Okay, off topic, Sally, please, please do a new post, for your reveal. I do enjoy all the white kitchens but for many reasons did not do one myself; we non-Somethin's Gotta Give remodelers need more inspiration photos! Was that Costa by the way? It's gorgeous! On topic: When one measurement changed, I did not think through how that impacted the rest of the plan. Despite research on the web and the store, when I received my microwave trim kit, the cabinet needed to get deeper than planned. I figured out pretty last minute that we now had a tiny unacceptable walkway and we moved the fridge over. We were so busy congratulating ourselves on our narrow escape, but the ride wasn't over. I didn't think about the 3 upper spacious cupboards that would now be microscopic when installed. The cabinet maker cut me a pretty good deal to redo that set with fewer but bigger doors. He definitely went above and beyond, and given what everyone else has posted about contractors, I am so very grateful that it got corrected as it did. Another one I did not think about soon enough was making a Ceiling and Texturing Plan. This is not the same as a Lighting plan, although lighting obviously figures into the equation. We did parts (not all) of this project DIY. We hadn't realized some areas that we needed to mud better because they would not be covered by tile or cabinet (ie above the window) and he had to add some hot mud last minute. Given the contractor we got (a personal rec), that was only a small upcharge. Also, be aware that once your texturing is underway, the room is sealed off. You can't supervise unless you are sealed in too. I would send in a big map or go over it with blue tape that you remind him to pull off before he starts that area. Like another poster, I also did not figure out that I wanted my ceiling light hung from a different position. I will not retexture, my husband is adamant that I find a table fixture that can be hung to correct position by a chain and a hook. It is what it is. The height and exact placement of the hood was not ideal. I was adamant that it be within the manufacturer's specs so that it worked properly. However, there were several inches of leeway within those guidelines. Have everyone pretend to be cooking and see what they think. It should have been higher to avoid my husband bumping his head. He is learning. But that was definitely a mistake.

If the front faces East, then the back of the house faces West. That is the absolute WORST possible orientation ever. You’ve got bigger problems that light making it into the house from underneath the porch. The western light will bake you and overheat you, in the very rooms that you want to spend the most time. They will be the most uncomfortable and forced into darkness because of the need for light control from the harsh western sun.

Another word on my layout. I always leave at least 3’ walkway space through rooms. Each square in the layout drawing is equal to one square foot. Your grouping, no matter the configuration, needs to “float” in this room closer to fireplace. Your TV needs to be sized to fit into the niche on a cabinet. Or mounted with cabinet below or wall mounted cabinet. With little ones I would maximize storage so would suggest a cabinet. From your post that the width is 5’-4” wide, I would try getting one 54” wide. You have to clear baseboards too. So you will need a little wiggle room.

its probably growing too fast due to excess fertilizer from the lawn.. not much to do about that.. unless you do your own fert'g.. if so.. just dont fert on the far side of the sidewalk ... tree time is counted in decades.. if you are going to cut the top off.. whenever it looks weird.. then you.. well.. just dont... let it do its own thing.. the only pruning this tree will ever need is from the bottom if you need to walk under it.. etc ... or removal of any other damage.. these are rather carefree trees.. so dont make them something else.. ken