3" is exactly how much my GE Monogram CD fridge sticks out beyond my cabinets and trust me it must be this way. I learned the hard way when originally my fridge was nice and flush with my cabinets and just the handles stuck out. It looked great, like a built in. Thirty minutes later when I went to open the fridge for the first time and realized that the doors physically couldn't open I was frantic and distraught. Cabinet maker had to come back and take out the cabinet (yes it was in the middle of cabinet bank with my oven on one side and pantry on the other) and literally shave 3" off the back side of the cabinet and then slide it back it. Now my fridge sticks out 3" beyond the cabinet like it should have in the first place. At first it bugged me, because I wanted the built-in look, but now I don't even notice it.

"From your post it sounds like you want/need a larger master bathroom and the kids rooms are really small, not huge just bigger. I get that, as one of our kid's rooms was really small prior to our remodel. It fit a twin bed, a dresser and a small desk, barely. It was tight. As your kids grow they'll probably want a bit more space in their rooms then what they have now. Since the rest of your house and yard is pretty ideal, location and schools are good, I'd stay put. Can you hire an architect to draw up some plans that might address your needs in a way you haven't thought of already? A good architect will see your house in a new light and quite possibly will give you option(s) you never considered." After we’ve talked about it, it’s doubtful that we would do a full-fledged addition and add a bedroom/master bathroom. That would be too much for what we really need and too much disruption. Realistically, I doubt my wife or I would do the basement route either….maybe one of the kids would want to do it down the line, but it would still cost us a decent amount of money in order to bring it up to code with exit windows. What have kinda tossed around is doing a bump-out or just a small extension off the master bedroom/bathroom to allow for a tub/double-vanity in the bathroom and then a little more closet space in the master. Not sure on the cost, but I’m sure it’ll be much, much less than a full addition. The other thing we have talked about doing is walling off the dining room and making that into a bedroom. There wouldn’t be any way to have a doorway to go from the living room back to the bedroom area, so the only entry to the bedroom area would now be the kitchen. Originally I thought it would be a little weird, but my wife said that it might make more sense. We watch TV and have the big fireplace in that room so it might cut down some sound coming from the family room. It’s not really about having separation from the kids as much as it is having more bedroom space overall. My daughters bedroom could probably fit a small desk in the corner, so no problem there. My boys room has a bunk bed, 1 dresser, and there is not much room outside of that.

cpartist -- I'm still OK haulin' laundry. There's a lot less of it for just two Seniors, and we're on one floor in 2900 sq ft. I prefer to 'tend' the laundry in the back hall during the day. I've even ironed my sheets -- on the board that is stowed in the back hall closet with hanging space. Which is fine while you're still in the go-go years, but what happens once you reach the no-go years? Or what if something happens so it becomes difficult to haul the laundry? My mother's laundry was across the house too. In fact it was next to her office. She was so upset when she could no longer haul the laundry around because of being unsteady on her feet. I have tub, then FL washer and dryer (raised, left to right). How do people live without a laundry tub -- as a mop sink if nothing else? (Garden gear, boots, soaking a big pan, washing plants... and small dogs.) I have no laundry tub. Have never had one and don't miss it. I do have a slop sink in my garage though. I'd opt for one-floor living at any age. Senior friends with home elevators avoid them in daily life. The only reason I avoid it is because I'm slightly claustrophobic. However I designed it to be as open looking as possible and would have no problem using it if I needed it. Nobody likes to wait for an elevator anywhere. Let's see it takes less than 15-20 seconds for the elevator to go from one floor to the other. And that's only if it's on the other floor. There are days it takes me longer to walk up the stairs! New elevators are a lot more efficient and fast. If like us you're on a narrow lot and your choice is to either have smaller spaces or to build up, I highly recommend building up. Especially if it's two rooms that will rarely be used.

Starting construction without all major choices being made is opening the door to change orders and costly added expenses. Substituting allowances for needed decisions is exactly the same situation. Not only are allowances before construction frequently insufficient (but the low costs feel so good at the time), but no one ever thinks about the contractor's mark-up on all change orders. The effect is a combination of paying additional sums for selected items after the start of construction, PLUS the contractor's overhead and profit on the added costs. Pricing different items to compare and select before construction is one thing. Starting construction without decisions having been made is another thing entirely. The best rule is get everything selected and priced before starting construction. There's an old saying which is as true today as ever: "Haste makes waster!" Your choice!