Momplex

This is almost as bad as the time that I admitted that I secretly like minivans ... (shh, don't tell, but seriously, automatic sliding doors, easy to put car seats in, plenty of room for friends ... you had me at hello low lift gate!). 

I'm admitting, straight up, that I like laminate countertops. As an owner of a granite countertop, and a busy mom, here's why: 

- Laminate is softer and more forgiving. The granite (and I imagine marble or tile or other hard surfaces) is so unfo

It just started snowing. These past few weeks, it's been all hands on deck to get the Momplex as far along as possible before winter sets in, so I haven't had as much time to post plans and answer comments, and I do apologize. Thank you so much to everyone helping out - I am so thankful that our community of builders is not only very smart and innovative, but generous and helpful. Thank you thank you!But we have been making steady progress on the Momplex, and I'm excited to share with you

Are you having Momplex withdrawals?

Guess what?

We are too!

Winter is here to stay this year in Alaska, and we are so thankful that all of our outside work has been completed for the year.  We did not get the decks on, but we did pour the deck footings, so decks can go up before the ground thaws in June.  

Inside, we did not get to where we wanted to be by winter.  We were hoping to have the ceiling drywalled and insulated, but with a little thing like oh a fir

Now that the walls are all up in the Momplex, we can work on putting the upstairs floor (and downstairs ceiling!) in. I've had my doubts about how this whole thing is going to work out ... since back when we put the anchor bolts in the walls. Just to refresh ... We cut out a pattern to use to cut pieces of the foam blocks out.  We don't want any foam to be between the floor and the walls - a concrete to wood joint will have the least wiggle room.Then we made a bunch of these up - the

Happy Monday!!!

A few weeks back, we built Mom a master closet system, and she's been loving it so far!

But we wanted to add a little more storage and functionality to the tower itself.  I'm not a huge fan of low shelves (maybe it's because I'm ready-to-pop-preggers and reaching into a low bottom shelf is a monumental task right now?).

Mom was going to add some baskets on the lower shelf, but those baskets cosst $20 - and we'd need two per sh

So what walls did we end up choosing? Was it Walls #1, the oversided legos that you fill with concrete?Or was it Walls #2, stick framing the old fashioned wayOr did we go with Walls #3, the pricer SIPS that go up in no time at all?Well, I'm going to tell you.  In this post.  I promise.Our New General ContractorBut I want to share with you something else first.  You need to meet the REAL business mind behind the Momplex, the General Contractor will all the smarts.This is the Mom

Thank you for your comments and advice, real ideas that have helped shape the form of our first Momplex kitchen layout.

Ah the doors ... almost the last part of the Momplex not sealed in. 

The doors should have been put in a long time ago.

But you see, we built out of ARXX blocks - Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) which are basically giant hollow foam legos that you fill with concrete. And the ICFs are much wider (11 1/2") than a standard 2x6 wood framed wall.  So we will need a special door jamb to fit the wider walls.

The doors are late to go in because we wanted to D

So where were we ....

We got kitchen cabinets built, 

then we DIYed a laminate countertop, 

Now it's time to install them!!!

Most countertops are just glued down, but remember us? And our overbuilding, do-it-right-the-first-time issues?  

Yeah, glue just not going to be enough for us.  I know it would work just fine .... but why not add some screws too?  Help us.

If you don't mind a leaky basement, if you don't mind soggy carpet, a "smell" that you just can't get rid ... don't bother reading this post. Today I am going to show you one of those not so glamorous or fun tasks that you must do to build a house right. But it can effect the comfort and usability - not to mention value - of your home incredibly. Today, we are going to waterproof the below grade foundation of the Momplex!

What a frightening sight. Winter on It's WayI was already shivering, but the migrating geese flying over the Momplex was extra chilling.  Even the birds know.  That's why they are packing up and leaving.  Winter is right around the corner.Approaching SnowlineAnd our Momplex project is in danger of getting snowed on . . . without a roof overhead.  And a snow line creeping closer by the day.One Week AgoDon't get me wrong, we've been working very hard and making lots of progr

Thank you all for the wonderful inspiring comments keeping us encouraged up at the Momplex! My sweet husband, he works all day up there, and then comes home and reads your comments, and every once in a while, I catch him grinning to himself. You are making a huge difference to us! This isn't the first time we've built a home, but I tell you what, this is the first time we've built this BIG, the first time we've built entirely with ICF ARXX blocks, and this is the first time we've built putt

Man are we ever getting close to that day. For those of you who are new here, that day is the day when we have the Momplex full insulated, and it doesn't matter if it's -50 degrees outside, if the wind is blowing 80 MPH, if it's snowing . . . even if it's freezing rain. That day is the day we can work without -100 below boots and three layers of down. That day is the day we can work without gloves, when batteries can charge, and tools still work. It's going to be a big day for us! Tha