Hey, y’all! So there’s been so much progress over at the Chinaberry House and Test Kitchen that it just made sense to take y’all on a little tour!
Armed with Jack as the camera man, we set out to show you all that’s going on. I made a few flubs of my words, said “um” and “super excited” way too much, but you’ll get the idea. 🤣
We’re still at the stud phase, but you’ll get to see the general layout of the house and I walk you through every space.
Need to catch up?
If you’re totally lost, take a few minutes to read through these posts to get you up to speed…
Jenny German
Thank you so much for the grand tour! I hope every one of your dreams are realized in that home/ test kitchen. It is so thoughtful of you to share with your friends. I have been reading your column , and cooking your recipes for some time now ( I regret to say I cannot exactly remember when I began to read your column regularly ) Perhaps two years , or more. I do read a good many food columns, and am always on the hunt for more. You keep writing, I’ll keep reading! JG
Mrs. U
Beautiful!!!!!!! Oh I hope you’ll share another update!!!
Thank you!! I’m working on another update right now!
Paula Jones
I am SUPER EXCITED 😆to see the next completed step. This is very fun to watch!!
We’re hoping to start insulation this week and should have more to share very soon!
Linnie
Thanks for sharing. Loved seeing the progress being made. So excited for you. Keep making the videos. I feel like I’m right there. 🙂
Thanks so much, Linnie! Will do!
Cathy
What can I say absolutely beautiful
Thanks so much, Cathy!
Linda O'Flynn
Stacey, your houseplans look wonderful and I’m sure you will love living there but I wanted to give you one suggestion.You need to consider placement of water supply lines. First, don’t run lines through exterior walls. If at some point in the future you need to work on those lines you don’t want to have to tear out two walls. My dad was an industrial pipefitter and when my parents built their last home he had plumbing placed so only one interior wall had to be taken out to work on the pipes. Bathtubs were placed so water lines were on opposite ends of the tubs rather running through the common walls. The same with toilets and lavatories. He had cutoffs on all water lines. I’m originally from south Mississippi and I know southern Alabama doesn’t have many freezing events but water lines in exterior walls are just begging for trouble.
Additionally, check with local authorities about you’re requirements for sewers. Consider only running output from toilets into a septic tank. Usually only “black” water is required to go through a septic system. “Gray” water from sinks, bathtubs, dishwashers, and washing machines doesn’t have to go in the septic tank. Actually, Daddy ran that water near the garden spot, not into the garden because of bleach but near enough to help keep the ground moist. That cut down on the amount of watering they had to do. Because of separating the water output that house was lived in continously for 35 years before that septic tank required service.
Last thing. Tell your wife and any daughters not to flush tampons. I know the box says they can be flushed and they do flow through the plumbing and they’re fine in city sewer systems but they don’t decompose in septic tanks.
I’m not trying to create problems. Only prevent them.
Incidently, I live in a custom built mobile home in Oklahoma. I ordered it with cutoffs on all fixtures and no waterlines through exterior walls. I guess someone thought “that woman” would never know the difference. The lines to the tub in the master bath has frozen twice in 26 years and when I went to shut it off the first time guess what I found — no cutoffs on the most vulnerable lines in the whole house. I have a hole in my wall to let the house heating get to those pipes and on exceptionally cold nights I blast it with a portable space heater. I don’t like having to turn off all the water to the house.
Enjoy you’re new digs.
Thanks so much, Linda! I greatly appreciate all of these tips!
Susan Hatcher
Your home is going to be beautiful. Thanks for the tour. Can’t wait to see it finished. When do you anticipate it being completed? So excited for you all.
Thanks so much, friend! We’re hoping to be able to start moving in late January.
Janice Carpenter
Love the layout of your home and you guys have thought of everything! So happy for you and can’t wait to see it completed.
Thanks, Janice! I’ll keep y’all updated!
Helene
Thank you Stacey for sharing the building of your home with us…….May the Lord bless each and every detail of this home for you and your family.
I appreciate that, Helene!
Janet McDonald
This home is so well planned. It is stunning. Much happiness.
Janet
Thank you so very much, Janet!
Marcy Sauser
Thank you for the walk through. Your new home will be perfect, What a beautiful and well thought out house . Enjoy your recipes, Stacey.
Thank you, Marcy!
Cher
I am truly happy for you and your family. I loved the walkthrough. You deserve this.
Thanks so much, Cher!
Coette Morris
Your home will be so wonderfully functional and beautiful! I love your aspect of never enough counter space. The big windows and lots of light is a wonderful idea. I love lots of windows too! I can’t wait to see the finished home. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Coette!
Sylvia Knight
Stacey, I am so proud of you! And I am so happy for you, Heather & Jack. Hope you three can write a favorite Bible verse on the studs & dedicate your beautiful home to the Lord. May he bless you & your sweet family always.🙏🏻🥰
We already have a day planned to do just that! Thank you so much, Mrs. Knight! You will always be so special to me!
Sharon Rigby
Thank you for sharing your dream with us. Looks and sounds like you and Heather put a lot of thought in the house plans to maximize the space (good job). I can imagine sitting on that porch, drinking a cup of coffee or ice tea and gazing out over the land watching the birds and wildlife. My husband and I do a lot of that since I retired. Super excited (#9) for you and your family and can’t wait to see the finished house and test kitchen!! By the way, I love your recipes since I discovered your website!
LOL! We’re so excited about those porches as well! Thanks so much, Sharon!
Charleen Adams
Thank you for the tour!This home is going to be stupendous!!!!!You have every right to say “super excited”as many times as you want. I just so happy for you.This certainly is a Dream Home .God Bless You and your family. Can’t wait to see it with walls ,paint,lights ,”camera action” and I haven’t even gushed about the test kitchen .!!
Ha! Thanks so much, Charleen! I sure appreciate it!
PATRICIA G SCHENCK
Seems like you have thought of everything. Can’t wait to see it completed! Can you tell me the square footage of this place. You and your wife hav left nothing out! Good for you!!!
Sherry Beard
Loved the tour of the Chinaberry house! I know it will be beautiful! Tell your Mom hello for me.
Thanks, Sherry! Will do!
We’ve certainly tried! The main house is a little over 3,000 square feet and the bonus room is just under 500 square feet.
Net
Thank you for sharing, it is awesome. Keep posting the updates. Blessings
Thanks, Net!
Reba Files
A mansion by any means with a true Southern style. It’s amazing and well worth the wait. Praying for happiness and good health to you and your family to enjoy all of your days. Thank you for sharing this wonderful design with us and especially all of your wonderful Southern Recipes.
Ha! Not a mansion, by any stretch, but hopefully a comfortable home. Thanks so much, Reba! You’re always so kind. 🙂