if only we could complete our TO DO list...

with the help of JIF peanut butter and nilla wafers -- we plow on through the night to finish the second coat of white paint on all the drywall in the built-in fixtures and red on the endcaps. we had to switch red paints because our original red clashed with the orange tints in the carpet-- i think the second time is the charm! i can't wait to see the banners in front of the endcaps! now where to get the banners??...

moving on UP

while waiting on the drywall to dry/finished getting installed we started painting the drop down ceiling [since its FINALLY fixed!].

step 1...

step 2...

step 3! DONE!

happy halloween.

due to time restraints [as always] we had to hire drywallers to come and install the drywall for us within our built-ins cabinets instead of us doing it ourselves. even though we hired out to speed up the process-- it still pushed us back a few days and won't be completed until wednesday. so this weekend will be busy finishing the painting and fixtures for the back and front......

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

runway ready

...okay- not quite ready but we are getting close! carpet has been installed in both the entryway and office/break room thanks to right touch interiors. it is really unbelievable to start seeing our vision coming into reality and also relieving at the same time to know one thing is complete-- the FLOOR!

since both the concrete is refinished and carpet is installed-- we are now going to be covering up the carpet so we can begin framing the built-in cabinets. we are still waiting on the electrician to come and adjust the track lights because some are going to be shinning directly on top of the cabinets??! we have decided to have him come back to move the lights once fixtures are in place so he can accurately adjust them.

nice shiny new floor

the concrete floor has been sanded and is now dry with a clear sealant.......and is very SHINY! even though the checkered pattern + remnants of the previous brown stain haven't been completely erased- it gives the space a sense of where its been and where it is now. the floor is now prepped and ready for carpet install tomorrow.....red carpet- here we come!

at last...some color!

the painting in the front of the store is now finished! we kept our brushes busy in order to coat the walls in paint before we had our concrete re-finished. concrete surface alternatives will be re-finishing our concrete tomorrow-- by sanding down the existing concrete then applying two coats of clear sealant on monday. bye bye mixed matched concrete...hello new pretty shiny concrete......

bringing it to the back...

the mural is now complete-- THANK YOU and well done sage! as sage finished up the mural- matt and i FINALLY finished up the brown coats of paint in the front and back! i don't think either one of us wants to see brown paint for a very long time....

we have also received our carts from global industries- these will be used to sort the donations once they arrive at the store into things that will stay and things that will be trucked over to the family store. we also received some nice donated desks and filing cabinets from a law firm that was moving-- we now have the office stocked! now how about that lounge....

...and keeps going....

day after day as sage continues painting the mural-- we continue taping and painting the walls brown. along side preparing the store- matt has also been busy in the woodshop at the gatewood studio arts building- working with the product design studio that is building the in-store fixtures and fixtures for the back donation center [pictures to follow soon...]

the painting continues...

sage has now started the mural with a nice capture of greensboro's skyline and will continue expressing the salvation army's mission in pictorial form as the painting continues.

lights, camera, action...

city inspections have passed...YAY! so now it is time to move in and start the finishing work. while stoel's and suzanne's studio classes are continuing with the fixtures and display ideas for the store-- matt and i will be busy painting, ordering supplies, and scheduling for carpet installment and refinishing for the concrete.

build process week of 9.15-9.19

the contractor's portion is coming to an end as they are finishing up some details: walls are primed and we are waiting to pass inspection from the city. within the next week or two we will be able to start our work within the store: painting, installing carpet, installing the built-ins and then move in the final fixtures and merchandise the apparel and accessories!

since the fall semester has started at uncg- two of the studio classes within the interior architecture department has agreed to assist matt and i with the final design details of the store in order to prepare for opening. stoel burrows's studio class will be assisting us with the mid-floor fixtures by 'tweaking' the designs matt and i have already started. the students will then build the actual fixtures to be placed within the store. suzanne cabrera's class is assisting us with the marketing of the store as well as the in store displays and merchandising. please visit their class blog to read updates on their process.

front of the house: front window

front of the house: cash wrap wall

back of the house

build process week of 8.31-9.4

dry-walling has begun! the front of the store's walls has been complete and it looks like they moved down some electrical outlets that were placed in the middle of the wall towards the bottom. now they won't interfere with the mural that will be placed along the back wall where the cash wrap will be placed. the only thing i have a question on- is the drop ceiling in the middle. it appears as if they only dry-walled the sides but the ceiling is still at its original 12' not the 11' it is supposed to be-- i'll have to check on that tomorrow.

meanwhile...here are some pictures of the store:

view from store's entrance

view from side entrance

tomorrow we have a meeting with the new store committee of the salvation army. the purpose of this meeting is to get the managerial duties started in order to have the store up and running by mid october. i will also update them in terms of the construction process, budget, exterior signage [because we need to get that approved before we can order the sign], and the long term schedule.

build process week of 8.24-8.28

i stopped by the store today to check on the progress of construction- and i was very excited to see that the wall has been demolished! just by knocking down two portions of the wall- it completely opens up the space. all the framing is complete and passed inspection today. drywall is expected to start the end of this week or the beginning of next. the secondary drop down ceiling has also been installed.

view of front of store from store's entrance
note:: the wall that separated the two leased spaces have been removed! :)

newly paved ramp at the drop off area

children's section

dressing rooms

the wall in the backroom that has finally been removed!

build me up buttercup... build process week of 8.17-8.21

matt and i visited the site earlier this morning to check in with the process of te construction and talk with the contractor on site. as of now- they are framing the interior walls for the dressing rooms, bathrooms, office, and lounge. it is very exciting to see it all come together. we are going back to site early next week to take some more pictures and talk with the contractor on a more finalized schedule of their work so we know when we can come in and start installing our fixtures.

matt and i have been working on flyers and a temporary sign to be placed on the road sign by the store to start informing the public of the new store opening. [graphic will come later.] we are also in the process of putting a schedule together for us so we know when each stage of the project will be complete. more of that later to come...

entrance looking left

entrance looking center by the bathrooms and dressing rooms

entrance looking center where the cash rap will be placed

entrance looking right where the children's section will be plus the women's section that will be placed where the wall will be demolished

dressing room framing

bathroom framing

back entrance for the donation drop off from the interior

standing by the back entrance looking towards the front of the store

standing in the back looking towards the office and lounge

back entrance for the donation drop off

median for possible placement of donation drop off sign