Another way to bring in some color is to mix up the artwork a little more. From what I can see, all your artwork has the exact same colors in it. Looks almost like you bought them all as a matched set! It's all attractive, but it's adding to the monochromatic look. Maybe you can use a few of these pieces elsewhere in the house and bring in some pictures or prints with some brighter colors? You also have a lot of framed photos scattered around, all in what looks to be dark colored frames. Another inexpensive idea would be to replace those with either silvery frames or colored frames. Target is one of the best places to buy frames IMO. You could also look for some small vases, bowls, glassware or pottery in colors to mix in with the frames on the shelves. Another idea -- a couple more live plants. The green floor plant really stands out in that sea of brown. You could use a couple more, maybe some kind of trailing plant on one or both of the top shelf of the units on either side of the TV. Since it seems like you have green in your drapes, I'd focus on bringing in some more green tones. Maybe a shade lighter than the green throw on the sofa, just for a bit more contrast. Finally, the wicker chair by the fireplace seems all alone. I'd pull it closer to the other seating area -- just nudge it a little closer, maybe a couple feet. Sometimes photos can be deceiving, but it looks like that could work.

I spent a lot of time on this same question 2 years ago when we were deciding. I ended up going with the baja shelf. I'm happy with the outcome. The reasons I went with the shelf: 1. You probably need more space for the beach entry than the beach entry because you need room for the gradual sloping. We have have a 6 ft self and I think it was something like 9 ft needed for the beach entry. 2. There weren't all that many examples of beach entries and our builder admitted they'd only done one other one. 3. I saw one and was concerned it might be a little unstable for my parents who like to come visit and swim. 4. The beach was $2,500 more than the baja shelf. 5. Pebblesheen wasn't recommended for being out of the water, but Pebbletec seemed to be ok. The one thing I kind of wish I looked into more would be having the sandstone on the shelf. I've seen a couple of those and I think they look nice. Hope this helps. Donna

My friend's pool is very much like yours, accept the circle is their spa. On either side of the circle, they put seats. What if you had your first two steps 6", then 12", then 18" in a straight line across the pool at the edge of the circle? Just an idea. Truthfully, my kids just loved my mother's steps when they were little. We have a small pool, too, and built a sunshelf that is hardly used. It is nice to look at, and highlights the spa, put if I could have a smaller step area I would. Maybe just making the top 6 " and the rest steps would be great. If you put it in the front right corner it would give you more pool space. I'll include a picture of our pool so you can see our circle idea. I can tell you're really working on a nice shape for your pool. Be careful with steps and shelves though, one time I was playing with my baby (13 now) and my 3 year old (16 now)was on the step right next to me. I turned to look and he had stepped off the shelf and was underwater looking at me and reaching for me. I will never forget those eyes and how I was just a couple of inches from him. Steps are great to play on, but be so careful. Do you have any part of the pool raised for interest? I have a spa that is raised a little, but if I could do it again I would have raise the back wall a little for more interest. One other thing that I noticed. Your light in your deep end is just like mine. I was told that it wouldn't shine towards the house, but it does...and right at us in the spa. Yours is going towards your house and patio. You may want to put two and have them going out towards the house. That is one of my "I wish they didn't talk me out of it" things with my builder. I hate it everytime I turn it on. Good luck!

