AWER HOUSE UPDATE #5: PLANS CHANGE, CHANGED PLANS!

Hi friends! Imma Brokenrecord (if you read my blog then you already know that is my second name!) and I’m so happy to be here. Seriously something about this space is so relieving to me. It kinda reminds me of yoga. I love it, I need it and I don’t do it nearly enough. Maybe you have something like that, too? Like sleeping? Sleeping is another one for me. I love it, I need it and I don’t get it nearly enough, ha!

Writing a house update has been a little itch I’ve had since the end of March, and I’m here to scratch it tonight. I’ll cut right to the chase!

We finished the house plans (wrote about that here!), we took the plans to the builder we were most interested in working with in mid-March, we got our bid back by the end of March, and within a couple of days we made the decision to…pause the house! It was a hard decision to make at the time, but in retrospect, the choice feels as clear as day. Logic just started to speak to us. We looked at our bid, the increasing lumber prices, and the amount of money we wanted to have in our savings by the time the building process was over, and it wasn’t matching up. We just couldn’t stomach the risk of what might happen if building materials in general – not just lumber – kept going up. Well, “going up” they have. I was talking with our friend in the construction industry on Monday night (he’s an awesome cabinet maker), and he said that from plywood to copper wire to paint, prices for everything have skyrocketed and people are in tough spots (if you have a budget you want or need to follow, anyway). He also said that he doesn’t expect prices to come down – subcontractors are loving their lives (as they should 🙂 ) – which we knew was our gamble in choosing to pause the house. The economy very well may stay this crazy for a long time. But? We decided to stay conservative, and to keep working and saving in the meantime. Crossing our fingers it’s not like, five years till we build Awer Little House, but? We’ll see. 🙂

Till then, we’re still picking and choosing the details for the house! Ry and I have a secret pin board with all of our house inspo photos and concrete choices, and we’re currently sitting at 581 pins there (he and I are not opinionated or anything. *wink*). Designing the house is something we’re still pretty involved with. We know what we LOVE in most contexts of the house, and then, gosh, this extra time to think about the house is messing with us in a few other ways! Like with the exterior. We were trying to nail down our exterior materials right as we paused the house, and yes, time hasn’t helped us make our decision there, ha! Want to see what looks we’re running between??

Charming board and batten + classic siding + subtle stone // image via

Smooth, creamy stucco and painted brick + weathered brick trim + blue painted windows and doors // image via

Rich, navy blue shingles + thick, bright white trim // image via 

 

Which one is your fave?? Ryan isn’t behind the navy option, but I’m definitely getting swayed by it lately (it’d hide our red dirt here so well!). Our home’s design works with each style, and there’s a lot to love about each style, so yes, we’re a bit stumped. But! Time is on our side for deciding.

I’ll keep you posted when we decide to ride this train at full-speed again. Literally!! 😀 😉

xoxox