Here is what the light fixture in each room with plants looks like now lol oh and the hallways to lol. If you look closely you will see the one regular CF light that has a yellow look to it. The rest are the new Daylight CF bulbs that shine pure with and the plants all love it. My bananas, elephant ears, and philodendrons are all pushing out new leaves.

Good LED Lighting is going to be very expensive. If it is not, it doesn't put out any light and has bad color. If you want LED, be prepared to spend some serious money and do with less light. Same applies to fluorescent. Good fluorescent lighting cost more than bad fluorescent lighting. Unfortunetly, all the new energy saving products do cost more to purchase up front. But do not be fooled into buying cheap in either of these categories. Look for name brand products with good warranties.

As someone mentioned one of my complaints about CFL's is quality. I picked up, I think the brand was NeoVision, at Home Depot. It was the only CFL they had that was the "equivalent" of 150 watt incandescent because I had intended to use it as a reading lamp. The thing buzzed horribly. My other big complaint is the lack of consistent information about color temperature. I've seen lamps labeled cool white, warm white, daylight, and "craft" without necessarily a corresponding number.

I'm new to this discussion. Would one more set of eyes be welcome? Your inspiration of moving the doors is a real game changer. Brilliant. U1 is, from my point of view, the best. Given the limited natural light and view, you do want the window to be the focus of that wall. May I address the mud/laundry room? We had one when the boys were growing up. It would be helpful if there was a seat to put on/take off boots etc. Otherwise they'll go to the banquette, tracking whatever with them. Perhaps a window seat under the window by the door. It could then have boot cubbies underneath. You say the room is 7' wide. That makes it pretty narrow to have a full 24" counter on both sides. Consider the outside wall being solid 12" or 18" cabinets. Do think about putting a front loader and dryer under a counter, even if you don't put doors in front of them. It gives you a place to sort and fold. Or put a laundry basket. The sink could then be part of that counter. Putting a door where the window is from the laundry to the porch seems like a natural. Folks (boys) on the porch/patio can get to the beverages/sink/ without going through the house. I know you have an office, but the kitchen does tend to become communication central. Have you thought about a place for the phone and attendant notes? Perhaps the end of the cabinet run facing the back door in U1 or the end of banquette near that door? The banquette may well become the go to place for homework and school projects. Lighting? storage under the banquette? Finally have you thought about putting a skylight in the porch roof outside the kitchen window? At the end of of the day, you are going to have a wonderful house.