95 acres? WOW...that is incredible...how great for the kids to run around!

With that large a family, my first thoughts are:

1) Where is the kitchen table going?
2) I would take down the wall bn the family room and living room. Make it one huge great room....

Hi Andi K
Thanks for your input.
I didn't completely forget a table, not that I would be surprised if I had, I want to buy one and I haven't yet but I would put it between the kitchen and the masonry stove. I think a large- ish table should fit there fine. I keep dithering about that wall you mentioned because I kind of like the living room ( with no tv) to be seperate from the family room (with tv). I guess I should try fitting furniture in it to see how it works.
Anyways, thanks again!

I wonder if our master suite would work for you. It's one long rectangle (as you have). The BR is at one end and the bath at the other. They are connected by a short hallway with closets on each side of the hall. The bathroom has two sinks, backing to the closets. The toilet, tub and shower are in a row on the outside wall. The closets have pocket doors (which we seldom close). There is no door on the BR end. French doors on the bathroom entrance. (Few closets have windows; the clothes fade.)

Will the family come in the front door? (I see the closet opening there.) Is there a garage; where is it in relation to the house?

I don't think you have enough upper cabinet storage in the kitchen, especially with no pantry. (Some windows will have to be eliminated.)

Can you add windows on side walls? It's always nice to have light from two sides of a room, even if you have to place windows high on a wall to leave room for furniture.

I would either create one Great Room or make a more complete separation between FR and LR.

I agree with the other posters on everything. If you really want a separate living room and family room, I would put the living room at the front of the house, and make it smaller. Then have the larger room with fireplace at the back. It appears you have a large family, and the rooms both are small as they are drawn. Agree that the kitchen could use more upper cabinets, and less windows. If most people will use the back door (?), I would put the door of the closet on the other wall. What is that sink by the back door for? Do you want that visible as visitors come in the front door? Also, take a look at the size of your master closet. It's only 6' wide. That's barely enough room for one clothes bar, and the door takes up quite a bit of the room as well. You will end up with a 6' long clothes bar. Is that enough for 2 people?

Good luck! You've got a great start.

Get in the habit of including wall thickness in your sketches. A 2X4 wall with drywall on each side is at least 4-1/2" thick. So your stairs, which code requires to be 36" wide minimum, are actually 45" when you have a wall on each side. Exterior walls are usually even thicker, although I do see that you noted inside dimensions for the main structure.

I'm also not sure if you have room for enough stairs- you have to do the math. Many (most?) places require a minimum run of 10", and a maximum rise of 7-1/2" per step. You have to measure the total rise, including the floor joists, sub-floor, and flooring, and figure out how many steps you will need.

I'm glad to see you planning a reasonably sized home for your family. In general, it looks like it will work fine.

Thank you so very much everybody for your input. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me. I'm busy tweaking. Be back soon.

Finally, my new and improved house plan. Thanks again for your input and of course I would greatly appreciate some more. The changes...
Flgargoyle: oops, you are right. Not sure where I got those measurements from. You are the person that made me go back and fight with the computer in the hopes of more accuracy.
Chisue: ooh, thanks for the his and her closet idea, I love it. I would have loved his and her vanities as well for no good reason but unless I want to brush my teeth while sitting on the toilet I couldn't make that work. But I'm happy with the bathroom the way it is.
Now for Joyce and chisue about other stuff: we really don't use the family room much. The way I have it in the plan now is kind of like how we have it now and it's fine, cosy but fine. Do you really think that about the kitchen? I really really like the idea of lots of windows in the kitchen though I'm probably overcompensating because right now I have one little window that faces northwest. We will probably use the side door. We won't have a garage for awhile, when we do, we'll put it on that side. We live a very low key life. I think the last time someone was at my house who wasn't a close friend or a fmily member ( unfortunately not always the same) was 8 years ago, seriously. So, no I don't mind if they see my really cool sink. If anybody is still here after all that here are the plans...

Hopefully this is clearer and you will change your minds, the first drawing didn't have much detail. There is 5 feet of uppers on the wall next to the fridge, in the corner is a bookshelf net to a window seat, which I have wanted in my kithchen since the first time I saw a picture of one.
So tell me what you think, be homest, I can take it.

