Ya Ya, I just got home from church and checked to see if you'd posted an update. THANK YOU for letting us know, and I'm so relieved for everyone! My dad had a stint put in almost a year ago and I know many heart procedures these days are pretty standard stuff but still -- Anyway, thanks for the good news!

Structurally speaking it makes no difference where the added joists are placed assuming the floor sheathing is adequate to span 16". But pay careful attention to how the new joists are supported and braced. Added joists are often sistered because it is easier to support and brace them. It's a carpenter's option. The new decking will have only a slight effect on the stiffness of the floor. It is the bottom of the joists that must be reinforced in order to reduce deflection. I still recommend cutting LVL's to fit at the 15 ft span. If you are going to his much trouble you should spend a little more for stronger members in that area to reduce bounce.

It occurs to me that I haven't been NEARLY effusive enough with my thanks and praise --- Squirrelheaven, thank you SOOOO much for all the time you've taken with this!!!! You have serious talent and I shudder to think what I would have come up with on my own if I hadn't gotten such great input here (I did come up with the idea of painting the brick and adding the portico but I don't think I would have executed nearly as well without the eyes and comments from GW). Leah (and Squirrel) -- wow! Love the front entrance. Right now I have to try to create as much impact as possible for as few dollars as possible -- but I am definitely saving that picture for when the finances permit. Anele -- I spent 13 years in Chicago (a variety of different northside neighborhoods) and you're right, I don't think anything like this exists there :) We moved about a year ago to the suburbs of a smaller city. Imagine what this house would be worth in Chicago (if such a thing even existed)!! As far as where I am right now, I still like the look of the 2/3 steps (Fri 21:08) and am also really liking the most recent pics with the brick (Sun 9:17) - I wasn't seriously considering the brick until I saw it photoshopped; I think I like it because it ties in to the chimney. I'm also still scouring the neighborhood and the web trying to find a way to do full-length steps without having to have an enormous landing (which just didn't look right to me). I'm definitely going to change the moldings to be more like Squirrel's and less like the architect's, and I'm going lantern shopping this week. I already have the paint for the front door but haven't wanted to take the door down while DH is out of town, so that will be happening soon too. And speaking of DH, I haven't showed him any of this, so I suppose I should give him a little input too. MM

Oh, if only I could find the unanimously popular layout! Every option has something "not quite right" about it. :) Squirrelheaven - The loveseat is in front of a large window but not french doors. (So no need to go in and out.) It can't really be pulled out at an angle like in your photo b/c the arm is only about an inch from the sofa arm. Tilting the loveseat forward would pull it out in front of the sofa. I can't slide the sofa down any farther or it would block the pathway from the entry hall into the dining/kitchen area. I can't tilt the FP-side of the loveseat back at an angle b/c there's already minimal space between it and the window behind. Right now I think I prefer the chair back where the loveseat was and put the loveseat back along the wall to the right of the FP, but maybe that's just b/c it's so bare without a table or lamp yet. (?)