Sunday, August 22, 2010

New exterior photos (with grass)...

(Brendan)

As we get closer to our open house (on Sept. 4), I thought I'd post updated pictures of what our house looks like on the outside and inside. This is the outside post.

There are three major developments since the last time I posted exterior photos: 1) Our grass has grown in, 2) I finished all the exterior painting, and 3) Our gutters have been installed. The gutters were a great find by our general contractor, Chuba Company. We were thinking for a while of trying to avoid gutters, but once we settled on using them (ultimately the best way to protect our home from water damage), we really wanted something that would add to the look of the house instead of detract from it. We specified half-round gutters, which were frequently used in older homes (usually copper), and also specified galvalume as the material (galvanized aluminum, unpainted). These are not typical gutters and were hard to get priced, much less find a sub-contractor who would do it within our budget. Fortunately Chuba did find a sub to do just that, and they even had a seamless product.

So, here's what our house looks like currently on the outside (click any to enlarge)...

12 comments:

Isaac S said...

Looks great! Amanda and I had fun visiting you guys on Saturday; we need to get together more often! Maria seems to enjoy playing with other kids; I think she gets bored at home with just us. We both commented on the drive home how much we like the way natural light flows into your home with windows on every side. I think Amanda may have gotten bitten by the "build an architect-designed home" bug a little. Of course, I've been in favor of the idea for some time now! :-)

Brendan Koop said...

It was great having you guys over, and thanks so much for the meal, it was delicious!

John Curran said...

Your grass looks so beautifully emerald green!

I love the dramatic night-time photos with the windows all lit up.

Glad you are posting these images, as it is doubtful I'll make it to the Open House all the way from NJ, where we have forgotten what a green lawn looks like.

Brendan Koop said...

Yes, not bad for only having seeded it this year and having no sprinkler system!

This year has been the most perfect year of rain in Minnesota that I can remember in a long, long time. It's been raining every 4-5 days the whole summer, perfect for grass. Lots of my family are farmers in Southern MN, and this year Minnesota is projected to have the highest yielding corn crop in the country.

Debbie said...

You are certainly a proud home owner and why not, with all of the planning, purchasing, painting, pounding, planting, mowing, building and sawing you have done. I know you have calluses to prove it. It looks marvelous

Steven Koop said...

I love the photographs! They really show off your new home (especially the exterior paint work, which looks exceptional).

Papa

Brendan Koop said...

I would say the exterior painting is exceptional, especially since you helped do a lot of it!

Todd Kraft said...

Brendan,
Great photos! I feel like I know a lot about the house and have never been there. The gutters are unique, never seen that type before. The downspout on the driveway may give you a few fits in the future. Just my theory, but I think you should protect the asphalt from the direct contact with that flow of water and it seems that this will cause a nice ice rink during thaw periods.

I love the windows! Gives a new meaning to 'Honey, please close the windows, it looks like rain.' Not a quick task if they are all open.

Great home...we may try to make it to the open house.

Todd

Brendan Koop said...

Hi Todd! We think alike. I don't know if you can see it in the photo of the garage, but there is an inset drain right below the downspout that drains the water right through the driveway and into the ground.

Molly said...

Yes, Todd. Brendan has thought of everything. :) I had to laugh about the comment about the windows because that scenario has happened more than a few times. I remember one particular time driving through a downpour to get home because I had left the windows open that morning. :) Thankfully, we have lots of little helping hands. I hope you and your family can make it out to the open house, but if not, you'll have to come for a visit another time.

John Curran said...

Thinking of the Koop Family, and wishing I could be there for today's Open House~

Brendan, I saw this chapel on an iconography page and thought of you; I like the archangel icons flanking the altar. Go to this link, and scroll to the 4th name, you'll see it!

http://www.betsyporter.com/guest.html

John

Brendan Koop said...

Thanks for the link John, a very cool little chapel. And thanks for thinking of us, it was a wonderful open house! I totally forgot to take any pictures when it was happening, but we were so busy. I almost lost my voice toward the end of the day after all that talking :-)