These hands built this house

Posted on April 26, 2014April 26, 2015 by patrice

Our day started slowly and then an idea happened – this is my laundry room wall – I plan to have written above it in Kichwa ~ English ~ Spanish

Kay makikunami kay wasyta rurarka ~ These hands built this house ~ Estas manos construyeron esta casa

Yes its hands, all our crew including our architect Ramiro, Maestros Rolando, Roberto, ours and our friends – WOW this makes me cry! So truly blessed (can hardly wait to move in)!

Pink Floyd has nothing on us! This is a quick movie about the making of all the hands that helped build our almost finished house. It is on permanent display on “the wall” in a room in our house. Today was a Minga (work party, with more on the party part) to paint the house. What a wonderful day we had together. The man you see directing most of this in the white shirt is our Architect, Ramiro Rangles. Everyone there, including the people working on the house has hand prints on that wall now.

Casa 4.18.14

Posted on April 18, 2014July 21, 2017 by patrice

: Dave: It is hard to see in this picture but the line on the tile goes straight into the hallway curve. It matches perfectly. Patrice: the tile in the hallway is way beyond what I expected – figured they would break the entry up so they would not have to keep the lines flowing – well they kept the pattern all the way down – wow

: Taken on the other side of the development. It gives you a view of what the house looks like from a distance.

: Dave: I found it interesting how they did what looks like Mosaics for room separation. They used the rectangle tiles you see and used a saw to cut into them and make the 3 tiles in the doorway.

: Wide angle shot from the doorway to the outdoor kitchen. Far left is front door middle is indoor patio, and right is the kitchen on to the breakfast room.

: Wide angle from the back door. Far left is doorway to outdoor kitchen, middle is living room, and right is indoor patio.

: Wide angle from Patrice’s office window looking at outdoor kitchen and patio.

: Hallway tiled now.

: Dave: Now Patrice’s office is tiled like mine is..

: Master bath is ready to be tiled and tiles on the walls are going up.

: Even the Master shower is being tiled now too

: Septic was dug and then it rained all night that is why all the water

: Finishing touches are added each day.

Casa 4.11.14

Posted on April 11, 2014July 21, 2017 by admin

: This was interesting, at least to us…This is part of the indoor patio and we were amazed at how this curve looked formed. But then the secret was revealed, or I should say we figured it out…See the boards tacked into that post? there is a wire attached to a piece of rebar that Patrice is holding, and it matches perfectly that curve. Simple tools = beautiful work.

: Ok, ok… I am giving into the demands to see a closer look at the Dreamworks logo by our front door. You can see where the lights are going in, those little black holes, and how much that side is raised.

: This is further proof of me giving in and showing more detail of the Dreamworks logo – yet an even closer lookat the detail. Ok now everyone has to wait until the weekend for further details

: From our rental…Oh what is that appearing on one of the Dome’s? Could it be the Mosaics?

: Oh yes it is the Mosaics being applied – very nice.

: A bit more details appearing but mostly on the inside…Lets take a closer look…

: On the front porch looking through the front door and you can see the tunnel at the far end leading to the Master bedroom. That sliver on the left is of course the Dreamworks logo we showed earlier this week. —

: Stepping into the front door and looking slightly to the right you see the hallway to the guest wing and the left side of the picture shows the living area and a bit of the outdoor kitchen and a bit of the tunnel to the master.

: From the kitchen looking towards the front door across the indoor patio.

: The outdoor kitchen is taking shape. The bread oven is being made and it looks like supports for the counter are being made also. On the ceiling you can see a bit of the sanded and finished beams that they are working on.

: My office and they are starting finishing in there too

: Master bay window has made great progress this week and details are showing up.

: This is looking from the Master closet into the Master bathroom. Straight ahead is our shower cave. It does have a whole in the roof to let the sky light light in though – it is about 8 feet tall.

: Looking from where the bathtub will be towards where the sink area is with the skylight showing through. On the right you can see some of the shower cave.

: Standing at the entrance to the guest wing looking at the front door. You see the reflection of our wine bottle window. On the left is the Dreamworks logo and on the right is the hallway leading to the Pantry and kitchen.

: Our electrical panel is in place.

: Looking from the doorway of the Outdoor Kitchen towards the kitchen area. On the left you see part of the indoor patio; straight ahead is the breakfast room. Those ornacina’s you see on the right are just inside the door going to the backyard.

: Just a view of Imabura it usually doesn’t have a cloud resting on it. A very nice day…back to the house…

: Not much new on the outside, but you can see that it looks like they completed one of the Domes in blue Mosaics.

