That closeup helps me see what you have now. Frankly, I think it would look better if the roof wrapped across in front of the dormer and you only had a half-sized window there. The way it is now looks funny to me. I'm not sure I've ever seen a dormer quite like that before. I don't know where you're getting your windows from but, if you talk with them, I suspect you'll find that you can get an awning window that is exactly the size of the upper half of your double-hungs and they CAN also put vertical "lites" in it that match those in the top half of your other windows. Most windows these days have "simulated divided lites" anyway and you can have them put in where-ever you want them. Nobody does real divided lites anymore. Too much opportunity for air and water leakage. A casement with vertical simulated-divided-lites might be considered a "custom" window instead of a standard size - but hopefully ONE custom window won't break the bank. And if it'll make DS happy.... I don't think a half-sized window would look odd at all in that spot. It looks like you're also not putting a pediment over that one window or shutters around it. So it is going to be different from the others anyway. It'll look great as long as it blends stylistically with them. I think making it the same size as the upper HALF of your double-hungs and having the same "lites" will make it blend in quite nicely. Just be sure you specify that you want the casement window to have the same dimensions as the upper sash of your double-hungs and have the same lite pattern.

Sorry I think I was unclear, possbily because of how much I left out. Pretty much everything about this seems odd. Why didn't they other 23 show up? Why, when I said we have this work, here are detailed drawings, I want a price quote, would you not work up a reasonable proximity of a quote? I made it clear we have cash in hand and are ready to sign a contract, and the first guy just pretty much blew that off. Came by three times, then called me and said oh about twenty grand, I'll give you something more detailed closer to if you are serious. What part of have cash in hand, want to sign contract and begin as soon as possible does not sound serious? And this contractor seems never to have seen a contract. He's done work all over town, surely someone wanted a contract or at least a written estimate? My husband flat refused to do it on a handshake alone, not because of doubts about the man's ability, but because we want what we want. We have done a great deal of work ourselves on the house, from rewiring everything from 60 amp to 100 amp service, to installing gas lines and replumbing entire house, to gutting five rooms and totally redoing them. We do have a pretty good handle on what can be done and what can't. The house is almost 100 years old, it's never going to be perfectly square, but you can make reasonable approaches where required as a for instance. I would think there would be some areas it's required in a kitchen, but the man would have to know where we plan to put cabinets and things to know where they are. He was prepared to start without more than a cursory glance at the plans, saying well the cabinet guy worries about that. WHAT?!! As for a third quote, lots of luck. We called every contractor and handyman in the phone book, the newspaper, advertising online, and known by friends and said hi, we have cash and are ready to start, we'd like a quote. Only two showed up. My husband keeps asking things like what is he going to do about that corner with the low spot? I don't know dear, I gave him drawings of what is required, and he's supposed to make that happen. Please ask him. But it seems like we should know at least the basic plan of attack. When my husband and I do a project in a room, we first make detailed drawings of what we are going to do. Then we list out what steps are required to do that so we don't end up doing something twice to get it right. Ok, a seasoned contractor might be able to just have the list in his head, but you'd think when we asked about things like what is the projected date you want us to have the selections of paint and flooring picked out, he'd have a rough answer, instead of I will call you when I need them. In addition to all the work on this house, I was around when my parents built one house and renovated another, and they had printed lists. By the time X is done, I need the paint color. By the time y is done, projected to be x day, I need the cabinet stain, countertop, and flooring selected. This was in two different cities, two different contractors. And this isn't the only time we've had these troubles. I'm wondering is it just this town is like this or what? We had central A/C installed. Half the contractors we called for bids never showed up. Half those that showed up never called us back with a bid. I called one and asked why and he said oh...I was going to call you today. That seems to be the pat answer. I was going to call you today. Bottom line, I will not at all be surprised if a month from now I have some half baked kitchen and am about mad enough to spit nails. Today the contractors did show up....at 9 am with some excuse the metal roofing they ordered for our new roof the truck isn't in. They've known for three weeks it was needed today. Why would it just now be coming in on a truck at the wholesale lumber yard? And they forgot the drawings I gave them and asked me for another copy.

The following will be helpful. Yes, dimmers do work with 3 way circuits. Here is a link that might be useful: recessed can placement discussion

Could you post a layout with all measurements? E.g., What's the distance b/w the left wall and the sliding door? The distance b/w the sliding door and the right wall? How wide is the sliding door (including trim)? You said there's a window of the sink...how far is it from the left wall? How wide is the window? How far is it b/w the window and sliding door? etc. What we need is a full set of measurements...the widths of each wall/window/door/doorway and the distance between each wall/window/door/doorway. All doors/doorways should be labeled as to where they lead. Where are you flexible? Can windows be changed/moved (you seem to indicate so in your last post, but I'm not sure if you're referring to the windows or the overall layout of the space)? E.g., changing them so they are 36" off the floor or moving them along the wall one way or the other or even adding windows. You mentioned your wife was against taking down the wall b/w the DR and Kitchen - is there anything else you or your wife do not want to change? Regarding the DR wall...is there a particular reason your wife does not want to consider it? You say you rarely use the DR. Would you be willing to make it a less formal DR/more formal every-day eating space? That's what we did and it opened up so many more options than we would have had otherwise! We went from a small table space in the kitchen and a seldom-used DR to a bigger, much more functional kitchen and a DR used every day...it's one of the best things we did! We still have a china cabinet in the DR and a DR table and chairs. Or, would you be willing to begin using the DR as-is for all your family meals... You don't need to take down the wall b/w the two rooms to use your DR on a daily basis. If you eliminated table seating in the kitchen, you would have more options - including island or peninsula seating for a snack or quick meal when the family is not eating together. Here is a link that might be useful: New To Kitchens? Posting Pics? Read Me!