The path to our door and other news

Yesterday we met with our builder, Lee, to discuss the front walkway. Did we want a curved walkway or a straight one? From what part of the driveway should it start? In 90 degree heat we debated angles and placement. Lee spray painted two possible designs. We chose one. Today, we came home to this.

Well that was fast! They've also started painting the porch railings. A close-up of the walkway:

I think we're officially in go-time mode, because decisions are being made and then acted upon pretty quickly around these parts. In other news, we have:

• Chosen our closet 'systems'. We're going basic, because you can spend some money in these tiny little rooms and that's just not in the budget. Still, we've got lots of hanging spaces and shelving, so it should more than suffice!
• Chosen our shower doors. And the door hardware.
• Decided on custom frameless mirrors. Sounds fancy, but it's actually of the most economical choices we've made.
• Received the bathroom vanities. They're in! I'll take pictures when it's daylight, and I'm not all up on them squinting and saying things like, 'Well, I guess they look great, right?' because I can't quite tell in the dim light. The mister is impressed with the quiet-close drawers, which he demo'd a couple of times.
• Installed laundry room cabinets. And the upper cabinets were hung too low. Lee flagged that, and said he'll have them re-hung tomorrow. I'm guessing that also means repairing the walls, as these are wall-to-wall cabinets.

So what's left?

• Choosing new front door hardware. Hopefully our new front door will be here soon.
• Choosing interior door knobs. I've fallen madly in love with a $169 door knob. Slightly over budget. And by slightly I mean like eleventy billion percent over budget. Thereabouts.
• Choosing a concrete stain. The color it is now is kind of nice, and none of the stain colors are grabbing us.
• Selecting our carpeting.
• Installing the vanity hardware, and all the bathroom fixtures (e.g., tub, shower doors, toilets, mirrors, etc.).
• Installing the lights, inside and out. And landscaping.
• Installing the closets.
• Getting our vanity tops made (another trip to the stone yard). Then sinks and faucets installed.
• Stair railing and balusters in.
• Second coat of something or other on the floors.
• Doors rehung. They're all over the house, because they were taken down to be painted. It's like a museum of doors.
• One of the front gutters has to be removed. It's on the front column. We do not like it there, so have come up with a plan B.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but we're really down to all the final small stuff. And no dilly-dallying over decisions at this stage! Did I mention we're targeting a May 31st completion date? Yikes!