Aside from the grounding challenge landscape posed in this thread, I have a couple of other observations - mostly about human nature and personal perspective: 1) Start small vs. have a master plan. When people with new properties start threads titled -- "HELP!!!! Blank Sate! Where do I start with my one acre of land?!?!?!?!" -- they are often told to step back and work on one section at a time. In the Going Lawnless thread, there were plenty of comments about starting small by removing just some turf, and expanding from there over time. Seems to me that is what you are doing, Lauren. You are starting section by section in your yard. Yes, an overall vision for your backyard is important too, but it sort of seems like you may already have one, even though you haven't fully articulated it, put it on paper, or fleshed out the details: You plan on keeping a wooded lot; you need to control water flow and drainage (already addressed); you need play equipment and turf for active children; you enjoy the vistas and family time from your two decks; hubby needs space to relax in the woods; and you have times when you want to sit near your children. You have defined your needs/functions already, and you already have a start at addressing them. 2. Many posters approach questions from their own personal biases. Thus, a person without small children may think you should sit up near your house and face the woodlands, which you probably do already from your house windows and decks. Someone else may think the garden bed is dinky, but it actually looks good sized to me. Yet another person doesn't like looking at plastic (but at the rate kids grow, why spend more $$$$, eh?). And someone else may be reminded of tree rings or detests kidney shaped beds. Personal biases makes a big difference in the way one views a project. Personally, I would not want to sit out there, but the thing is, I may have wanted to do so 10 years ago when my children also had Tyco play structures. My guess is that over time, your landscaping needs (functional needs) will change too. The Adirondack chairs will be used now, but I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years when your kids are asking for the car keys rather than Leggos, those chairs will cease to be used and you may want to do something else with that space.

Buy inexpensive bar stools and exchange the legs for the chair legs? Is there some way you might take the legs off the chairs and attach a thick board on the bottom of the chairs then put the original legs back on? If that doesn't make the chairs tall enough then you could add rollers for a few more inches of height.Or you could just make a table height breakfast bar! I always though I had to have a bar in my kitchen.When I finally got one I figured out it is very uncomfortable to sit at.Bar stools are too high for comfort and not easily moved when you are sitting in them.I much prefer a table height one or just a tiny bit taller than table height so my feet still touch the floor.....Lillie

I am not a design professional. I am a practical person who understands the need to be able to sit and do your hair or make-up. I also appreciate the need for drawers and see no reason to loose your drawers so you can have a knee space that is balanced in the middle when you have space for one at the side. It is stupid to loose function for design's sake when a better design could give you both. That is my opinion. I am wondering if there is a way to tweak your design to make it so the third mirror is not looking like a not-quite imitation of the other two. My thought is that the more different you make it, the better it will look. So make it shorter. You are sitting at this work station. You don't need the mirror to go as high as the others, maybe narrower. Your lighting will be lower and will be side sconces. You may even have the counter be not as deep. So you will be closer to the mirror. See, by making the work station different, it is a different thing on the side, not a third thing. If that does not work, turn it 90 degrees and put this work station on the side wall so that it is not in the same "view" as the other two.

Hi Maureen, Are you still interested? I didn't see your post until now. I was going to ask if you have an idea on what type of bar stool you're looking for? For example, swivel, non-swivel, arms, no arms, etc. You have a beautiful kitchen and I think a lot will work well.