6' is fine for spaces which don't require as much lighting. If you intend to have both the Ucl and recessed lighting on simultaneously, the recessed lighting may be altered. A higher ceiling requires more light output, so it may help to use higher output CR6 lamps instead of those sold at HD. It might be helpful asking the designer how he arrived at the design and why.

It's imperative for a full evaluation to see the distances for paths. It would also be nice to know where the doorways lead to know where traffic may be a problem. I'm fairly certain you will have issues with opening the freezer portion of your refrigerator. The way it sits now, you'd need a small spacer to open the door 90 degrees. I DEFINITELY test the frig you intend to get to see if you can get items out w/o pulling the frig out into the room. Next I would want the microwave away from the DW. You're very apt to stage (at least on occasion) dishes on that counter to go into the DW. Trying to actually use the MW could be quite cumbersome. I'd rather see the MW to the right of the kitchen where you can take items out of the frig, add some water if needed and nuke. Having the cabinets to the counter (around the range) looks nice, but I think you may forever me frustrated with the 21" you have on either side. I'd go with the function over the form. Don't know if you need your buffet for utilities (furnace venting, plumbing) but it seems awkward. I'd grow the island rather then have this awkward counter I have to put things on. If you're doing it to give you some separation from the family room, I'd keep it. It's definitely not the trend to close a room off but you have to do what you like. Hopefully the real gurus will chime in soon for you.

christamarie, any room you design, you need to work from outside in at the same time you design inside out. The extension you put on your house has to go with the existing look of the house. Right now, I envision an ugly nose stuck in the middle of your current house without other information to go with. The window over the sink is not even centered on the extension as is. The roofline of the extension has to tie in nicely with the extension. This can be quite expensive depending on what you do. If the rooflines are not tied in well, you can conceivably create leak points. If the additions are not done well structurally, they tend to sag and fall apart from the existing house over next several years. You can see this when you look at old houses that had 'suboptimal' additions put on them. First, the esthetics of the extension from the ouside has to look harmonious and well designed with the existing house. This is what makes you look at the house and say 'that house looks ugly' or 'that house looks nice'. People will have a gut response to the exterior of the house immediately. A well-done extension will improve the look of the house. If not well done, it looks like an ugly sore. You also have an opportunity to improve the way the house relates to the natural light coming into the house. I see tiny little windows added to the extension. This is a wasted opportunity IMHO. Ourside corner windows can be used beautifully to add wonderful architectural interest to the house. In your case, you have put a pantry there. Try to get some 3D software and try to envision the exterior of the house first. There will be many iterations as you work the exterior as well as the interior at the same time. This type of design is NOT EASY...

Mark, I realize there is no malice that is why I included the free pass & LOL I was just pointing out the differences. For future reference if you want to irritate a Timber Frame owner just call it a post and beam. If I was to guess I do not think there are a lot of Timber Frame designers or owners here. It is an entirely different animal which lends credence to your statement, "that the method of construction influences the design of the structure, which it seams few people realize. " I am still all in on your your amazingly appropriate statement, The structure creates "square hole" that do not fit Houzzer's "round pegs". it sums it up the best. On another note remember " prarie" how about seams? seems :)