Hi Connie, I am not familiar with Buttons n Bows. A new to me Camellia that I highly recommend to my rose loving friend is Winter's Rose. It is a dwarf camellia with lovely light pink flowers. It has been covered with flowers for the last few weeks. Winter Snowman is one that grows very upright for me. It blooms for about six weeks in November and December. I visited Camellia Forest in NC for their annual open house last year and picked up several that are doing well. They have a large selection of cold hardy plants. One that they highly recommended for cold hardiness is Gov. Mouton. I will have to check out Little Five Azalea Farm. There is also a couple who sell camellias at the Gordon Road Farmer's Market on Rt 3. Kathy Here is a link that might be useful: Winter's rose

Thanks Ruthie!! Yes, I am an old southern girl and I grew up with a mother who did lots of canning, but my job was to wash the veggies and once I was done with that, I scampered outside as fast as I could!!! LOL!!! I wish now I had payed more attention!!! But I intend to pay alot of attention here and know with ya'lls help, I will learn alot!!! I am so glad I listened to Ruthie and finally made my way over here!!!

The house itself is fine, we just have questions when it comes to things like the allowences. One thing I don't like is that we have to go through their vendors. I know I could do better on pricing the some of the things we've been quoted but we don't get that $$ back if we don't use the vendor. But getting the information is like pulling teeth. Our agent must have called/emailed their agent for a solid week before we ever get an answer. We're not the first house being built so I guess everyone else on the st has gone through teh same stuff though...

Well, I'm not really sure if this is worthwhile or will just be upsetting since these were your final plans, but there isn't much that I really like. The one thing that I was crazy about were the curved stairs, but you changed those. Anyway, I like the open floor plan for the living room, dining area and kitchen. Things that I would spend some more time examining would be the amount of wasted space in the foyer area compared to your private areas. The house seems as if it were designed to have a "grand" entryway feel, but the use of bifold doors in that foyer is very jarring (I'd absolutely lose those...stat). Also, the different sizes of the double front doors...what was your design philosophy here? That door is centered in the outside space, I see no reason for one door to be a 2'0" and the other to be a 3'0". If you also want the opening to be centered in the foyer space, it could be done without resorting to this option...I think your designer could have done better here. The foyer could be very nice (particularly if you had left that curved staircase), but it robs valuable space from your bedrooms. Which are, IMO, for a house this size all too small. Also, the intersection of the two bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor...way too much action in a small area. I think this area is going to look too busy. Also, again, the bifold doors at the linen closet and broom closet in that hallway...is there a reason why they are in your plan? I haven't seen these in new homes in a long time. Where do you plan for your W/D to be placed? I didn't see it on the plans. Also, the walk-thru the mudroom, through the foyer, around a corner, into the kitchen with groceries is pretty awkward. It comes back to the fact that the house is designed with a very formal entry, but then there is nothing else about it that feels formal. It is just an interesting take on a design. Where are you building? Some of the features that are off-putting to me may well be a regional thing. It looks like the exterior would be lovely. Best of luck with your project. Also, remember that this is just one person's opinion...if the house was designed for you and your lifestyle, that is the most important thing.