Almost...

The last few details of the project are falling into place.  It hardly seems possible that so many months of construction are finally drawing to a close.  A couple details remain for tomorrow morning, like a hole in the office desk to handle computer cables.  The building inspector has scheduled his visit for 11:30 a.m. — which we trust will result in a temporary certificate of occupancy.  Then Kyle and Dave plan to pack up their tools and head home.

This morning Dave finished up the last of the cabinet pulls.  I think there were 58 of these puppies to install in the kitchen, laundry, guest bath, master bath, and office.  "Drill, Dave, drill!"

Dave installs the last pull in the guest bath — and only
three more rooms to go!

Meanwhile, Kyle finished up the trim work on one of the stairwell bookcases.  This had to be fitted around the stairs, and the nail holes puttied.  Kyle has to cut 3-4 more shelves for the other stairwell bookcase, and then this part of the project is finished.  Sharon and Attila dropped by for a quick look during the afternoon and were very impressed with the bookcases!  They are beautiful.

Kyle finishes up the bookcase trim.

Next came installation of the handrails.  You can't get a certificate of occupancy without handrails!  So, Kyle crafted these with a return at each end — that's the piece that runs back to the wall.  They are very attractive, and the hardware is brushed nickel, the same material as the cabinet pulls.

Kyle and Dave put up the fourth and last handrail.

You don't think much about handrails, but they are both
"a thing of beauty" and "a thing of utility."

Then came the bifold doors.  Why we were sent such lightweight hardware for such heavy doors is a mystery.  However, Kyle and Dave picked up the beefiest fittings Home Depot offers, and this did the trick.  The doors popped right into place, and they operate very smoothly.  Oh, yes, they have brushed nickel pulls.  I guess we have a little "theme" going here!

The guest bedroom finally has working closet doors...

...as does the mud room.

This afternoon the Sears delivery team returned to move the appliances from garage to house.  Blog readers may recall that Phill and Jeff graciously helped move the wood burning stove into the house a few weeks ago.  For the appliance installation they laid down a runway of cardboard across the mud between the garage and house, and also across the newly finished hardwood floors.  This way all the appliances could be moved without damage to the floors, which are still curing.  They also came well equipped to provide certain items Sears didn't tell me I had to buy — such as power cords for the stove and refrigerator!  These guys must be the most thoughtful delivery people in the Sears system.

Phill (left) and Jeff position the electric range.

They also removed the shipping tape from the new refrigerator.

Phill cuts a section of dryer duct.

The appliances came in over a cardboard runner.

The washer slips through the mud room door.

And now I am ready to feed the multitudes!

We discovered later that Jeff and Phill left a couple tools in the kitchen.  I'll drop them at the Sears store in Alpena tomorrow as I leave for Grand Haven.

"He's making a list and checking it twice..."

While the appliances were being delivered, Kyle checked his list of things yet to do.  Two small ones remained for today.  First, Dave mounted a boot brush on the service porch.  I found this at Tractor Supply several weeks ago, and I think it will cut down on the amount of mud I track into the house.  Then Kyle put up a coat rack in the mud room, and will install another in the front entry.  Coat closets in these two areas would have taken up too much space.  Hooks on the wall will be fine with me — a little "cabin life" touch — and they don't require bifold doors!

A boot brush now graces the back porch.

Kyle mounts the mud room coat rack.  The painters will finish
the board with a coat of polyurethane.

It's almost finished!  I still can't believe it. •••