Very very nice. Whose fire pit did you choose? We are wondering what to do under our deck and wonder why you choose gravel over flag stone. Cost? Also, it looks like the patio fronts a steep slope like us. Is that true? We don't know how to transition from the nice patio area to the wild slope too steep to navigate. If you have any photos of what looks to be a retaining wall - we would be grateful for your help. Thanks!

Yes, Ionized, you are right.....it seems likely that there is a need for 4 zones due to the overall length of the house (-110'). Will use the main level mostly, with master suite area taking up 1/3 of the level, great room/ kitchen taking up the remaining 2/3 space. Lower level has 2 bedrooms, bath and storage under the master suite level, with a family room, bar, theater and another bedroom under the great room/kitchen. Open staircase centralized, going from great room to family room. Bedrooms here are for when the grown kids come to visit....a couple times a year. However, I am sure that we will use the bar and theater more often. While the load for the lower level is smaller than the main level, it still seems like we would want separate zones on each level to address the needs of the far reaching rooms. If anyone wants to throw out any other thoughts, I would greatly appreciate them!

It sounds like it's just you living in the home most of the time, right? The first house that my husband and I ever bought was 800 square feet. We lived in it with two dogs and never felt like it was cramped (aside from the lack of closet space which was par for the course in a house built in 1910). I'm a big fan of smaller homes if they are well-designed and not so tiny that it feels silly. One of my favorite small home architects is Ross Chapin. Check out his website. He builds pocket neighborhoods of smaller homes, but also has a ton of plans on his website. I think that you can do better than what you're currently looking at, but think that you're on the right path. Be careful that in your quest to build as cheaply as possible that you don't end up with a house that isn't very livable, especially as you age.

The problem with basement walls that currently show no moisture is that after insulating to code levels and covering with materials that don't allow drying, the wall temperature is lowered and the chance of condensation goes up. Will your wall get wet after it is insulated and finished? Maybe. A layer of XPS foam directly applied to the concrete is a way to keep the possible condensation from happening.