window shade controls.  NetStreams will provide the IP-based A/V controls.  The heart of the system is a centrally located DigiLinX Ethernet Switch.  A wall-mounted iPad or handy iPhone will direct audio sources to the room of your choice and control lighting and shade settings.  Sounds fun... can't wait!

Granite Choices...

Here's a few of the granite choices that we are considering for the bathroom vanity counters.  More than likely we will choose something different for each of the three bathrooms.  Vote for your favorite... or not.  Thanks for playing... or at least following along.

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Reduce, Reuse, Redux...

Recycling is important to us.  In addition to making converts out of some friends, we pushed to get a Recycling program at the building... and were the first to use the new Recycling Bin (now we need to work on getting a compost bin).  In an effort to Reduce & Reuse, we are making the condo demolition more of a Deconstruction project.  It takes a little more effort, but everything that we can salvage is being donated to Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity for their ReStore program.  Learn more about Deconstruction from these organizations...

Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA),

Deconstruction Institute,

Lifecycle Building Challenge

It's been a year...

Almost exactly one year ago we started thinking it might be the right time to switch from renting to owning in The Travis building where we live.  We've been living here now for four years.  More later on some of the steps taken in the last year to get to this point.  As of Monday, September 27th we (finally) officially own both units and the building permit was granted.  The demolition process started this week and now after three days of demo it feels like it's really happening (yikes!).  Check-out photos of the progress on Flicker (we'll be adding more as we go).