Thanks everyone! Kind of sad that it's taken 3 years to get to this point (and still not completely done) but it is what it is when the last part of the build is DIY and we have two teens with activities every weekend. Just this spring our yard is starting to look like something not in a construction zone. I always joked that our yard looked like the apocalypse with the dirt, weeds, tools scattered everywhere, broken concrete, etc. Slowly but surely we are cleaning it up and planting things. I finally felt like it was close enough to share how it looks in real life. Without all the help from the people who chimed in on this thread, not sure the entry would be what is today. I seriously love it and people stop often and say how charming it is. So thank you for giving me (and my architect) some very helpful advice! For those who want to know, the color of the front door is Bainbridge Blue by Benjamin Moore. And walking down the stairs yesterday afternoon, I realized that we get a glimpse of the flower box from the inside. Now I just need to put the effort in and keep those plants alive! I do NOT have a green thumb. :)

Our architect will be doing us a favor by making plans at a reduced cost because he has a relationship with my husband's fire department. So I don't expect him to spend hours and hours with me while I figure out what we need. Trying to do that before hand. I do get that a dysfunctional kitchen that's pretty isn't worth much. But I know an off centered sink will forever bug me, otherwise I'm very open to functional choices that may not be the ideal design choice. I don't feel like bumping the sink maybe 3 feet is worth that sacrifice for me. My current sink isn't centered in the kitchen window and it still drives me nuts (5 years in!). Although the offset sink with centered faucet is a good thought. I still think I'd rather center it over the few inches that gains me. My other problem precluding me from being able to adapt one of these plans so far 100 percent are microwave related. I don't want a drawer because I have little children who looooove buttons (and we plan to have more) and I feel like it should be close to the fridge because of how often I go between the two. I don't love the clean up sink in the island because of potentially displaying dirty dishes but I'm willing to do it if it functions better. The sink in front of the window is another great idea but I struggle with how much dish storage that limits me to near by. I can see value to the sink being on the non window wall but I would want deeper cabinets for face space (genius idea I wouldn't have thought of!), but I'm concerned about the cost of that forcing me to go totally custom. Two sinks is a new concept for me, not sure I'd love it... I have a small sinkless island now that I love so I'm not too worried about that. But my kitchen is smaller currently so everything is close and maybe that makes it function well still.

We have two quotes so far. Two are frameless to ceiling glass options with one continuous rail on one side only, rail in steel. Prices came in at $9,200 and 10,500. We are still waiting in a quote for a framed in glass option with powder coated aluminum. Not that it matters as it’s just a line item for now but $6700 has been budgeted for it. So far builder is bang on with his railing quotes as the exterior railings came in at slightly under budget. So we know the high end but not the lower for sure yet. Should get the concrete numbers early this week.

The post I mentioned would not be at the bottom tread so the design of a continuous handrail would have to bypass the post to get to a newel at the bottom tread and there would need to be a guard at the new opening whether it be solid, balusters, etc. At first glance it seems a potentially messy solution. Perhaps the handrail could be at the other side and the guard could terminate at the post. The bottom tread should have had returns at each side. Its looks like a abasement stair in the entryway.