But lirio, you didn't answer number 9 ... nobody likes me? ; ) *wink* We're a family of just two as well. AND we eat out or to go orders almost every meal (except cereal). Talk about a fish out of water planning a kitchen !! But thanks for the kudos. Maybe I did learn a little something in all these years. By popular request, here is what we have for the plan for the rest of that floor so far. Nothing special, a couple bedrooms, 2 baths, 1/2 bath, and an elevator (a "must have" as it's 25 steps just from ground level up to the first floor!!) . . . Next floor up has 4 bedrooms, small office, 4 baths, a 1/2 bath, laundry, and a 2nd small living area (basically a sofa facing tv - a great area we will have set up for kids to hang out and play XBox). The office and the 2nd living area have Murphy beds so they can do double duty at night. Top floor is lookout/3rd living area, and 12x18 deck opening to roof (8x18 covered porch with table/chairs and 4x18 open deck). Please note, per local Bldg Code, the footprint of this home cannot be changed or increased even one inch. LWO, I also thought the island looked kinda spindly and top heavy. That was one of the things that I was feeling a bit concerned with. The wings on the working sides remind me of the Flying Nun. It might be hard to make a beverage bar work at the end of the dining table as we have 5'4" between table edge and stairs on left side at the half bath and as you can see above, that will be a thoroughfare. Plus, this area needs to be clear for times when the tables have to be split, also wide enough for a wheelchair to pass (house is not 100% ADA, but it is wheelchair friendly). As far as cooking goes, when it is just us the answer is "no!", there are way too many great restaurants to explore there. Other families do to varying degrees, there are even some families that eat pretty much every meal at the house. Yes, there will also be a great grilling/tiki bar/picnic area on the ground floor (code is no grills on decks). I really appreciae hearing from those of you who do rent places at the beach and how they work (or don't work) for your family. Control, where do you guys vacation ? Most of the time when people say Outer Banks, they are referring to somewhere between Kitty Hawk/Nags Head/Hatteras area. You should give the southern beaches a try ! Our water temp is 10 degrees warmer than Hatteras, wide easy sloping beach with gentle waves and no drop offs, public beach access every 500ft, very family oriented beach (almost all houses, a few 2 story condos, and only one high rise all the way at the end), easy ~20 minutes to North Myrtle tourist mecca if you want a day trip, but lots to do nearby if you want to stay local. In our other house, we have 14 at dining table, 4 at bar, and 6 at patio table right outside the door next to the dining table. So 24 all right together (plus 2 picnic tables under the house). This house will have enough dining if you count the additional dining on the other levels, but definitely a shortage on this level ! Ideas to gain aisle space between stove & island: shorten depth of island cabinet to 22" instead of 24" (wasted space behind back side of drawers anyway), shorten overhang to 13" instead of 15", overhang on front edge of cabinets 1.5" instead of 2" = 47" aisle counter to counter Ideas to gain aisle space in 2 aisles from sink to fridges: can elevator shaft be narrowed any?, fold-down or pullout overhangs. One of those slap forehead, duh why didn't I think of that moments. (note to email plllog, anyone else have fold-downs in their kitchen?) = 46" aisle on each end NKBA suggests 48" aisles for multiple cooks. Can we get away with any less ? Group of moms: I am imagining people lined around the wall - 1 on left of big sink, 1 on right sharing water, 1 at stove, 1 at prep, possibly even 1 to right of prep = 5 workers and nobody has to work butt-to-butt. How much is minimum space we could get away with and still feel comfortable "enough" with a person working at a counter and allowing enough room for another to walk past behind them ? I found on BH&G ... "A 42-inch-wide aisle between opposite countertops is fine, but 48 inches is best where appliances compete, two people work back-to-back, or stools pull out. More than 48 inches is overkill." Noted 3 votes for moving prep sink to island. Where is best place for prep sink and pros/cons ? My original thinking was right of range to avoid butt-to-butt at range and prep in island, but I am open for changes ! Thoughts ? Bigger window at cleanup sink = Yes ! How about 44" wide and coming all the way down to the countertop, with granite going into the window sill ? The house is oceanfront, which is why almost the entire living and dining wall is all windows. I agree the window at the prep sink looks a little out of place. I am open to removing that. I had put it in because this is the view out the prep window . . . Appliances: I am pretty sure that range has 5 burners. I really do think 2 fridges are needed. It can be 90-100 degrees in high summer, which means it takes a lot of space for sodas, milk, juice, water, beer for 20+ people. We usually use one fridge for food stuff and the other whole fridge for beverages. Complete with magnet labels that say "Food" and "Drinks", so you don't have to open both to find what you are looking for. By my measurements, DW open does go into the person at the range's space, but very little, like 1 inch (so range person has 24x29 personal space instead of 24x30). Not sure if the ice maker is crucial ??? What do you guys think ? I wonder if the 2 freezer ice makers can keep up ? Also, would there be enough room if part of the freezer space has to be for store bought ice ? Small Appliances/Pantry: Pantry is planned to be the space for all of the small appliances on the 14" deep shelves to side, a little locked area for us to use as pantry & liquor when we have to leave for a week for an incoming guest (not carry everything all back home, only to carry it back the next weekend), recycling bin, and for pantry space for guests. I have seen groups of guests in the grocery store walking out with 4 gallons of milk, 6 loaves of bread, and etc, so "enough" pantry is important. It doesn't have to be this layout. My concerns/questions: - the look of the island (too small, tall & spindly, top heavy) - DW's/sink/trash layout - sink, then DW, then trash? or sink, then trash, then DW? but need space on right side of DW to unload into uppers - ice maker - yes/no ? - where to locate prep sink - where to throw trash at prep sink - window at prep sink ? - which way to hinge pantry door - aisles width - dining shortage ACK !! I tried to keep this short & concise. Ha. My husband says I talk too much. (and my friends laugh because they all tell me in private they think he talks more than ME!)