A couple things re: bathrooms -

It looks like you have room for 2 sinks in the kids bath...I'd definitely do that if you can.

Is the master 12x18? If so, you can definitely get 2 sinks in there...here is mine and it's 11'something by 18'

Ha, ha, ha. That would be 8 x 12. Your bathroom must be a thing of beauty.
If I extended the vanity in the kids bath, that would only leave a little over two feet between that and the tub, but if I switched the vanity with the toilet I could have a four foot vanity. With some shallow storage next to the toilet, that would be quite a functional bathroom. Thanks for your help. Now, wwyd. I could put two sinks in the four foot vanity but it might be snug or just leave it with one. Hmm

This house looks like it could be a very livable home. If it were mine, there are two things I would want to have:

1: I would want to have a space large enough to hold my family for family gatherings. With seven kids, your minimum space is a table for nine. Someday those kids will marry and have children, so a space that could hold sixteen or more would be great. You could easily do that with folding tables, but the masonry stove prevents rearranging for those events. I would either remove the wall between the family room and living room (put the TV in a piece of furniture with doors that can close it off) or bump out a single story dining area (higher ceilings with 3 walls of windows?) off the back between the kitchen and the family room.

2. I love the windows in the kitchen. My very most favorite part of our build was the walk in pantry (6' x 11'). With your home location and family size, a pantry would have a daily impact on life habits. If you did the bump out I mentioned above, there would be room to rearrange the kitchen to accomodate a pantry of size, make needed storage room, and keep your windows.

But that is me. What you have planned now could work very well. I don't see storage room for clothing, Christmas, toys, crafts, etc. my family would have if I had 7 children. I know some are off on their own, but my guess is that they are back for visits, still have some stuff they are not ready to take on, or may return for some time in the coming years. I would want them to feel like my home still welcomed them.

HTH
Brian

But then, maybe you could meet those needs with a well planned basement.

Brian

oops..sorry! :) It's tough to read the dimensions!

For the kids bath, I'd definitely try to work 2 sinks in there...think about bed time and morning time. Two can brush their teeth and get ready in 1/2 the time of going one by one(okay, they are kids...so maybe not 1/2 the time...but you get the idea) :) Especially as they get older...I assume (actually hope for your sanity) that it's not 7 boys! :) Girls are...well...girls...so they take their time getting ready as they get older! Can you put the tub across the back wall where the window is? then toilet, then double vanity? So, when you walk in, it's a double vanity on the left side, then the toilet and tub? Does that make sense?

For your bath, could you do 2 sinks on the side where the one currently is? Similar to how mine is (the angles around the 2 walls), but you just put it in one section....a sink on the closet side wall(where i have the 'open below', then a smaller angled area (where i have a sink), then another sink (where I have a cabinet/linen side). There may not be enough room, but just a suggestion. We do love having separate sinks, and 8 x 12 is still a huge bathroom, i bet it could work in there if you do prefer that.

Hi Brian,
Thank you for your kind words. I felt so nervous posting my plan in case everybody hated it. You have certainly raised some good points. I have half a garage full of stuff that I'm supposed to keep until the older ones live in a bigger/more permanent place. A bump out for more dining space and a pantry sounds lovely but I don't think it is in the budget. I think there could be room for some smaller tables scattered around when needed but it would be nice to sit at the same table. Although I've been resistent to removing that wall nobody likes, I might reconsider.
We will have a full basement, I haven't given a thought as to how we will use it.
Thanks for your help, you've given me some things to think about.
Btw what does HTH?

Hi Andi,
I'm not sure about that. In a way I like it better although the vanity would still only be four feet wide but there would be more elbow room. The hallway is four feet wide so maybe I could move the wall a little bit. I'm starting to really warm up to a double vanity. The four younger ones go to bed at the same time and two of them have a nightly argument about who 'gets' to brush their teeth first. I was seriously thinking of drawing up a schedule! I'm not sure if I would like the bath/shower in front of the window. You probably thought it was just a bath.
I haven't played around with my bathroom yet. I think your idea would work even though my husband and I don't argue about who brushes their teeth first. I just always let him : )
Just for the record, I had four girls followed by three boys. I wonder what the next one would have been. Oops I better stop that train of thought.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful suggestions. This house will a bit better because of you.