: Outdoor kitchen is coming along. Bread oven is making progress too. Logs are finished and the slats for the glass cover are in place also.

: Another view of the outdoor kitchen looking into the house and out the back door. Past the swings that are still hanging in the house.

: Kitchen – sanding is almost complete on the logs.

: Back of the house. Nice detail on those windows. From left to right, Bodega door, Master closet window, windows in back of master toilet and window by master bathtub

: Looks like the last details in the Master bathroom are in place. Patrice’s Tiara is still growing…See there over the shower… You can get an idea of how much light comes down from the skylight by how much you see the ladder in the shower.

: Just wanted to show the high tech clamps. See those bend pieces of re-bar holding the wood that is forming the bottom of the window.

: Hard to see but the roof over the outdoor kitchen is all stained and detailed out. The bay window in the Master Bedroom on the right is close to being complete and ready for glass.

: Dome all covered and sealed now. This is from our rental house

: Outdoor kitchen, the work continues. Starting to look like a kitchen now.

: One of the ladders, made on site of course, I guess they couldn’t find any straight pieces of wood.

: Cover for the patio is all ready for the glass it looks like

: Surprise! We have a counter on the kitchen side of the outdoor patio. I think we will have the carpenter that is doing the kitchen cabinets and island come back and remeasure.

: Detail on the cover over the outside kitchen patio.

: Wires are appearing everywhere, even on the Dreamworks logo.

: A look from the outside through the master bath window at the shower caver, just a different angle.

: Surprise! Two small windows appeared this week in the bodega.

: Bay window detail on the master bedroom.

: Close up of the mosaics on the Dome.

: Looks like something is happening on the side of the new counter attached to the indoor patio, and…all the bases for the beams in the patio that were square have now been chiseled down and made round as you can see

: Patrice’s office beams has been stained looks good too.

: Outdoor kitchen has work continuing…

: The tub in the Master bath is being built now

: Our second window is in now too. It is over where the toilet is.

: Not much new on the outside…except…look at the next picture….

: The second Dome over the breakfast room is now finished in Blue Mosaic as the other one!

: Looking from the Kitchen, on the far left is the new counter on the indoor patio wall, hallway to pantry and laundry room, center is the area the dish hutch is going, then the entry to the breakfast room.

: Glass is being placed on the outdoor kitchen roof.

: Dave’s office beams and ceiling have been finished now.

: Glass awaiting to be put on the patio, outdoor kitchen, roof

: Blue bottle window from the outside.

: Looks like they have finished working on the bay window, at least on the outside.

: Last few pictures for this month before we start another Album. This is looking through the shower area in the guest wing. There are 3 windows in the shower and they will have glass blocks. You can see they are putting the blocks in place.

: This is the sink area in the quest bath. That area above the sink goes all the way to the skylight on the roof.

: The swings have been taken down. Looks like our swinging days are over.

: Just a close up of the Dome over the the breakfast room.

: the famous corner – Dave has taken a photo from this spot every week – we have a movie (posting soon)

: A closer look under the Dreamsworks logo – it looks like a pot

: Wait it is a pot…

: This is made from the shattered pieces we and the workers found on our property. This will have a light coming from the bottom and showing light from the top.

: Side view so you can see how big of a bulge it has, Can you imagine what the light will be like shining up from the bottom at night?

: The shower windows being finished.

: A look from the Toilet area looking at the shower.

: A look at what the cover over the outdoor kitchen will look like. This area is finished.

: Baby Dome… Notice they put the chimney to the living room fireplace up and it is a baby dome… either that or the domes we have are a male and a female and they are propagating…either that or something else….

: It doesn’t show well but they have done some finishing work on the Pot, filled in the cracks

: Fireplace in the living room is taking place nicely.

: Parts of the house are primed now – this is the hallway to my office.

: Flooring is starting. This is my office.

: A little more finishing although it is hard to see.

: Wait a row of steps has appeared on the outdoor kitchen Patio. Look close and the baby dome for the chimney is getting some finishing done as well.

: Looks like we are getting some recessed lighting on a couple of the beams now.

: A closer look under the Dreamsworks logo – it looks like a pot

Casa 3.13.14

Posted on March 13, 2014July 21, 2017 by patrice

: the usual shot – we will make a movie of these when the house is complete (same spot every time)

: this is the glass for the pyramid – over the indoor patio

: the freezer has a new look – notice the barrel ceiling?

