We have built a small apple tree and blueberry garden from a terraced area and dh built an arbor for me at the top of the steps into it. The roses are very young so aren't visible yet. There are also roses planted behind the small apple trees, and I hope this winter to clean out some more of the ferns and underbrush and put in a wire and post fence to plant some ramblers along. Not so much built as rebuilt from an old junk shop door and a $5 window from Lowe's, I'm trying to build a garden around the backside of our old garage so it looks like an entry garden. It still looks fake and sure hasn't fooled the UPS man yet. Maybe when the plants grow larger it will look more "natural" or "real." There's a small black paper cat and a curtain of some plastic fabric in the window, along with some shutters made from old boards. It has Christmas lights and a wreath right now on the door and the path is made from old concrete pavers dug out from an old patio. Gean

Ah, this is a great thread, and I'm glad to see it come around again . . . To add to Linda's thoughts about planning a house in which to age, we just lost my grandmother, who lived to be not quite 100. In caring for her, I saw things that were /weren't easy for her, and I've filed those thoughts away for our house project. Doorways and hallways weren't even remotely a problem for her; likewise, she never had trouble with outlets. These are the things that did give her pause: - The bathroom was her biggest problem, and it was also the place where she did not want help! While she was in her old house, stepping into the tub was difficult for her. She had a shower chair and could pull the curtain around herself, but raising her legs up over the tub ledge was next to impossible. When she moved, her walk-in shower was better . . . but it would've been better still if it had been a true no-barrier entry. She put her shower chair into the shower, but it was cramped. A BIG, accessible shower should be tops on the list of every person concerned with aging in place. - Her at-home toilet was easy for her because it was not jammed into a closet. She could scoot her walker right up to it, and then she had a handrail on the wall. However, she was forced to wear Depends when we went out because getting in /out of a bathroom stall in a restaurant /store was difficult /time consuming for her. - Changes in flooring, even small increments like a 1" threshhold between carpet and tile, was a difficulty for her. - One of the things that helped her most in going in/out of the house (where one step was unavoidable) was a grab bar both inside and outside the door. - We were glad that she had a garage with ONE big door rather than two small doors. This meant that whoever was driving her could pull into the center of the garage, allowing her ample room to move around the edges with her walker. - In her last year, she started to use a wheelchair when she left the house, but inside she still used only her walker -- I think this is very typical. She had a little spot right by the door that was PERFECT for storing a wheelchair. If she hadn't had that little spot, the wheelchair would've been knocking around in people's way all the time. If you think you might need an electric wheelchair (or Rascal, or whatever), plan an electrical outlet in this spot so it can charge. That's what comes to mind at the moment. I may think of more later. Paige, I'd think twice about putting ALL your electrical outlets mid-wall. Kids are only small for a short time, and you can block off outlets (personally, mine never even noticed them, so this was never a problem for us at all), but you don't really want all your electric cords to be "so visible" constantly. Some are hidden behind sofas, beds, whatever -- but think about where this is appropriate and where it would be an eyesore.

Not sure if you are calling the original plan A or if the first one modified is Plan A. I will make my comments about the two modifications. I like the FIRST modified plan, except I think you need to move that bedroom door for "girl" down the hall. If that child is not a person to clean their room nicely, then that will be about the first thing that visitors see. Guests can see the door to the bath in that one, no mistaking whether it is in use before they get to the point of turning the knob, cuz it shows if open. I do like the two baths back to back, for economy in plumbing. One day down the road, you might consider putting a little powder room where that laundry room closet is. You have the space available from the garage area. Now, I notice in both plans that you have a pair of double doors at the back of the garage. Do you have a riding lawnm0wer/tractor to drive in that side? Is that going to be walled off from the car parking spaces? Looks really good, and that area can be reached from the far end of the deck. Your deck is quite sizeable, so if you are looking for any space in the living room, a really short bumpout. However, that would involve roofline changes and also no straight wall through the LR and garage which might be a load bearing situation.

Thanks, Marinagal! I think our decisions at this point is to consult an architect, not with this specific idea per se, but for his suggestions on adding light/air/views to the MBR. Thanks, Cam. That is pretty! CL Blakeley, I won't! Mabel, good idea. Snowfalls can be highly localized. LOL, Annie. We are about 10 miles inland, and it just seems to us the weatherguys always say. "it will turn to rain on the coast, with higher accumulations North and West of the area". We often get snow here, just 10 miles from friends in Westport who say "what snow". I guess since the ocean never freezes it can reduce snowfall? IDK Thank you, Krycek. Oldbat, I actually drink tea in the am, usually iced in the summer! And DH makes a ritual of going out for coffee and the paper, come to think of it. Sonic, excellent point! Aww, Eandhl, thank you. LOL, Rafor! To be fair, the other one was a tear down! But all in all we are happier with this choice. Eclectic cottage, your community sound so wonderful. And I agree about the vibe. We don't want a proper and formal house, in fact this house is more formal then what we planned to build or envisioned in our heads. At the end of the day, it is about relaxing and enjoying where you are, and in an odd way I think quirks and imperfections make a place homier ... Thank you, Rosie! JoaniePoanie, I am just terrible and wait and see, I confess. It is even worse here because I have been waiting almost a year trying to clear up that other property! KSWL, Thanks for the tip on water drainage! As for your idea of expanding the porch, goodness, what are you trying to do to my budget!? I better not tell DH your idea, he is a sucker for verandah space. As a side note, your point about the tradition of elevated areas from which to view the water was such lovely writing. : )