GP, We redesigned the upstairs removing the bonus room over the garage. We raised the vault in the great room as high as we could go (21.5ft) to take advantage of the view we have of the front range. I redesigned the garage to a 3 car 28.5 feet and 11 foot ceiling. There was a wall in the kitchen that was meant as a load bearing wall. We removed that in lieu of open view into the kitchen. We put in a garden level with 10ft ceiling in the basement. I also moved the wall between the dining and kitchen back 24 inches so the kitchen is larger and the dining smaller. That didn't bother us at all as the dining was large enough anyway. I took out that silly coat closet on the foyer. Square foot comes in at 2460 with 1750 being the main level. As soon as the kids are gone, the upstairs will be empty. I figure finishing the basement will add another 1750 which is quite a bit in my book. A larger mudroom would be nice but I would worry about heating it in my neck of the woods. Plus you would lose a garage stall. It would be nice if you could get everyone to dump in one place but more often than not it is a matter of discipline. Good luck with your rebuild. Feel free to ask. Peace

Wow! I agree that is one gorgeous home if you have the hill-side to put it on and it sounds like you do. I certainly don't see any issues with the way the rooms flow though I'd probably choose to do something a bit different for the texture on the interior wall of the staircase going down to the lower level. The brick they show in the picture gives it a sort "going down into the dungeon" feeling that your DD might find a bit off-putting even if it doesn't bother you. I don't think I agree with the suggestion to angle the garage because that would throw the front perspective of house out of balance. I'm curious tho that the plans don't show a staircase to reach the bonus room over the garage which clearly exists given the garage's high ceiling and that window. I can't say I'm a fan of garages sticking way out in front of a house but given the configuration of the house, there really isn't any other option. I suppose if you don't really need three parking bays for automobiles, you could shrink it down to just two bays. Certainly there is plenty of other storage space for lawn and garden equipment or a work-shop... which is what many people wind up using the third garage bay for. Other than that, its a really gorgeous house. Oh, one other comment: If amyks question about having your fourteen year-old daughter's room on the lower level raises concerns for you (or for your daughter), one solution might be to turn the study into a bedroom for her by closing off the opening to the foyer and putting in a door across from the door to the master bedroom. I can't imagine that a single Dad could possibly need two big closets and the master bedroom already has a sitting area. It looks to me like that second long closet could easily be made into a small bathroom plus a closet for her -- especially if you gave up the little linen closet and a few inches of the double-sink vanity in the master bathroom so as to allow a little extra room for the WC in her bathroom. Of course, if you turn the study into a bedroom for DD, it'll be smaller than the room downstairs and won't have the same great view so even if DD prefers being upstairs with you now, she might decide when she gets a bit older that she would rather move downstairs. In that case tho, it shouldn't be too difficult to turn the upper room back into a study. Of course, if you should ever remarry, new wife will no doubt want and need a closet so that could create a bit of a problem if DD doesn't want to give up the study and move downstairs.

Dining rooms really do require some thought when there's symmetry involved as in your plan. The lighting fixture is usually centered over the table, so you must know where it will go early on. It is also usually centered on the window when the window is located where yours is, and also on the Foyer doorway when it looks like yours. Will you have a buffet and/or china cabinet? If either is on the long wall opposite the wide Foyer doorway, the window might be shifted to the left, and you would have to consider how this would affect the space left for seating around the table, as well as the front elevation. If neither is on this wall, you'd want to have a focal point from the Foyer doorway--a group of pictures, a large painting, etc. on the long wall. If either is on the wall to the left of the Butler's Pantry, you would also have to consider how much space would be left for seating, and possible take some space from the Pantry and B. Pantry. If you did the latter, I'd get rid of the B. Pantry by turning the cabinet to face the hall, and make it a "To Go" setup--keys, charging station, mail sorting, travel stuff, etc. Or extend the Mudroom. It also might change how wide you want the opening to the Foyer on the "north" end. The Pantry can be any depth down to a finished 9" inside, and could be quite wide with 2 or 3 doors to make everything easily accessible. I saw one like this in a model home, and liked it so much that I tried unsuccessfully to work it into my plan. To have a place for some larger items, I think a pantry with about a 15" finished interior would be sufficient, but it depends on what YOU plan to put in there besides cans & normal sized grocery items. I hope others can add to this from their DR experiences. Anne

If you have budget issues, why build a 2 story living room? And 2 story foyer. The railing isn't free not to mention the extra volume you are paying for and heating and cooling. The master bath is so tight - crams in all the modern must haves - for a larger home. A rear covered porch costs serious money - and it is long and narrow which looks cute and all but isn't very practical for conversation outside. I had a house with a very similar plan and nearly the exact same sitting room off the master - wasted space. It was my first house build (1999) and I feel especially qualified to point out its many many faults. Had the same master bedroom over the garage - was great when I head to go off to work early. The temperature stratification with that 2 story area is also great to live with (/s). We had the upstairs thermostat just outside the master and it had to be adjusted constantly to keep the upstairs comfortable. What's funny is I just noticed the copyright date. The exact year I built a very similar house. Don't live starting out with a 20 year old plan. When you go to sell in 10 years, it will be a 30 year old plan......And it isn't like people in 2029 will be craving the brilliant 1999 floor plans. Have a budget - skip the garage, skip the porches, skip the 2 story rooms. Give yourself functional spaces first and foremost. Build for the life of the house and energy use will become much more important than 1999.