Jackie Dwelle

Embrace The Journey!

Our Lake House

Looking back up the driveway from the lake.
Looking back up the driveway from the lake.

Landscaping

Grass to stabilize the hill side was a priority once construction was complete. 3 pallets of sod and a large bag of grass seed should help!
Grass to stabilize the hill side was a priority once construction was complete. 3 pallets of sod and a large bag of grass seed should help!

Country Living

Saw this on the day we were planning to fly to the UK for my Dad’s memorial service…

May 15th – Keys and Time to Start Moving

May 15th, 2020 we got the keys to our new home!
May 15th, 2020 we got the keys to our new home!

POWER!!!

  • May 8th we finally had permanent power on site.
    May 8th we finally had permanent power on site.
  • Duke Energy were not the most organized company to work with, but was worth the wait to have power turned on.
    Duke Energy were not the most organized company to work with, but was worth the wait to have power turned on.

Stone Work

  • Stone fireplace in the corner of the living space.
    Stone fireplace in the corner of the living space.
  • Kitchen counter tops are here. There was an error on the island's size. The cabinets were supposed to be 5' not 4'. The new ones are ordered.
    Kitchen counter tops are here. There was an error on the island’s size. The cabinets were supposed to be 5′ not 4′. The new ones are ordered.
  • Mirrors and shelving have been added throughout the house.
    Mirrors and shelving have been added throughout the house.

Interior Starting to Take Shape

Living area with cabinets and fixtures.
Living area with cabinets and fixtures.
  • Kitchen cabinets and light fixtures installed.
    Kitchen cabinets and light fixtures installed.
  • Cabinets and light fixtures installed.
    Cabinets and light fixtures installed.

Deck Works!

  • Sitting on the deck for the first time!
    Sitting on the deck for the first time!
  • Siding installed, and steps on deck.
    Siding installed, and steps on deck.

Our Tree House is Being Built!

  • Deck and the start of siding
    Deck and the start of siding
  • Deck Minus Screen
    Deck Minus Screen & Stairs

Basement Window Installed & Roof On!

  • Original plans called for a larger window, but with the slope of the land we chose to switch to a smaller side window.
    Original plans called for a larger window, but with the slope of the land we chose to switch to a smaller side window.
  • Basement Window Outside
    Basement Window Outside
  • We chose Driftwood shingles for the roof which was the shingle I had put on my Deercroft house before selling it.
    We chose Driftwood shingles for the roof which was the shingle I had put on my Deercroft house before selling it.

Ready for Roof Shingles

The chimney was accidentally oriented correctly. It is now fixed and the shingles are on!
The chimney was accidentally oriented incorrectly. It is now fixed and the roof is ready for shingles.

Roof & Windows

  • The last of the roof trusses is lifted into place.
    The last of the roof trusses is lifted into place.
  • The fire place is framed out next to the frame for one of the sliding glass doors.
    The fire place is framed out next to the frame for one of the sliding glass doors.
  • The roof is on and the windows are ready to install.
    The roof is on and the windows are ready to install.
  • Workers are building the chimney and installing windows.
    Workers are building the chimney and installing windows.
  • Chimney further along from the front view. Trenches have been back filled and the mound of dirt is a but smaller.
    Chimney further along from the front view. Trenches have been back filled and the mound of dirt is a bit smaller.

Framing From the Inside

  • Deck is temporarily framed out, giving idea of the height.
    Deck is temporarily framed out, giving idea of the height.
  • Framing Sliding Doors
    Framing Sliding Doors
  • Framing Kitchen Window
    Framing Kitchen Window
  • Framing Hallway
    Framing Hallway
  • Framing From Fireplace
    Framing From Fireplace

Starting to Look Like a House!

  • The first floor is framed and they are starting work on the deck.
    The first floor is framed and they are starting work on the deck.
  • Workers are just starting on the framing for the desk.
    Workers are just starting on the framing for the deck.