Hi momo7. Congrats on starting your build. Quick question-where are the plans going to go from here- to a designer/architect?

Overall, the plan works very well. However there area few small things that are not always apparent on a 2D sketch. That's where an archtiect really helps. The have a better visualization of houw the spaces are going to feel in relation to one another. If you are going to an architect next, don't sweat the little things- your sketches are just to give the man idea of the general layout and they will tweek things.

Here are my 2 cents. They may not apply to you.

When you walk into the front door- you see half a wall. IT would feel so much better if the front door lined up with the back door. Do the stairs need to be an L? A straight staircase would take up a lot less room. Have you thought about flipping the staircase so that you can walk up from the dining/family area instead of walking all the way to the front of the house. There's also alot of wasted space in the entry foyer.

The opening of between the family room and living room should line up/be centered on the windows in the living room. How about having 36" double pocket door between the fmaily room and living room? So you can have it as one open space if you like or close it off.

The kitchen is plenty big enough and definately keep the window!!! The sink is far from the frigde. Is there going to be a prep sink in the island?

I would plan for a 8' x 42" table with a family that large. Do you definately want the fireplace separating the dining room and living room?

HTH means "Hope This Helps."

You could include a "banquet hall" in your basement. One long space that could hold two or three folding tables in a row. Maybe put a sink, deep freeze, a second range and fridge there. Cabinets or open shelving could hold some of your less frequently used pots and appliances and canned goods. If you finish the space or make use of panels or curtains in light colors, it need not be a dreary dungeon. Plus that open space would give the boys some indoor play area in long Canadian winters. You could also have a rec area for teens who want a bit of space out of the traffic.

Though you would not regret the bump out if you can push it into the budget. Where would you put the Christmas tree?

Brian

Nice to hear that you & DH share well :) And, you are amazing re: 7 kids - huge kudos to you, seriously!

Kohler has a great site for bathroom layouts...see below...there are tons of ideas/sizes/etc.

oh, and your ? above re: HTH...it means "hope that helps"

Here is a link that might be useful: Kohler Layout Ideas

Glad the two closets work for you. We've been very happy with that setup. Each of ours has an ottoman and small dresser w/mirror. Daylight fluorescents.

Master Bath: Do you use a tub, or would a shower be sufficient? (There is a tub in the house.) You would then have room for two sinks, backing to the closets; shower and toilet would be on the front wall. You'd have room for a linen closet. I think you'll want a larger shower -- think 'elbow room'. If you want to save on tile and glass expense, Kohler makes an all-in-one shower with an angled door; we have this in a secondary bathroom -- plumbed it with steam, but have never NEEDED the steam assist; it gets plenty steamy, being all enclosed. I digress...as usual. Anyway, I'd want a larger shower. I'd back your present vanity to the closet and add a side window to the bathroom. (I think there are better ways to use the space than this plan...keep thinking.)

Secondary Bathroom: There HAS to be a way to get a second sink -- better yet two toilets -- to serve FOUR 'bedrooms'. Put a closet in the Playroom. (How will that room be used as the kids grow older?)

Stairs: I agree with having a landing, not a dangerous straight run. However, there is too much foyer both down and up; maybe reverse the stairs, as has been suggested?

Back Hall: I'm not familiar with having a large SINK in a back hall. Power room -- absolutely! Enlighten me about the sink. There is wasted space here, and you don't have enough for the laundry.

Kitchen: OK, so *I* have a triple window over my sink; I admit it! But think about how you use cabinets near the sink...where will the glassware and dishes be stored? You take them out of the dishwasher and walk across the kitchen to put them away? Uh-uh. Give yourself ONE big window a little wider than the sink. Keep your window seat. Eliminate the other side window. You could have more light from a slider in the dining area -- and a view for the table. It IS quite a stroll from fridge to sink. Don't you need a larger fridge/freezer? (Take your plan to the guru's at the "Kitchen" forum.)

