1000 Garden Ideas by Stafford Cliff sounds like a great book, certainly one with a unique twist. I have always enjoyed the blog"A Way To Garden" and think you might find it informative and interesting as well. "Garden Design On Line" is an interesting blog that is written by someone familiar with New England and often is the first to post LD news. I have to get back to working on my taxes but this thread will give me something fun to think about in the mean time. More later.

If you are looing for an infinity edge, you have two choices, shotcrete or fiberglass. You can expect to pay up to $20K more for an infinity edge on a shotcrete pool. San Juan has a new series of I pools available just go to www.sanjuanpools.com to see them. Remember to call your insurance company and see if an umbrella policy is recommended and if the rates are different for a diving pool. Many people are opting for the "game pool" today, that is about 5 ft in depth in the middle and 3 ft on the ends for a host of reasons. Building on a slope can cost as much for retaining walls as the pool might cost. If you are sub-contracting the house, you might consider engaging the services of a pool builder to do the pool. There are a different set of subs for pool building becasue the skill set is a little different from home builders. You will do your self a favor by checking with the BBB for complaints on a specific builder and pay particular attention to unresolved complaints. You are going to need support for your pool after it is installed, so look for some one that performs warranty service, and has retail product. The gunite/shotcrete pool will be just about double the price of a vinyl pool but remember, concrete pools are the most versatile to design and customize to integrate with your new home. There is truly nothing prettier than an infinity edge pool on the lake. Best of luck to you.

Great suggestions, thanks for sharing! Keep 'em coming, please. sara_m, Kitchen Sync is a great blog! Thanks to Blogger Kelly Morisseau, I learned the ideal height for wall ovens for my kitchen is 30" to the bottom of oven (I'm short). I've seen height recommendations for microwaves and counters but I've not seen this type of information for wall ovens. That alone made the site visit worth it. caryscott, I haven't seen Kitchen Makeovers magazine yet. I'll have to keep my eye out for that one. michellemarie and shanghaimom, I use the resource section in the back of magazines, too. It's so great to see something I like, follow the link to see whether it's feasible and what else the source has to offer. I discovered a possible new stain finish for our GO cabinets that way. I'll have to check out the designer you both mentioned. I have spent many hours cruising through the photos in the Photo Gallery at Kitchens.com. Designer name and links are almost always provided so I've been able to hone my taste even more as I pour over the portfolios of designers around the country. Uh, oh, I fear a case of TKO coming on! Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchens.com

Has anyone built this plan? The hubs and I think this is "the one" and would like to see pictures of the finished interior since we are thinking of making some modifications. Particularly the kitchen, living area, and utility room. I would also love to hear any suggestions for modifications you have post-build. Thanks friends!