: metal frame for the pyramid over the indoor patio

: Dave’s office

: oh the Tiara is expanding yet again – this is over the back porch

: pyramid frame work & the dome over the entry

: skylights are in place

: down this hall the master bathroom

: glass for the pyramid

: details, details

: this is what will cover both domes

: interesting details on the wall going to the guest wing

: oh whats this .. we have an arch going to the back yard

: master bedroom bay window – with a fabulous view of the mountain

: view from the front

: the shower … well we have a rather cool walk in now I think

: arched window opening above the tub (not there yet)

: this is the new windows where the Master toilet is – Dave says he has a throne

: master bathroom – you are not going to believe how it looks

: the view into the master bedroom

: another view of the front entry

: Indoor Patio has a curve

: The Arch to the back yard is just about done and we have a new feature at the front door

: Mid week update…mostly work inside but what is that guy in the yellow doing?

Casa 2.22.15

Posted on February 23, 2014July 21, 2017 by patrice

: This is just to give a better view of what Patrice’s tiara looks like from further away in our subdivision.

: The large window in the master bedroom is starting to take shape.

: Taken from the back of the breakfast room… There is now what looks like the beginning of a hutch – interesting. You can see the wall of the indoor patio through the archway into the kitchen

: The window in the tower is now round

: Kitchen plumbing continues – if you notice all the interior plumbing is copper

: Plumbing continues – this is going into the powder room

: Looking through the indoor patio you can see what the window looks like from the outside

: Another look at our first window – sure looks great how it reflects on the wall.

: Laundry room – the stand for the sink is coming together.

: Up on the roof a look at the detail and the tiles over the front porch.

: This whole side of the house has been plastered

: Breakfast room – the little hutch in there was completed this week and it looks like those holes are for lights actually and there is one at the top.

: Outdoor kitchen area is plastered and looks like they are starting to work on the counters

: You can see some of the plastering on the walls here

: A closer look at the window – wine bottles.

: Our first window is being put in.

Casa 2.12.14

Posted on February 13, 2014July 21, 2017 by patrice

: our crew playing after work not sure where they get the energy

: Trying to show some of the details that will be showing when my office is finished. But these details will be all through the house. All of the wood you see will be exposed. The wood is called Colorado and it is a very hard wood.

: As you can see the roofing has moved from the Master bedroom all the way over to the guest wing on the left.

: The kick plates…These will be used all around the house as they are shown but will be over the floor tiles of course.

: These are the edge floor tiles the will be on the doorways and edge the outdoor kitchen

: This is the hallway leading to my office

: Just inside the front door looking up into the tower. The window in front will be were the round window made from wine bottles from the roof minga will be.

: Lots of progress with the roof and plastering too this week. (1.25)

: This is the view from the breakfast room. I took this yesterday morning. The peak is very often in clouds so you can’t see Mt Cotacachi very often. If you can see the peak it is in the morning.

: This picture shows what is left to do on the room. Just what you see on the left side. Of course they have yet to cover the domes, but I think that should be fairly soon.

: You can see the roof is complete from this angle

: My office you can see the completed storage area over the closet area and the hallway tunnel with the ornacinas.

: There is the opening to the storage area above the tunnel to my office and over the guest bath. See what looks like a hole in the wall on the left? Well that will be a branding and will show the house construction after it is finished – Keep watching to see how it develops.

: The copper plumbing is being installed now too. all the internal plumbing is copper.

: The windows have been adjusted and a angled wall put in for the stove in the kitchen.

: Just above the front door inside the tower is a new ornacina that appeared. Amazing how things magically appear in this house.

: The front door is framed in now too.

: Looks like the roof is all but done. Just some finishing details, and of course the domes need to be done.

: Plumbing being installed. The copper is for the inside of the house and the PVC is for the outside.

: Street view, nice roof eh.

: This picture is taken from the doorway of the door out to the outdoor kitchen patio and is the entrance to the guest wing. From the left is part of the door to Patrice’s office; then the hallway to my office; above is a storage access; the entrance to the guest bath; and finally the barrel hallway from the entrance of the house.

: Kitchen plumbing is being installed and the archway into the breakfast room is complete also

: Looks like the roof is all but done. Just some finishing details, and of course the domes need to be done.

: Another look at the Tiara on the bodega. It is still a work in progress but almost done.

: More details are appearing every day. If you look careful you can see some changes are going on with indoor patio too. Those red bricks in the back seem to be holding a new curved line addition to the patio.

: New ornacinas have appeared in the hallwaygoing down to my office.

: This is looking at the back side from close to the house we are renting…Look at that Patrice’s Tiara is spreading. It now includes the roof over the Bodega!