I planted 3 large hemlocks Dec05. 2 of them died, starting at top, then brown creeping down and needles fell off, then all at once all fell off, took about 2 weeks in process. It was probably overwater in this swamp. I had researched trees that love water and read the hemlock likes standing water but in real life in my yard this was not the case. Also read they like some shade in the summer. The one I have left that survived is doing really well but I'm always afraid it will suddenly croak. It's in too-sunny a place but the neighbors put up a 6' cedar fence alongside it so hopefully that will give it enough shade for a good start. It's quite a bit over the fence in height now. Its roots may have more air than the others because a mole Spring06 dug tunnels all through that area. It's at the end of the yard with cottage stone perimeter, raised about 14", and on the other side there's always a lot of standing water so I think copious rainwater leaks out those mole tunnels into the neighbor's yard. One weird thing -- the hemlock has lost its droopy top and instead is ramrod straight. Eventually the trees around it will grow taller and shade it more. We've let rootstock salix smithianas sucker and grow like mad to provide shade in the yard in summer until the other trees get old enough to withstand the sun. The smithianas are really big now. Hemlock is straight conifer to the right: Bottom of same hemlock tree, on left:

This plan is one of the few house factory plans that has given thought to the design and appearance of each exterior face of the house. All sides have a pleasant variety of projecting and receeding planes, and avoid the boredom, massiveness of unbroken planar walls and the inherent large, bulky roof masses that go with such walls. If you "square-off" any of the elevations you will be losing what makes this plan special and appealing. Builders will tell you that you will pay more for more corners. What they won't tell you is the price you will pay for a visually boring and uninspiring "box" house! The revised kitchen with the enlarged island looks very large to me, causing a lot of walking and travel, since the kitchen "triangle" is so interrupted. I hope your feet, legs and back are such that excessive walking on hard surfaces with hot and cold items is not a problem. Your revised garage is located too close to the house for access to one of the garage bays. Turning it the way you have means: 1) it will have to be placed further from the house than the original plan; 2) your garage doors will be a major visible element from the front of the house and be what guests and visitors see, since the doors will be so large and numerous as to catch and hold one's eye. Garage doors are always the single largest item on the elevation of any house. More so with triple garages! It will be better design to return to the original plan configuration and hide the garage doors from view from the front of the house. Adding the bedroom and bath on the first floor results in a much longer corridor and "tunnel" from one end of the house to the other. Is this of concern? Finally, the stair is highly decorative and will be a major visual feature when using the dining room. Does such a stair work for your style of living? It will be beautiful, but quite expensive. Good luck with your project!

I have a new set of options for your perusal. These are all performance fabrics, like Sunbrella I included the chair fabric for reference. DH likes#4. I think that one is pretty but it feels too light and Springy to me and I am not sure it would be pleasing and cozy in the deep dark winter which is when we are in the house the most.

Yu use the side porch more but do people come visit you on the side Porch from the front? Or so they come in the house then you go out there? Do you use side porch to go to the front for any reason? If not no need for walk but if so need small bit to connect to main walkway