Thanks everybody, and especially chisue for all your thoughtful input! Let's see, I'll talk to the Builder and Designer about the roof and get their input, all though I am loathe to change the elevation as we love it! The bonus space above the garage will be great later on we just don't *need* it immediately so we really want to make it functional and accessible for that time when we do or for a future buyer if we ever decide to move. As for the back porch it is not screened, we are in Oregon and porches are rarely screened here. The screened porch will be on the Southeast side of our home (we are reversing the plan) so it will mainly be for outdoor dining in the evenings and it's location will block the strong sun at that time. I also like the idea of opening the door from the keeping room and just leaving it open to the screened area-so the kids don't even have to worry about closing it! The back porch will be to sit and enjoy the view and we may enlarge a portion of it. The back side of the house will have a south/west exposure so it should be fairly light even with the covered porch above. We recently toured several homes with similar features and the lower levels were very light even without direct sun-they had 9' or 10' ceilings and tall windows. With the laundry area in the master I don't think we would use a chute. We had a chute in a home with the only laundry in the basement and it was great. The majority seem to feel that windows are better for the kids' rooms...that feels 'psychologically' better to me but I had this idea of them hanging out on the patio going in and out their doors and it would sort of expand their bedroom space in nice weather. Older kids both want doors, little one wants whatever they tell her...should I be worried?! I think I will want some sort of door alarm downstairs even if we only have a door in the rec room. As for the powder room near the back door, I know what you are saying and we have talked about it too, but it almost feels like overkill to add another bathroom, especially since we would add one to the bonus if/when we finish it. If the mudroom space is expanded enough when we add the stairs we may do it though. I do like how the 'guest' powder room is positioned, it makes it feel more private that you walk through the little hall. The garage will be for cars...I know- strange thought! DH will have all his tools in the basement and we have a separate garden shed and will eventually build another detached garage. (Likely by the time DD is driving) We may make the garage a little deeper but we really like the angled garage and keeping it to a 2 car. You bring up good points on the master, not sure how it will finally end up. I have tried it several ways not 'thrilled' with any of my solutions so we may just tell the designer our objectives and leave it up to him to figure out. Thanks so much for your helpful input, you guys are great!

Wow, thank you tanders and kitchenredo08 for being interested in how it turned out. I PROMISE to put up some pictures within a week. This project has had a lot of ups and downs. First, it took about three weeks for the material to arrive. When it came, I was thrilled; it was exactly what I hoped for. Then came the really fun part: installation. I was talked into the idea that we could do this ourselves. Hmmmm, not sure how to characterize that decision since this post could potentially be read by the other party to the decision ;-). Anyway, let's suffice it to say that stone tile, especially a split face is not for the novice installer. But we got it installed with just a few snafus. Then it was time for grout. We started using the pastry bag method, but abandoned it when my hand began to cramp. Switched to a float. BIG mistake. Grout EVERYWHERE in ALL of the nooks and crannies. Three weeks later and we're still chipping out grout. But we're getting close. Close enough where I'm loving it again. So anyway, it's been an adventure. My advice to anyone who wants to do stone; hire a professional. Again, I PROMISE some pictures very soon. I'm too embarassed to post my kitchen right now with chisels and nano scrub and sponges everywhere. Karen

Thank you holligator! The hole in my kitchen floor finally got covered up and the monstrosity that held the oven has been removed. Now I can visualize the space a little better. I've downloaded a bunch of programs to try and see a plan in 3D but none of them will work with my laptop. I'm having a terrible time trying to visualize the layout altogether. I still like the first design so far because I think the Fridge will work the best in that corner. I can back it through the wall and have it line up with the cabinets. If it's in the other spots it will stick out too far. I'll have a better feel for that as well when it gets delivered next week. Here's what the space looks like right now: From Kitchen Design Would having the L on these two walls work? I'd have to make the island smaller unless I made the L into a horseshoe with seats on one side? OMG I'm driving myself crazy. From Kitchen Design Here's a view of the other side of the kitchen. a balcony/deck runs along side that wall. I think I'm just leery of closing the door up. Everyone keeps telling me to open the wall or take it down. Then I'd have nothing but open space and no where to put any artwork. It feels like a fishbowl with all these windows. I guess I'm just having a hard time getting used to the place. From Kitchen Design

Well, if it helps, we are a family of four (children 13 and 15) with a 36" builtin and it is more than enough space. We don't keep any beer and sodas though (red wine needs no frig and I encourage the kids to drive water :). Because it is shallower and so bright and open we no longer have the problem of "losing" things in the back. (Just the problem of husband looking at something and saying "this should be thrown out" and then leaving it there).