We spent 60 but that didn't include any fencing or softscape. We did not replace any fencing and did all of the softscape ourselves. Furniture was from Costco and probably cost around $300 total. BBQ was a drop-in from BBQ's Galore, about $1000 plus $200 for the delivery. Our pool included: 345 sq feet, 3.5-7 feet deep (25x14) 7x7 spa Group 4 tile (from NPTG) Poured-in-place concrete coping with bullnose edge 3M Colorquartz, premium group Aqualogic PS 4 SWG and computer, kitchen panel, floating remote 400 btu heater, filter, and pump (all Hayward) Extra jets incl. calf jets in spa and booster pump Sheer descent RBB Hydrostatic relief valve Navigator with dedicated line Acid-washed, scored decking Autofill Overflow drain Umbrella sleeve Baja shelf and loveseat Special rebar & gunite setup to make pool freestanding (we are on the upside of a retaining wall), so if wall should collapse, pool should not be affected Gas line run All digging, demo, hauling, etc. We also had a back wall collapse and they had to fill up to 8 feet down behind the pool, and they did that free of charge. We did not have any extra costs or change orders during the build. Really, really think about what you want and make sure everything is included in the contract. Also don't make the builder think that you are without budget. Tell him what you can spend and stick to it. If you tell him you have 100 grand available, you better believe your pool is not going to cost 70. He's going to charge you what he thinks he can get. The market is in your favor. People aren't refinancing as much and therefore, not putting in pools as much. Good luck!

Kiki2013 -- it depends on the faucet you pick. You are cutting it close but you should make it. You need to measure it yourself to make sure. We did 3.25" from countertop front edge to front of sink, which was what the fabricator said was minimum. Our sink is slightly curved, so 3.25" was only at center -- slightly more as you move out to each side. If you use 3.5", assuming zero reveal and if you have standard counter depth with 1.5" overhang, that would leave you with 4.25" (25.5" - (17.75" + 3.5")) left to the back wall, minus the width of your backsplash. Make sure you are using the right sink measurements. You want the sink inside width, not the exterior measurement (e.g. measure what is visible when you go from front to bank). If you have a positive reveal, add the reveal amount twice (once for front and once for back) to the measurement. I have the Blanco Culina -- I have 1.5" from back of sink to the front of the faucet, the faucet is 1.75" width, and the width of my backsplash is 0.5". That is 3.75". You would want more than 0.5" from the back of the faucet to your backsplash. In our case, we have a window sill behind the sink with a 0.75" overhang beyond the backsplash, so we extended our countertops by 0.75" (to 26.25"). Everything fit in our case but with very little room to spare. You should pick a faucet where the handle doesn't pull back behind the faucet, which could cause your hand to hit the back wall. This post was edited by calumin on Wed, Sep 4, 13 at 0:16

Mongo makes very good points so always listen to him, even if he claims to down play his design sense, LOL. Don't use that light. I would only use lighting that is rated for damp locations. Get your whole scheme together before you buy anything else! Do what Mongo suggested and go online to see images of what you like. You can't put everything in the room that you like, so you will have to cull. Find the basic themes that you like and build on that theme. You state you want modern. Pebbles and stone tile don't necessarily say modern to me. Pebbles are too organic to look modern. You might be thinking more of an organic look. The cabinet would look wonderful in that scheme. I typed in "organic modern bathroom" into Houzz. To me these are really more of an organic contemporary, as "modern" may not technically be accurate in the design term. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/russian-hill-organic-bath-modern-bathroom-san-francisco-phvw-vp~8013010) [Modern Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2105) by San Francisco Home Builders Bespoke Construction [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/organic-modern-bathroom-contemporary-bathroom-los-angeles-phvw-vp~2551073) [Contemporary Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators Kym Rodger Design [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/zen-retreat-modern-bathroom-atlanta-phvw-vp~1564421) [Modern Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2105) by Atlanta Interior Designers & Decorators Burns Century Interior Design [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/echo-beach-modern-bathroom-vancouver-phvw-vp~476822) [Modern Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2105) by Vancouver Home Builders kbcdevelopments [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/buttrick-projects-architecture-design-contemporary-bathroom-san-francisco-phvw-vp~1115358) [Contemporary Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers Buttrick Wong Architects [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mr-mitchell-portsea-house-contemporary-bathroom-melbourne-phvw-vp~18620416) [Contemporary Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by Melbourne Kitchen & Bath Fixtures apaiser [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rich-material-pallette-modern-bathroom-san-francisco-phvw-vp~46195) [Modern Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2105) by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers At-Six Architecture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/master-bathroom-contemporary-bathroom-seattle-phvw-vp~28319) [Contemporary Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by North Vancouver Architects & Building Designers Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

One of my past clients has a modern lodge-style home. His dining room is two stories tall, the walls are clad in stone switching to faux painted stone castle walls, complete with parapets. A painted version of my client leans against a parapet near the ceiling, dressed in Medieval garb and holding a falcon on his wrist, while his wife is painted on the opposite wall dressed as a queen. It's pretty amazing, and you'd never guess looking at the outside. Another client, each room is decorated in a specific theme. Even the stairs of their typical 1980s colonial have been painted to look and feel like you're going through an alleyway in the Paris of Les Mis. Outside, it's any generic crackerbox in the DC suburbs. Heck, two doors down from one of my clients, the guy has a full-size replica of an X-Wing fighter in his backyard. And we have a client for whom I'm trying to figure out the best way to do Han Solo in carbonite set into a retaining wall. I've been in dozens and dozens of boring homes and landscapes. Typically they're boring not because the homeowner is boring, but because they just don't have a vision they feel strongly enough about. So I support letting your freak flag fly, ESPECIALLY if you're willing to work w/ pros who can 1) help you execute it cohesively and well, 2) rein you in when needed, and 3) give you a little shove over the edge when needed. If you don't plan on selling in the next 3-5 years, do your house for YOU. There's no shortage of modern homes that look like rejected footage from an IKEA photo shoot. There's no shortage of desert homes w/ schlocky tourist sand paintings on the walls and a cow skull somewhere. There is, however, a massive shortage of homes where you walk in the front door and immediately know who the homeowner is as a person, and that they LOVE their house. Life's short. This could be a train wreck, or it could turn out cool enough to even surprise the folks getting vapors and fanning themselves over such an idea. I mean, it's a house, FFS. It's meant to be lived in.