Rats. I was hoping you had some secret for controlling the stuff. Well, I guess you do, but I'd rather not have to move a couple thousand miles just to grow horseradish! I was just reading the horseradish section in an herb book, which recommended growing it inside a root barrier. Maybe I'll try removing the bottom from a 5-gallon bucket, sinking that in the soil, and planting the horseradish in there. If all I wanted was some grated root, I could just buy that -- it takes me *ages* to go through a small jar -- but I really like your idea of eating the leaves.

island, they are very common (Sabal Palmetto and etonia) and don't get a lot of respect here becuse they are found on just about every unlcearled lot. People do buy them but they are usually full grown and are harvested from land clearings. Usually if you see them in our yards, they were there when the lot was cleared and the builder left them there to save some landscaping funds. However, after the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, many Floridans regained a lot more respect for them. Of all my tall palms the Sables and Dates were the only ones that came though the storm unscathed. Mine took winds upwards of 130mph. My coco's were shredded, my royals were twisted in knots, my bismarks crowns looked like they were going to fall out, but there are my sabals looking like there wasn't even a storm.

Oh my. This is such sad news. My condolences to her family. Nita did have warm and huge hugs and she shared them with many people. I believe her heart was just as loving and large as her hugs. May she continue her adventures as an angel. She inspired me to hold a gathering during her visit to Alabama many years ago and I met her and Bobby. That gathering was responsible for several long-time relationships that I hold dear. Thank you Nita and goodbye.

@cpartist asked, Where will the dining table go? We’re not fans of dedicated dining rooms simply because they (for us) receive little, if any, use. So, one dining table will be in the great room. We mostly eat in front of the TV or outside when weather permits. Because Phoenix has mild weather most of the year we plan to have a dining table outside under the covered loggia adjacent to the Media Room on the courtyard side. @cpartist asked, Why does the pantry get two outside corners? The pantry is being revised and will have no outside corners; however, the adjacent scullery (thank you @3onthetreefor that word. . .hadn’t heard it in decades) will (and should) get the light through planned windows. Here's my rough sketch to the architect conveying the revised pantry concept: @cpartist asked, How will you arrange furniture in the great room? We’ll purchase new furniture for the home and expect the space will be divided into a seating area will a large sectional and a dining area. @cpartist asked, Why is the kitchen so large with lots of inefficient space? My wife likes the size and shape of this kitchen (I do too) as well as the adjacent pantry/appliance storage space. We’ve walked through a kitchen with an almost identical layout. Here’s the inspiration photo. Our plan is to have large windows on the far wall and no upper cabinets. (Question: I’m curious about your thoughts on how it’s inefficient. Please clarify?) @cpartist asked, What is the purpose of the separate room with a sink in it? I think you’re referring to the pantry. See my earlier comment. @cpartist asked, Why do you need such a large bath/shower area? Of course, I actually don’t need it, but it’s what I want (although my wife is fighting the concept and prefers something more private). The shower also serves as a transition space between the master bath and an adjacent covered loggia and private planned spa. My wife wants more privacy, even though we back up to open space. She’s asked the architect to provide an alternate design. I don’t like the current bathroom layout and want more symmetry. So, he’s working that. Current shower concept photo: @cpartist asked, Why is the master toilet so far from the master bedroom? Separation. Bathrooms are noisy (running water, toilet flushing). We want that nosie away from where we sleep. I’m not so broken down that I can’t take a few extra steps to reach the bathroom. (besides, the distance may shrink with the pending changes to the master bath/master closet.) . @cpartist asked, Why does the powder room need the toilet separate from the sink? No one is going to wash their hands in the sink while someone is doing their business in the powder room! #1 Toilet plume. (I never understood those who criticize enclosed toilet rooms which help contain airborne dispersal of microscopic particles.) My question is why would you not want a separate space for the toilet? #2. Also, that door to the toiler has been a discussion point. My wife wants it to go away. I want it to stay as a pocket door for the reason I stated above + I like the separation. @cpartist asked, Why a wasted hallway into the powder room? It’s not wasted. The space leads to a closet and creates a buffer between “private business” events in that bathroom and public spaces. @cpartist asked, Why does the laundry room need to be so large? I want a large laundry room. Also, there will be a pet wash/supply storage area and probably two washer/dryer sets. @cpartist asked, Why do you have two doors into/out of the mudroom that are practically touching? I caught that too. The innermost door is being removed and the opening widened to 4’-ish. Also, I’ve asked for the door into the media room be widened from 3’ to 4’ and be able to be closed off with a pocket door. So, that entire immediate area is being reworked. @cpartist asked, What is the purpose of the media room? See the previous post immediately above yours for the concept. It’s really a flex space. @just_janni wrote I had not realized this is a retirement home. WIth that lens - it's WAAAAAYYYYYY too spread out and super unfriendly to anyone that could have mobility issues in the future. While I understand your comment, I disagree. By retirement, I mean that I don’t plan to move from this home. I’m 55 and in excellent health and my wife is younger. The home is a single story, with zero-height thresholds to transition to the outdoors (and zero entry showers), and mostly wide spaces. The overall size isn’t a problem, the issue would be whether or not a disabled person safely navigate using a wheel chair/walker/cane (and I’m sure there are areas that could be tweaked to improve accessibility). If the home were to become problematic because of its size (which I doubt), then we’d move. @just_janni wrote, I can see a casita for a caregiver being advantageous but not the others. Consider aging parents or guests. Personally, I prefer guests to have a separate, dedicated space and not use my office for sleeping. I suspect the space will be more than pleasant for any guest given the privacy and proposed window seat with views to adjacent park. @just_janni wrote, this could be defined as a one bedroom with 2 outbuildings (assuming you have to go outside to get to both the 2 bedrooms and the other separate one.) (1) That’s not correct. You’re misreading the plan (There are actually four bedrooms each with a closet and own bath.) There is only one space that not contiguous (bedroom 2). The entry space that faces the street between the great room and the office spaces is conditioned. The other entry (facing the park) is an open, unconditioned space accessed through a door from the park-facing porch and separate bedroom 2 from the rest of the house; however, it’s all connected under the same roof. (2) Appraisal will not be an issue. My other project has a similar separate space and had no appraisal problems. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I appreciate (and consider) everyone's comments and understand that some folks like smaller homes where space is used more efficiently. We want space (not to mention that getting the building to wrap around the large courtyard requires a larger footprint). The courtyard—the #1 feature for me—has to be large enough to enclose a pool, large trees, seating + enough area create an open, airy space surrounded by a building on all sides. Some aspects of the home are driven by views, setbacks, HOA directives, and most importantly, personal preference to the extent those preferences don’t conflict with community requirements. We will break some rules for the sake of achieving a certain look and some of that may happen in the kitchen (where, btw, I have zero input). . .but that's why this is a custom build.