Framing Begins

  • The sub floor is in place.
    The sub floor is in place.
  • Looking out through the basement framing.
    Looking out through the basement framing.
  • Craig standing in the basement without the floor above in place yet.
    Craig standing in the basement without the floor above in place yet.
  • Basement Framing
    Basement Framing

Foundations and Concrete

  • Concrete for the porch is poured & note the power pole has finally moved across the driveway!
    Concrete for the porch is poured & note the power pole has finally moved across the driveway!
  • Basement concrete is done!
    Basement concrete is done!

Craig’s Model of Our Future Home

  • Model of driveway side of the house.
    Model of driveway side of the house.
  • Model from the lake side of the house
    Model from the lake side of the house
  • Model of basement which we added to an existing America's Home Place plan to create a storage/man cave space.
    Model of basement which we added to an existing America’s Home Place plan to create a storage/man cave space.
  • Model of floor plan. We started with an America's Home Place plan and modified it to suit our needs.
    Model of floor plan. We started with an America’s Home Place plan and modified it to suit our needs.
My talented husband Craig, made a model of our future house using the plans created by America’s Home Place. Colors are not very accurate, these were the closest I had in colored pencils.

Ground Breaking! November 20, 2019

  • The first two workmen are ready to start!
    The first two workmen are ready to start!
  • We broke ground November 20, 2019. Stumps came out first before the basement cut was made.
    We broke ground November 20, 2019. Stumps came out first before the basement cut was made.
  • …and we are starting to build!
  • Removing an old pine tree stump.
  • Two guys with toys!
Two days later the basement and crawl space are ready for the surveyor to return to square up the house. (Duke Power will be moving the power pole in the near future.)
Two days later the basement and crawl space are ready for the surveyor to return to square up the house. (Duke Power will be moving the power pole in the near future.)

The Driveway & Site Preparation

The Driveway after significant and much needed maintenance.
The driveway to the property had not been worked on in 20 years, so we knew we would need to spend some money on it. Danny Holt out of Winnsboro did a great job, reclaiming the drainage ditches and adding crush and run where it was needed. He also moved some brush and lumber we had accumulated from clearing the site.
House site roughed out after we removed chain link fence, and other odds and ends.
House site roughed out after we removed chain link fence, and other odds and ends.
By mid October the drive was finished and we were ready to begin (on site at least!)
By mid October the drive and the house site were ready to begin (on site at least!)

Color Selections

In August we made our color selections for all the finishes indoors and out.

Exterior Colors

  • Siding and Roof, Sage Green for the siding, shakes and board and batten, and Driftwood architectural tiles on the roof
    Siding and Roof, Sage Green for the siding, and Driftwood architectural tiles on the roof
  • We selected
    Sage greens for the shakes and board and battens

Interior Colors

  • Accessible Beige Trim Color
    Accessible Beige wall color, took the photo of the wrong color. Our selection is to the right.
  • Accent color Softened Green for a few walls.
    Accent color Softened Green for a few walls.
  • Wall color, white heron
    Trim color, white heron. All paint comes from the Sherwin Williams collection.
  • Interior door style
    Interior door style
  • Laminate floor for the living areas, white kitchen cabinets and black granite counter tops
    Laminate floor for the living areas, white kitchen cabinets and black granite counter tops
  • Selected stone for the fireplace
    Selected stone for the fireplace
  • Carpet for bedrooms
    Carpet for bedrooms
  • Bathroom vinyl floor, granite counter tops and khaki cabinets
    Bathroom vinyl floor, granite counter tops and khaki cabinets

Getting Started

  • Abby and Mickey want to know when their house will be finished!
    Abby and Mickey want to know when their house will be finished!
  • The Catawba River (our lake) which runs into Lake Wateree
    The Catawba River (our lake) which runs into Lake Wateree

In the summer of 2019 we started looking for someone to build a house for us on our property on Lake Wateree. We narrowed it down to two builders and America’s Home Place convinced us that they were the right builder for us.

Having selected a base plan to work with, we worked with the Columbia, SC Americas Home Place team to revise the plan to fit our specific needs. A great experience. The base plan comes with a set number of windows, doors, ceiling fans etc. If you remove one somewhere you can add it back in another location. We wanted sliding glass doors from the living area to the deck which gave us two windows to put in the basement space. The team worked with us to create a unique home from the base plan that we started with.

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