You're making amazing progress! This is the time to move and adjust things. Paper is cheap!

Hi again,
I'm back with new and improved plans. Thanks again to everybody for the help!
I don't know how my fridge got moved but I moved it back, thanks for pointing that out. That would have been a bit awkward.
Chisue: What!?! you have a triple window over your sink. tsk, tsk. I have a three foot wide base drawers over there for our dishes. I've never stored dishes in drawers but I have seen it and I like it. You found my weakness though. I don't know what to do with glasses. I was kind of hoping to think of something. If I don't think of something, I'll consider removing a window. I guess it would still be brighter than any kitchen I have ever had. I've been procrasinating about putting my kitchen plan over on the kitchen forum, I will though, soon. In the kitchen I have a separate fridge and freezer. Which will be bigger than what I have now and except for certain times of the year, it's okay. Now the SINK. Because sinks are cool and really big sinks are really cool. Sinks are cool, aren't they? Or am I having a Dr Who moment? I have moved it but I'm not giving it up. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not. I could give you some reasons for it. I garden and it could be handy for washing stuff just in from the garden or poopy eggs (we have chickens) but I just like sinks - something I never knew about myself before I started down this road. Maybe you'll understand if you see it.
http://www.vintagetub.com/asp/product_detail.asp?item_no=P0814
Link to sink.
I played around and around with stairs and I can't get anything better than this. If I reverse it then it takes up too much space because I have to leave at least 42" at the top of the stairs, I could put in a double landing but then they take up even more space. Some of that space I can use with maybe another closet or some type of storage later.
I put another vanity in the kids bath and a separate shower. I think I quite like it now.
The playroom will be a bedroom later. Two of the boys (4 & 6) share a room now and don't want their own rooms but I imagine they will later. It's a pretty small room so I thought I would just put in a wardrobe later. I wasn't sure if it would look too much like a bedroom if I put a closet in. Around here, I've been told, that if you build a 5 bedroom house then you have to put in a super sized septic system that costs 3 times the price of a normal one. We have a standard septic now and have never had a problem.
I don't take baths regularly but I do like them occasionally and if I didn't have my own, I just would never take a bath so the bath stays. I don't even know what a steam assist shower is. My DH is keen to build a sauna in the woods somewhere so I'm sure he would love it.
I think my master bath does kind of look like everything is just thrown in there. I'll have another look at it.
Thank you so much for really thinking about my house plan. I'm so glad I managed to get my nerve up and post it here.
Andi, I'm in heaven. Thank you for that link, I have found my perfect kitchen sink. Not that I was really looking yet but I have it - 36 inch cast iron. I was kind of leaning towards Shaw's which I saw mentioned somewhere but they kind of made me nervous but this, this is it. And thank you for appeciating my efforts to contribute to world overpopulation ;)
Brian - you are too funny, I think. Although I could see this seed you have planted in my brain grow until it does seem like a good idea to have a banquet hall in my basement. Are you a Christmas nut? Where I will put my Christmas tree was my 18 year old daughter's concern when she saw my plan.
pps - thanks for looking at this from a different perspective. I get so caught up in detail that I totally miss stuff like that. When I first started out, I had the front door opposite the door at the back because that does look really nice when you walk into a house but then stuff gets moved and I forget why I did something. I changed the stairs a little so I could move the door over and centred the pocket doors with the window as well. I have played with the staircase over and over and I just can't find anything that works better.
Thank you for supporting my window decision.
I need to put the masonry stove in a central location - not against a wall. That will be our main source of heat. That's also one of the reasons for the landing on the stairs - just to give the heat more space to circulate.
I wouldn't mind a bigger table but I think I will just get one that has extra leaves. I want something that is comfortable for us everyday as well and I guess a 6 foot table fits there nicely. None of my older girls live/will live very close to us - about two hours away. So they come home regularly but not every weekend. Thank you for your helpful advice.
Sorry to be so long winded and now my new and improved plans:

Better and better!

