A Monday
The 4th TV show is filming this week - DIY's Kitchen Impossible. We've hosted so far "Bathastic!", "Indoors Out", "House Crashers" and this weeek is the kitchen show. One more to go - the front yard and then we wrap up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Lot's of camera's, lots of junk food that sustains the production company, and lots of logistical hurdles.
I mean, each show has an entirely different cast and crew so there is little continuity and efficiencies to be had - each one was like a job onto it's self.
Also, the DIY's Blog Cabin 2010 is sort of the umbrella show, which each of these sub-shows popping in for a quick visit. Blog Cabin will run as a series in the fall, and each of the individual rooms will run as new episodes and then as reruns. So it's a ton of press and tv time for the area for sure - how we fair on tube time, we will have to wait and see.
Below is the 20 acre piece of land that Marcus and family purchased, then shopped their homebuilding dream around extensively, found us, vetted us, and choose us. It'll be a great job, on a spectacular piece of land.
And then my house in the early morning after a night of loud thunderstorms.
It's been a whale of a social summer and this weekend we had the Eastburn's from New Hope PA in town. They have 6 yr old twins. That's a pear tree we planted for Lucas off to the left, and then our 'starter garden' further to the left.
Inside of our home.
Cottage 29 is rocking the house - 8 acres, 970 sq ft. Open, lofty. the only small house we currently have available.
Barn III taking shape, and like I mentioned, was signed up for last week by Gary and Nikki. Big first site meeting this weekend.
Here's a house we remodeled back in 2007. It was a small house before small houses were cool, had lake rights and views. It was an eye-opener, that yes, small houses are people too.
Back then, no matter what type of budget you had (large or small), if you wanted a small well designed private home, - you wouldn't find anything, nothing, noonka, zippo. Now everyone has hopped on the small is cool jag, even the big boys like Toll Bros, Hovanian, KB Homes, etc...
My Sister then came up on Saturday and stayed through Sunday, hitting Diane's diner and the Callicoon farmers market.
And Lisa acting out in our front yard.
Had a great dinner with our neighbors in Cottage 23, David and Pedro, on Monday night. They are both into music and design, and their home is just pretty fabulous. 1300 sq ft of perfection.
Barn III - Going into Contract
Well, I was going to write a blog about how we have developed this great new Barn House, the 3rd in our series, and how it was for sale and some lucky devil was going to get to own it, and enjoy it.
And then Gary and Nikki visited and signed up for it.
So, that's 7 home sales this year, and we got 3 in the oven (under contract), and another house or two to build for families on their land (as opposed to ours).
Bill Payne from McKean Real Estate in Barryville and I were out looking for more land this morning since it seems like the stuff I got is flying off the shelf. Bill brokered for the land this Barn is on, as well as 6 other lots over the last 6 months - we brokered the house deal ourselves. Thanks for the help Bill. Thanks for the help McKean Real Estate in Barryville. They keep helping me find great land, and I keep building terrific little houses.
I mean, our house process is down to a science at this point, - pick a style, pick a piece of land, pick a house that is already started, make some important but well-guided decisions, move-in in 5 months from 1st visit, get a warranty that covers everything, and live happily ever after.
No wonder were selling our homes like hotcakes - we make it soooooo easy.
Cottage 25 - Sold
So I was driving on this old road outside of Yulan for years before I finally noticed this falling down old lady of a house. I took some pics cause I like the lines and took a quick scary tour of the insides. then I sent it off for Kevin to develop as our newest cottage design. That's how we do it - we find area and regional architecture that is appealing and we reinvent it.
And we designed it and it turned out so good we started building it and then it was turning out so good Steve from Hoboken signed up for it.
And then, out of nowhere, I drove by the original house, and it was being torn down. So our replica is now the only memory of that glorious old house.
RIP. But at least we created a salute to it before it was too late.
This is a real beaut on 4 acres, our last 4 acres on Tuthill Road, wrapping up that 8 home country road project.
And a nod to John Denver's 'Country Road' -
"All my memories gather round her,
Miner's Lady, stranger to blue waters.
Dark and dusty painted on the sky.
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eye.
Country roads, take me home.
To the place, I belong.
West Virginia, mountain mama.
Take me home, Country Road."
1250 sq ft with a finished workshop basement, this rather rad Cottage lives up to all the expectations amongst our fans, and homeowner. LB even thought it was our 'best ever'. I have one homeowner who bought a few years ago who is pissed because we keep getting better and that's it unfair to the early homeowners, design and value-wise. I disagree, the prices have remained pretty consistent based on what is in the home.
We do keep getting better though. More ideas, more quality, more innovation. Pushing the envelope without busting the budget.
This homeowner opted for radiant heat instead of our cool-ass rads. I'm a big fan of radiant heat, - and with his killer woodstove and spray foam insulation, this will be one green house.
Just some really great details in the pic above. Wide plank floors, wood stove nook, chalkboard door to the half bath, rough sawn handrails, salvaged barn beams as stairway posts.
Sharp red retro kitchen which I approve of exceedingly.
When we sell a house, it's done - key in the door, appliances operational, clean clean clean. I just signed a house build contract from a customer and the standard language of the contract calls for 'broom clean'. We deliver our homes spic and span - broom clean, give me a break.
Upstairs foyer landing with barn door track.
Another landing shot.
Powder room takes a different approach with the painted white beaded wainscotting.
Upstair bath.
Subway tile, tile on the floor and white beaded wainscotting. I think that's a duel flush toilet, adding this cottage's greening.
Where magic happens....
Some more elevations with the big tall green trees.
I love this back elevation. Could be a house onto itself.
And the side elevation really works for me too.
So, there you have it. Another one knocked out of the park by the Catskill Farms Team.
And thanks Steve - It was a real pleasure and we hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
"I hear her voice, in the mornin' hours she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away.
Driving down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday,
Yesterday....
Country Road, take me home.
To the place, I belong.
West Virginia, mountain mama,
Take me home, country roads."
Cottage 28 - 4.375% Mortgage Interest Rate
Cottage 28 is awesome. A new design with lots of funky fun design approaches and decisions. Amazingly, we started this house on April 5 - 2.5 months ago. that's fast even for us. We are now painting the inside and the kitchen is going in on Monday.
I've been saying this without trying to sound like a salesman, but really, if you are going to buy or build in the next 3 years, do it now. Denzil and Carolyn, the future owners of this place, got a 4.375% interest rate. That's low - very low, no matter how you crumble the cookie.
This morning was so sunny I had my sunglasses on by 7:30.
Happy Father's Day to all the Catskill Farms' Dads out there. It's my 2nd one and I can't wait to see what the family got me. I love presents.
