Oh Marcolo, a monopoly house...really? I'd say this resembles the red monopoly house more than what I'm considering I happen to like the modern farmhouse style, I get not everyone does. And I'm guessing it is the attached three car garage most of you naysayers take issue with. The thing is, we need a three car garage and I fail to see the logic behind moving to an inconvenient location in an attempt to pretend it doesn't exist. Michou: I took a look at the Howard Bracken link and his homes are beautiful. Really perfect for a gorgeous napa location. I'm not sure how well it would translate for my rainy climate or our specific floorplan needs, but I like a lot of the elements he uses. Oakley: I have searched for farmhouses and the problem I run into is that there aren't as many existing floorplans in the 3,500 + sq ft range, plus I'm looking for a fairly specific layout (formal dining, master on main, non-open kitchen, kids room upstairs and attached garage). Also, most farmhouse plans seem to have large porches often wrap arounds. Here in the PNW we are sunlight deprived enough, so I don't need a porch other than a small one to shelter the front door and maybe a small one to grill under off the back of the house. The original elevation of the house is nice, but to me it looks like a nice version of many builder homes out here and it has a French country sort of look or something. I do think it's pretty but its not really "me". I prefer the fresher look of a modern farmhouse. To adapt it too our woodsy setting we will have some cabin-like and maybe even craftsman inspired details, but overall I want to keep it clean and simple. Here are some other modern farmhouses/ modern cabins. I wonder if those in the dislike camp do not care for these either, or if it's just the house I'm considering? I don't think this is all that different

easy desk or work area----an old door & 2 filing cabinets another easy work area (saw this a few days ago)-----an old door that is attached to the wall with chains, can be let up or down (probably needs to be either a light door or 1/2 of regular old door) storage for winter/summer clothes-----a plastic garbage can with a wood, or glass, top and a covering makeup trick---if you're out of blush, just use a dot of pink or red lipstick old books------can use for pressing/drying flowers Storage containers----vintage suitcases (love 'em) More storage containers --cardboard boxes in varying sizes---paint or wallpaper, or use material---I have a loverlee box that held Tide that I covered with an exotic---wooooohhh---animal print and then I used part of an old leather belt as a nice trim----holds some of my paint supplies--- Luminaries----food cans with all sharp spots hammered down, can punch holes, make a design Fancy holiday swags----use yarn, ribbon, scraps of material, or old metal coat hangers, put them together to form the length needed----then add pruned tree and shrub branches, dried flowers, any artificial greenery or decorations on hand (Did you see the show where the guy was mocking Martha Stewart----went out into his yard to find "goodies" for a door wreath---found a pine cone and a beer can---stuck it on the door---cracked me up!!!!!!) Old world Santa hair---an old rag mop Expensive dog or cat house---a large cardboard box---use paint and wallpaper, cut out and decorate windows, roof, and exterior---put carpet inside Foam brushes for small paint jobs or sponge painting---use the foam shoulder padding that comes with a lot of blouses---I always cut these out and instead of tossing them---use them for crafts Costly doggie pillows and blankets----use old sweaters and flannel shirts----stuff---can use rubber bands to hold stuffing in if you don't want to sew it Small painting tool for hard-to-get areas---a Q-tip!!! ho ho ho

...so $357, and then there will be nickel and dime charges when everything is said and done. You'll pay $400 for a subpar window. $400 is about the threshold at which an ACCEPTABLE quality product will start. Premium will be more. Anything less and you are wasting your money. A poorly made window without Low-e and argon will not offer much of an upgrade (if any) in energy efficiency over your existing setup. It certainly will not in 5yrs from now when you've had bowed sashes, seal failures, increased air leakage, etc. In addition, you are probably MORE likely to deal with water infiltration issues with a cut-rate install than you are with your original wood/storm combo. Lastly, while most buyers are not window experts, it is pretty easy to tell the difference between a good window and one that is poor. Low-end windows without low-e and argon may be more of a detriment than anything, as a potential buyer will thing suspect that you have cut corners in other places as well. New windows without Low e and argon would be like buying a new car without air conditioning or power windows. Nobody will want it when its time to sell. If you want to spruce them up on a budget, clean up the interiors (a little refinishing or painting if necessary), and then add a new storm window that DOES have Low -e, along with a new trim wrap on the exterior. You can probably do all that within your budget and it will outperform a low-end replacement with clear glass.

I love to buy holiday decorations from the craft stores on black friday. Believe me, people are NOT lining up here the way they do at the electronics stores. I usually go in time to get the early bird specials but not right at the crack of dawn and have gotten some really inexpensively priced faux greenery, berries, things of that nature. Usually they are already on sale and extra $$ off before noon. I looked the last few years and sometimes the prices are even better that day than after the holidays (and certainly the selection is less picked over). Also you can get great buys on things like picture frames at these sales too. I wanted to put lighted "evergreen" garland on my front porch and need a lot of it - could not stomach the price of premade prelit stuff so I bought several lengths of the plain stuff at joanne's, put my own lights on them (more thickly than the premade ones), fluffed like crazy and they look pretty good for what amounts to a few bucks per length of garland. Indoors I have some that I added ornaments to (plain glass balls and the like) and for another dollar or two I have something that looks like the very expensive pre-decorated garlands. If you want to make it look more full and rich you can even wire in some random smaller sprigs of stuff to the base garland.