You could have your *Beautiful Sink* in your Kitchen, and a utility sink beside the washer. (That's where I fill a bucket, wash the dog, etc.) You have room along the front wall that could be closet space. I like the separation between back hallway and foyer -- that wall could go to the right a little.

Can you get a laundry chute from the upstairs to the back hallway? (Playroom to back hall closet?)

Upstairs Hall Bath: Shower and tub can abut with back-to-back plumbing. You need a tad more 'elbowroom' to have two sinks side by side.

Playroom: I get it; no 'official' 5th BR. Would it work not to enclose the Playroom -- leaving that whole upper hallway area open to the stair?

Masonry Stove: What do you burn in it? Must you carry fuel to it from outdoors? Will it make the dining area very warm?

You are getting close to having a draftsman look at your plan to see if the supporting walls line up, economy of scale, plumbing, etc.

BTW, most plans have North at the top? Does the front of your house face South? I suppose with all that land, you can position it any way you want!

Better! I like the entry better and you can put a bench in front of the stairs. That a great sink, althought, if it were me, I'd put a skirt on it so that I can sotre things under it. Or you can put cute baskets.

I agree with chisue, maybe move the wall between the mudroom and entry to the right a little.

The mudroom can be designed a little better. It seems like such a waste to have 2 sinks in such close proximity. How about putting the big, nice sink in the powder room? Also, maybe move the powder room closer to the entry so that it's more accessible to guests.

Thank you guys so very much. I thought I had really put a lot of thought into this house plan but you managed to make it that much better.
I like the entry better as well. Even though I do live a very low key life it's still nice to be a little more formal there - not that I suppose most people would think this was very formal.
I could move this wall by the entry but I kind of left it like that deliberately because I have a beautiful hall stand from my grandmother that would fit there perfectly. I don't like using it to hang coats on all the time but it would be handy there for company. I could put it somewhere else instead.
I could switch the powder room with the closet and then the washer and dryer with the sink or stack the washer and dryer and rotate them 90 degrees. My beautiful sink - I guess I'm on my own? It is to use so that is where I would want to use it. The kitchen is for my second most favourite sink.
I removed the separate shower from the kids bath. I thought I loved it last night but this morning I thought it was too crowded. I'm sure it would be handier to have extra storage in the bathroom instead.
I don't want to block in the play room because I'll be using that as a "guest" room for when older kids come home.
A laundry chute - ha ha ha. Obviously you have never met my monkeys that I occasionally call children. We had an episode a little while ago involving the central vac and 13, yes that is 13, dinky cars and lets just say no laundry chute.
chisue, you have bought up some very good points about the masonry stove and I think I have them covered. We're going to have a full basement. something you might not have known since this is the first plan that my basement door has made an appearance. We'll store the wood in there so nice and close. Actually a masonry stove doesn't get very hot. They actually make them with benches built in, if you want them. We have a wood stove now and although it heats our house well, it's uncomfortable to be very close to it.
The back of the house will face south.
I think I will post my kitchen over on that forum, wish me luck. Do you see? I put in a wall cabinet over by the dishwasher. I just kept thinking of glasses. And as in all the changes that I have made, I like it better. Thank you.
Now I think I will put these plans away for a week or so, if I can. Then take them out and look at them before sending them off. Not that I haven't enjoyed every minute of this but, dare I say it, I really think I'm done.

Wow...it's looking great. Good luck and keep us posted!

Two thoughts: If you a little more functional bedroom upstairs swap the playroom and the bedroom with the closet that juts out. Put a closet in the blank space of the L of the stairs. Then you have the playroom next to the bathroom with no closet jutting out.

OR: Open up the space over the L of the stairs in order to make moving furniture up and down easier.

YES!

I like your changes to the bathrooms. I would do the swaps you mention in the Back Hall. The Cook and the Clan will be using that powder room a LOT. A wide reach-in closet with some extra depth might be better than the walk-in for the back hall.

You could put the hall stand against the long run of the stairs. You wouldn't want it behind the entry door and it would be something pretty in the foyer.

I like Andi's idea about swapping the Playroom and the BR and utilizing the upper hall for a closet -- unless you want a more open upper hallway.

Kitchen: A single triple window over the sink will save some wall space. Also, remember that winter sun is low in the sky across the south (glare).

