House

I met Eric Quaintance, my builder, at the Ar-Jay Center this afternoon. We made decisions on kitchen countertops, cabinets, design, and hardware, then went to the lighting department and chose lighting throughout the house (not including the table and floor lamps I already have) and for all exterior doors/garage, plus a ceiling fan for the library. We looked at the firebox he had selected, then went into a "sale" room, where they have various display items that are now many-percents off, and saw a beautiful oak mantelpiece, marked down from $700 (which I thought might be a good price for what it was) to $150!

We will get flooring at Bachmeier's in Iowa City, but he and I have pretty much the same ideas. Faux wood laminate and 18-in. faux tile vinyl. Slager's for the kitchen appliances, which I am going with black cooktop, but I don't know yet whether black or white for the refrigerator and wall ovens. I think because of the white beadboard cabinets, I may be better off with black appliances.

What I envision for the library is darkish "wood" floor, wood fireplance mantel, wood rocker (from Joyce), dark leather sofa, wood coffee and side tables, piano, and grandfather clock, with bookshelves of stained wood and off-white walls behind. Bare, unmatched woods and leathers with some throw pillows and maybe the other (grandma's) rocker in fabric. The curtains are that dark fringed wool. Floor lamps and ceiling fan of dark bronze. Rather spare and solid overall, yet homey and comfortable.

Eric seems comfortable giving his opinion, and I value it, both practical and aesthetic. But once or twice I "overrode" him, and he came around, or seemed to. Particularly in the case of the bathroom cabinets, where I wanted black to counteract the light-colored tops, that wouldn't go well at all with the white beadboard used in the kitchen. He wasn't sure, but after carrying the sample door over to the bath display area, he said he liked it. Certainly, it's my decision, but I'd like for him to be happy with "his" house. He has an artistic and professional reputation and pride.