Rain, Bricks and Budget

It is something like day 10 of continuous torrential rain and thunderstorms. Prior to this, the past few months were very dry so working on my landscape was not a priority. This weekend I decided that I might as well use the rain to my advantage and started work on my landscape plan (courtesy of the very talented Cornelia). Another motivation is our next book club meeting, which will be at my house.

During demolition and construction, the guys would start digging and hit a brick. There bricks were everywhere. I asked them to put them off to the side with the hopes that I could use them as pavers. Well after several hours of digging, carrying and stacking bricks, I can tell you that I have 50 full bricks and that much and more in partial bricks. What to do.

Budget ties all my weekend’s tasks together, as everything is free. With all of the rain, I decided to take the chance and try to propagate some of my existing ground cover and creeping vines. A friend’s circular patio was made entirely from salvaged bricks. Val would just ask for them when she saw a pile on a construction site. I’m going to troll craigslist and keep my eye out for some more free bricks.

Lets hope my body can take this. My hands are used to typing, not laying brick. The last time I did this – the back patio on the main house, I said, “Never again.”

Stop Me. I think I want a new car.

Don't get me wrong. I love my car. I love the way it drives. I love the cargo capacity. What I don't love is having to spend lots of money to fix it. I spent $2,000 in January and $1,700 this month to keep the car running. My only saving grace is that the car is paid off. The rule of thumb I've used over the years is that once the maintenance cost exceeds a car payment, it is time to get a new car. I hit that threshold and it is only May.

So, what did I start to do? Research, research, research.

I've always admired the Mini Cooper. It was on my short list the last time I was shopping, but alas they did not have a model with an automatic transmission. Not only do they have an automatic, but an automatic clubman!! I love the exterior, but have always felt like the interior was a little too overdone. The fine Italian lines of the Alfa spoiled me.

This 08 Mini Clubman is asking $24,000 with 13,000 miles. The local dealership also has one in racing green.

Pros: Cuteness, Full Bike Storage
Cons: Price, Stiffness, Future Maintenance Cost

I went to the Honda dealership to test drive a Honda Fit. I know several people that own a Fit and they love the car. The Fit also has some cool folding seats that would let me fit my entire bike inside. I didn't like the way it drove. Again, the Alfa and the Saab spoiled me. I took the CRV for a spin and liked it. My mechanic keeps telling me to buy a Honda, Honda, Honda.

This 07 Honda CRV is asking $16,000 with 30,000 miles.

Pros: Reliability, Full Bike Storage, Future Maintenance Cost
Cons: Limited Cuteness

The Volvo wagon was also on my last short list. The Saab won out due to price. I know I like this car, but would I just be delaying the inevitable and find myself in the same place in a few years?

This 06 Volvo X90 is asking $20,000 with 41,000 miles.

Pros: Smooth Drive, Full Bike Storage
Cons: Price, Future Maintenance Cost, Soccer Mom Image

How to Find a Good Architect

My little project has come a long way and having a good architect and contractor made the world of a difference. I’ve heard so many horror stories that sometimes I consider myself extremely lucky, but it wasn’t just luck. I didn’t just call someone out of the phone book or google “good architect.” I’m in the industry so I know the value of good references and leaned on the resources of others.

My Architect – A neighbor down the street built a garage apartment while I was in the “thinking about it” phase. These guys are serial remodelers, have great taste and demand quality work. I asked for a tour and quizzed them about what they liked and didn’t like:

• Did they like their contractor? No.
• Did they like their architect? Yes, loved her.
• What would they do differently? More storage and closet space.

I like to think that I made it as easy as I could on my architect. I told her what I wanted through some performance criteria and bubble diagrams. I also brought along kitchen plans from a house I put an offer on a few years ago. When we opened it up, I realized that she was the architect of that house. That sealed the deal.

So what were the signs that she would be a good fit for my project?

1. She had prior experience with garage apartments. One project was in my neighborhood so I knew that she was familiar with the local zoning and permitting requirements.


2. She had great references. Picky people (who did not recommend their contractor) raved about her.


3. She designed spaces that I already knew I liked.

If you can find someone that meets all of the above criteria, you are more likely to have a good experience. It’s not just luck.

No Excuses for No Cooking

New wood brackets/corbels and trim underneath the granite bar top.

More subway tile for the kitchen backsplash.

Trim, tile and more. I can't believe that we are almost done! Once I do the final touch up painting, the living area will be finished. The kitchen was originally value engineered out of my budget, so it was completed in phases over the past seven months. The first wood corbel that caught my eye costs $70/each, so what you see is the wood bracket budget version at 1/10 of the price. I'll add a final update on lessons learned soon.