I wanted to show a progression of our new home. I plan on making a progressive collage to frame to display in our home. This was one of the most fun times of my life – and now that we’ve moved in and are mostly settled, it is even better. So here is my online progressive collage:
There were four trucks full of logs that hauled wood to a sawmill to be cut into boards.
Then the piers and pilings were poured. It was an exciting time because after years of planning, we were actually beginning to build the house. We walked through the “rooms” at this stage and envisioned what they might look like as they grew.
The foundation was built, and I worried that the house would sit up too high off the ground. I was told repeatedly that it wasn’t too high, but they couldn’t convince me. I could see a L-O-N-G, arduous set of steps to be navigated to get up to the house.
The framing might have been the most exciting phase. That’s when the individual rooms really took shape.
When I saw the kitchen bay window framed out, I had tears in my eyes. It was that exciting. We had looked at the plans for this particular house for so long, and to see it becoming reality was wonderful.
Framing the second story was also exciting.
I loved it when the two front gables were framed out. They’re part of the distinctive features of the front of the house.
And then they nailed up the plywood and then that waterproof-paper-whatever-it’s-called over the playwood.
Somewhere I have photos of the guys doing the brickwork. I’ll look them up someday. However, here’s a photo of the finished brickwork – including the beautiful front steps. Not too many steps at all!
This photo shows our landscaper (our son) drawing his plans for the landscaping, sprinkler and lighting systems. You’ll notice that the forms are ready for the sidewalks to be poured.
The paving crew poured the patio, sidewalks and driveway. They did a wonderful job.
The finished house – with the front rock garden that RT built for me.
This next picture is the artist’s rendering of what the “Hickory Ridge” plan by Donald Gardner should look like. I think our house is MUCH more beautiful than what the artist envisioned. We made a few changes – added an additional bedroom and bath downstairs and made some of the windows larger.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
January 21st, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Turned out pretty darn close to the illustration didn’t it! Great looking home.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
My wife and I love the “Hickory Ridge” plan and are seriouly considering building this home. Your blog and photo’s have encouraged us even more. We live in N. Alabama. We would like to learn more about your modifications to the plan and also any words of wisdom.
TMS: You’ll love the house. The finished product is strikingly beautiful. We added a guest room downstairs. That made the laundry room smaller – but it’s still plenty big enough. We also lost that little storage space in the garage. Again – we didn’t need that space. the bathroom for the guest room is right next to the garage. I didn’t want to lose any of the pantry. So we put a short hall between the pantry and the laundry room. The guest room goes out the back along the end of the backporch, and juts out from there. We changed the lines of the front porch, too – nothing major – just took out the curve in the ceiling of the porch over the front door. The design fits well with the plans and looks perfect. If you decide you want to do it, I can draw it out or copy our modified plans and send it to you.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:40 am
We plan to start site work in the next 2 weeks. We have a goal of starting on November 1. I would love to learn more about your modifications. We plan to add extra garage space where you have added the guest room.
I am willing to pay for copies if you could share.
September 9th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Hi Carol. I love hearing about your experience with a Don Gardner plan. Did you go directly through them to purchase the plans or use someone locally?
September 9th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
JLF: We bought the plans directly from the Don Gardner website. I think it was a package of 6 copies of the plan so we’d have one for each of the subs. They were wonderful working with my husband via the phone as we made some changes to the plan, and we love the house. Quite a few times through the process of building the house, my husband called their office to ask a question, and they were cooperative and helpful each time.
He he! I just now noticed you’re emailing from Don Gardner. I swear I wrote the above before I saw that. LOL!
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Hi there,
My fiance and I are planning to build “Hickory Ridge” beginning in March 09. We are up in New England and will start once the winter was over. This may be a personal question and feel free to email me personally, but I wanted to know how much it ended up costing per square foot. We are in the beginning stages of creating the budget, so any input would be helpful.
Thanks
March 27th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Were planning to build this house in the fall and was wondering if we might look at the out side. We are in west ky and didn’t know how close you were.
May 9th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
We are preparing to build the Hickory Ridge. Did you use metal roofing on the porches? Love your house – hope ours looks 1/2 as good as yours. Thanks!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Im building this same house – Modified the whole thing – took the plans and had them drawn to my specs – Made it bigger and added a 3rd garage door – great plan to start out with but I made it better.. your house looks great, hope you love it – So far I love the way mine is turning out –
November 19th, 2010 at 11:38 am
May 14th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
November 19th, 2011 at 11:54 am
Love your house can you please send pics of the inside?
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Has anyone within driving distance of West TN built this house? My wife and I are considering it and would love to look at one in person. Please get back to me if you have.