Laundry Chute: I'd put one in. You could wait to add a door or keep it locked until your 'monkeys' are older. It's enough to carry clothes UPstairs. I'd been thinking your laundry is too small for such a big family. Now I am going to guess that you'll have a second area in the basement. In my childhood home the laundry chute had a door on the upstairs landing and one in the kitchen; it emptied to the basement. In my DH's childhood home the 'chute' was a dumb-waiter.

I'll be anxious to see what the Kitchen Forum has to offer, and to see if you make further changes to your nice plan.

Thank you brickton and chisue what would I do without you? Why did I not realize that the front door would bang right into the hall stand. Lots of good ideas, I'm going to spend some time tweaking things around a bit.
They are making me change things in the kitchen forum but really just forcing me to see the light. And as I said over there, birthday tomorrow so I have to think and do something else besides this. Thanks again. I'll be back soon.

Well, what do you think? I am tickled pink. I keep thinking now this is perfect but really this is perfect.
brickton - you're a genius, this makes two of the bedrooms upstairs bigger and more functional without that closet sticking out. I think it would be alright for heat movement without that extra bit open. I would be willing to put a vent in the floor in order to keep this.
chisue - I don't know how you do it but after thinking about the laundry chute for a couple of days, I think I am convinced. Oh, that reminds me. I haven't been holding out on you - no laundry room in the basement. The walls up and down line up almost exactly. I changed the kitchen window but I'm not sure. If you want to take the time, I'll post a link to a kitchen that I absolutely love. It's from a book that I have and it is absolutely pathetic how many times I have looked at this picture and sighed. My idea for windows is from this although it's not just the windows that does it for me so maybe just transplanting the windows into my kitchen wouldn't do too much. If you go to the link, you'll have to click on the top one, creating coziness ... then scroll down to page 189 in order to see the kitchen that speaks to me.
http://books.google.co.za/books?id=7XhZ2LLjhHgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inside+the+not+so+big+house&hl=en&ei=NtrVTaDkDKjc0QGnn8HQBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=creating%20coziness%20in%20&f=false
maybe it's just like your first Dr. Who, and that will just always be my dream kitchen.
Anyways, I'm anxious to hear what you have to say about this, I believe I already mentioned that I think it is perfect but you guys seem to have a way of improving upon perfection.

Look at this, I have room for a bench by the side door and free space over by the washer and dryer for the bottom of my laundry chute.

Just beautiful although I notice now that the window in the new bedroom looks a little odd, I don't remember if I put it there so they would be more evenly spaced outside. I'll check.

I will be totally shocked if you tell me I'm not done. Thanks for putting so much thought into this.

wow..this looks great!!!! I only have one tiny thing that I want to give you a "heads up" on, and I can't speak from experience...only observation of what happened to 2 friends....

They have their washer/dryer in a similar location - where a door opens up and the door knob swings towards the w/d. Well, within a very short period of time, one of their kids came charging through, opened the door fast, and the door knob hit the glass door of the washer...and that was it for the washer! So, you may want to bump the w/d over or think about how you can avoid that....you have 3 little boys at home still! :) (maybe get a top load washer, even?!?!) I just remember seeing this happen to both my friends and thinking "note to self...in the new build, don't have a door swing open to the washer"

That's a good point, I'll have to change that. I could stack them and turn them or maybe have a top load washer right under the laudry chute then the clothes could go right in the washer - ha ha. I wouldn't do that anyway because I'll admit that my biggest fear about the laundry chute is that somebody will put a snake in it. Nobody except the cat has ever bought a snake into the house, but you never know... I tried really hard not to pass along my fear of snakes to the kids because it seems so silly and typically girly. Well, I was so successful that they all love snakes and think they're cool. Yay. But, now I digress. Move the washer, got it.

I'd like a little more 'hallway' in the back hall. I'd move the closet next to the powder room on the same wall -- three foot deep interiors for each. Can you place the laundry chute somewhere upstairs where it can dump into the closet?

