Friday's progress and NEWS!

The builders completed the load-bearing walls along the stairwell on the first floor on Thursday. 
Surprisngly, they were ready on Friday to put up the beams to support the ceiling.
Because the kitchen window is wide but rather short, the cut-out for the window required special support.  The builders also installed two steel beams that will be supported by the wall underneath. 

And here is what the window cut-out looked like when the supports were finished.

The builders also prepared the insulation above the back door.

And here is what the completed first floor skeleton looks like today:

Joern may be deciding what he is going to cook here in our kitchen.

And this is what it looks like when you stand in the pantry area and look through the doorway to the powder room, and into the guest room/ office.

And this is what it looks like when you stand in the dining room and look into the living room.

 But the most amazing picture, this is what our stairwell looks like now:

Hard to believe this was just one week ago:

But the big news is- tomorrow the ceiling is going to be installed!  Here is the steel mesh that will go between the ceiling plates and the poured concrete second floor sub-floor.

I'm not the biggest fan of Mondays, but I can't wait to come home tomorrow!