saypoint: You make a very valid point for not designing on the fly and I'm making a note of all of those variables to work in our plan upfront. When I worked with an architect for our home remodel, my DH and I did much of the "design" ourselves--just by knowing our existing home and lifestyle and looking at similar homes in the neighborhood and open houses. I literally spent hours driving around the neighborhood taking pictures of houses with architectural features that I liked,poured over magazine and tore out photos and tweaked my designs on graph paper and design software. The outside leaves me stumped how to graph it out as I can't divide it up like I did the house: i.e. kitchen, master bath, etc. I do have a set of plans with property dimensions which is a place to start. I'd even be willing to get some landscape design software (as long as it's not too complex) so I could create elevations--something the designer wouldn't even do. I'm probably most challenged with the backyard--which could be another option to have someone design that and not the front--as the front yard I get lots of ideas from the neighborhood and it's more of a public space. It's pretty much dominated by a huge Sycamore tree and we know we want the pathway to arch from the driveway to the entry and then over to the opposite side yard where we plan to add a gate and bike shed behind the gate. The softscape has always been a challenge between having a northern exposure and the shade from the Sycamore tree--but that is phase 2 in my mind. It's in the backyard, we have the retaining wall and are planning a more complex/$$ patio, possible arbor, rear back area for a patio swing, side yard to have a raised vegetable bed, plus bike/garden shed. Lots going on--without even getting into the softscape. Many of the architects we met with did not impress me with their creativity and though we worked closely with two, they were more in terms of specifying the construction details for our design. Same was true of our kitchen and I did lots of reseach on the kitchen forum and gots lots of valuable feedback in the process. Right now, I'm in the fact gathering stage; though we're also on a time schedule since our patio is so chopped up right now and the kids are tracking in dust and dirt on my new floors. Most pressing is that I have to finalize our exterior paint choice--which is why we've been focusing on hardscape materials to get a feeling for the overall hardscape color scheme.

Another book I'd recommend is the King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion. I have all the other books mentioned (except the Oppenneer book - I have her Celebration Breads) but the KAF book, I feel, provides a lot of very helpful basic information, including some of the clearest information I've ever encountered on sourdough and starters. It is a more general book, covering cookies, pies, etc. in addition to bread, but the yeast dough section is very well done with excellent explanations. Another book I'd recommend for beginners is Beth Hensperger's Bread Bible, which is designed for those who haven't much experience. For those really committed to bread I'd recommend Jeff Hamelman's Bread: A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes, even over The Bread Baker's Apprentice and Crust and Crumb, both by Reinhart. I really second the suggestion to go to a well-stocked bookstore and actually look at the books. These titles are well-known and you should be able to physically examine at least 80% of them. Also, do not forget websites, which can be very helpful. One really good one is linked below. You get lots of advice and the visuals are a tremendous benefit. Carol Here is a link that might be useful: The Fresh Loaf

I've always liked "Renovating Old Houses" by Nash and "Renovation" by Litchfield.

On the off chance that you're in or near NYC, I would go to The Strand used bookstore. You might also want to browse Kinsey Marable's IG for ideas, he shows a lot of spines, https://www.instagram.com/kinseymarable/ Am also reminded of this oldie-but-goodie from The NY Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/garden/you-are-what-you-stack.html