I don't see how you have enough room here to do laundry for six people. Where's the 'waiting to be laundered' stuff? Where's the folding space? Where's the stack of clean stuff...waiting to be collected by the kids, carried upstairs, and put away neatly. (I can dream.) Where are your laundry supplies? Ideally a back hall has a bench and a 'drop zone' countertop for incoming and outgoing books, papers, cell phones, mail. This area and the kitchen are some of THE busiest parts of a house.

Kitchen: Some people put pantries in a dead corner: lower left on your plan? It crowds the dining area now. (I don't even have a pantry -- use part of my back hall closet for back-up goods.) I'm still unhappy with the distance between fridge and sink. Another thing to remember is that the fridge is the most frequently accessed thing in the kitchen. Most-used countertops in my kitchen are the one between the fridge and the sink and the one between my cooktop and my wall oven/microwave. (Glad you changed the windows.)

The walls between the corner BR's are probably not supporting walls. You could make the lower left BR larger, now that the room beside it has grown.

Hope the birthday cake was a hit!

I must admit I sighed when I saw your post. Foolishly I keep thinking I'm done but I will admit that it is better now.
I like the closet and the pw beside each other.
I know the laundry area isn't very big but I think it will do. I've seen counters built on top of a washer and dryer so that's what I would like to do. The laundry chute could empty into the closet now. I've never actually folded clothes in a laundry room because my laundry room has always been so far away from the action that I could never take the time to do it there. I honestly don't remember what I did before I had kids. I must have done laundry, right? Actually, my kids do pack clothes away although not very neatly. I have the coolest chore chart and reward system. I can get them to do anything.
The two bedrooms are the same size now.
What do you think of the kitchen? I'm posting another kitchen on the kitchen forum but I'm pretty sure I like this one best. I love rhome's idea for a pantry. The fridge is a little closer and I put in a prep sink although I still don't "get" them.
I am so not going to say I'm done. I'll just let you tell me when I'm done.
Thank you again - soooo much!
Yes, the cake was a hit, amazingly since I was so distracted.

Ahh, yes. I like the closet/powder room together. You'll want more doors on the closet or you can't access the corners. A plumber will tell you whether to reverse toilet and sink in the powder room. Do you need all that room surrounding the sink and the washer/dryer? A lower cabinet with countertop near our hall entry is the Great Dumping Ground for incoming/outgoing. (Saves it coming into the kitchen.)

I love the corner pantry idea. Think about how you'd *use* a prep sink in the island. My DH thinks ours is for washing his hands before dinner (although the powder room is only a couple feet farther away), so he is right in my way as I'm in and out of the fridge.

What if you swapped sink and stove? Would you still have a view?

Sorry for the continuing revisions, but I think it's getting really close now.

Hi again,
I changed the sink and the stove, as you can see. I forgot about the closet door and I guess the windows on the stove wall would be better if it was one bigger window on each side and I'll probably shift the sink over but wait until stuff is in before deciding about cabinetry around the washer and dryer. A counter would be handy there, I'm sure. I might put a desk on the stair wall and maybe a pantry for homeschool stuff but again I think I would wait until I'm actually there to decide how to arrange that. That would be easy enough to do later.

So, this plan makes the most sense but, I don't know... The view to the south would just be my little backyard which I would like to see. I just always pictured this kitchen with big windows on the south wall letting in lots of light and being able to look out those windows at a barn and duckpond and pasture and ...So, I just don't know. There's still 2 (or will be) windows on that wall and it's not like I spend all my time standing at the sink. I do like the idea of the sink in the middle of the fridge and the stove. I like the fridge wall and pantry to keep all the food over there. I tried all kinds of ways to keep the sink on the wall and moving the fridge or stove but nothing was working out. I guess I've spent so long arranging everything else to a way that I really like that I'm hesitant to make any big changes. We'll see.
I think I'm feeling a little wiped right now and I might take a break from doing this every single night and spare minute during the day. Although I might feel different tomorrow - my DH starts his week of evenings tomorrow. Anyways, I just want to thank you again for holding my hand in this process. Has anyone else ever needed this much help? So you can still comment and give suggestions but I really think I will take a break for a week or so, maybe.

Let it 'age' for a while. lol