Thank you very much for the feedback ~ it's really helpful to get your perspectives! Below is a revised plan along with responses to your comments. Finallyhome ~ We are planning on having an electric fireplace, but if not, the two sided idea would be fantastic! The fireplace will be low (no mantle/hearth), so the television will not be very high. The "unspecified" room is going to be utilized for fitness and guest quarters (we plan to have a small wardrobe in there for guest use). Wi-sailorgirl ~ That is indeed a utility sink that will be hidden behind a sliding barn door. We like the idea of being able to rinse off garden veggies, wellies, muddy hands, etc. before tracking further into the house. This closet will also house storage for things like light bulbs, household tools, etc. I do all of the laundry during the daytime, so the convenience factor is important to us. In our current rental home, we have a similar laundry set up and really like it! Peegee ~ We have gone back and forth on flip flopping the kitchen and dining room with the family room. However, for several reasons, we do think we prefer it this way. We also plan to use the "unspecified" space as guest quarters and therefore like that the guest bathroom is right next door. Krdpm ~ Trying to find "a place for everything and everything in its place" has been a process! As for a vacuum, we are hoping to have a central vac with a Doc-it containment system that will most likely be located in the wall near the dryer. We are planning to store linens in cabinets above the washer and dryer, household utility items in the entry closet with the utility sink, food in the pantry cabinet closest to the dining room, non-food bulk storage in the pantry cabinet closest to the hallway, and office supplies in the desk area (across the hall from the island). That little extra space in the back of the master closet will house a safe. In the entry, there will be "lockers" for coats, shoes, purses, backpacks, etc. I'm still trying to decide on a good location for holiday decor storage. Hopefully, we will be able to maximize the upper space in each of the bedroom closets as well. Jakabedy ~ Next to the WH, we are planning to have cubbies for laundry baskets. The hidden closet in the master is for a safe. We are trying to create a "hidden" mud room in the entry. On the left, there will be "locker" cabinets with bench seating. These will have doors to conceal the "stuff!" Similar to this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/wood-lockers-with-doors-laundry-room-phvw-vp~157052) [Laundry Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/laundry-room-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_753) On the right is a utility closet behind a sliding barn door. It will have a sink and storage for household utility items like light bulbs, tools, etc. Due to the topography of our site (our home will be located on a knoll), we are indeed planning to have a circular drive located in the front. If we add a carport, it too will have to be in the front, most likely northeast of the house. Making the front entry dual purpose, seems to make this work alright in theory and, I'm hoping, in practice as well!! Thank you all again ~ I really do appreciate your thoughts! I'd love more feedback if anyone has any!!

I have to disagree with the statement about Mush making a big scene, I didn't find this post to be hurtful or hysterical or "drama queen" material. I would prefer to read that someone is leaving for a while rather than worry about her sometime in the future. And she's right- this forum IS different, we've all pretty much agreed on that point. I don't recall anyone insisting that we need to all agree about everything all the time, that would be an unreasonable expectation and unwanted, too. On the other hand, I don't think it's too much to ask for people to be polite or tactful, instead of rude or hurtful or tenacious to the point of obnoxiousness. That's my point about presentation. When Mom said "nobody likes a know-it-all", she was right. But hey, this is just what I think. I know everyone is not the same and we don't all have the same temperament and feelings are going to be hurt occasionally. I would hope it would be accidentally, instead of on purpose, though.

Cindydavid4, I so agree. I live in East TN and it amazes me how the church influences and molds the social circles in this town. I for one, am agnostic, having studied religion in college and found aspects of all religions intriguing, yet many more aspects that leave bad tastes in my mouth. Not saying that I'm not a spiritual person, because I am. After living here most my life, I can honostly say, other than my fiance who is from California, I don't have one person I can call a friend, and I know it is because we don't go to Church and practice religion. But, I saw lot's of current day religious parallelism in this book, of course on a milder level. They certainly don't make women repent for a year for committing adultry, at least where I'm from they don't. I'm not surprised that this is practiced in other places around the world though. This book definitely had me asking why bad things happen to good people, but I'm a firm believer in Karma, and you see lot's of this in this book. It makes you realize that everything you do in life comes around full circle, directly or indirectly. So far, the sequal is slow, but I'm not very far into it. I hope it is as shocking as Pillars. There were times I could not put it down.

I am just soaking in all the comments. For sure, a thread like this helps us understand folks better and help keep us civil the other 99% of the time. I mean, really.. sometimes ya gotta have a thread like this so folks can blow off some steam and say things they want to say in other threads. It is also a great way to learn how folks like to deal with questions and how readers like to deal with those answers. These threads are good....so long as they are not all the time.. heh I, for one, have benefited from every single post I have read. I hang out here, not because I necessarily want more help (although I continue to learn more each time I log in), but more because I am hoping to give something back for that help. Can people be mean at times? you bet. we all can. Can the 'answers' sometimes be totally off base, and still be right? Sure. Take my choices for example.. while I think... no I know a lot of folks are right in their suggestions, in the end it is what I can afford and what I really like that matters.. until I sell. Many, if not most, the suggestions are not based upon what we may like, but based upon what would 'sell'. From all that input, you pick and choose the things that are not about the sale, but about the 'smart'.. and THAT is why you wade through the good, the bad, and the ugly posts. Now... back to my popcorn and show :P Russ