Gary - The kitchen will likely change dramatically to engulf the breakfast nook, so the dishwasher will have plenty of room then. I like the drawer dishwashers, we'll see if they play into the budget. I will likely have the whole house trussed. I'll use every nook I can in the attic as the main roof pitch from front to back is 11/12 and left and right are 12/12 along with garage pitch. Doors will face the left side and therefore the garage will be easier to make longer. I will widen the entire left side of the house an additional 2 feet as well for more garage space and thus more bonus room space and also more master bath and closet space where needed the most. Not in a high wind area, but I do like the hipped roof better than traditional gable end design done here so much. I do want to keep my gable dormers on the front and rear for personal appeal. I will mount our new flatscreen (I say new b/c we'll buy it to fit the space when we build) over the fireplace. We have a 51" Sony DLP right now on a small sleek stand but in a 15 x 15 living room I want as little "other" stuff on the floor as possible to allow for our loveseat, couch and coffee and end tables. I am trying to move the large Sony we have up to the "Man Space" and get me a Barcalounger all to myself in the main living room. Currently no room for that, so I sit on the couch that doesn't recline and I can't wait for my big leather chair!!! Thank you so very much for your comments. I really appreciate them and will definitely save them in my "Our House" folder in my email so that when I start I will remember to take your considerations into play. I particularly hadn't thought about the straight line for the plumbing running from front right to back left - that will likely be the least amount of pipe to run. Thanks for your help and if you think of anything else, please don't hesitate to email me or post here. info@athomewithchuck.com

Hi Bill, I have seen mention of this Mapei on other threads and did a google search and came up with a lot of foreign-language links. Who makes it? Or better yet, can you give me a link to a website? (Also, I sent you an email - did you get it? I noticed another tile installation disaster today. Our Master Bath floor has been covered for protection until today when part of it was exposed while the double vanity was installed. The large 16" square honed Calcutta Gold tiles are not centered on any of the walls, so there are really off grout lines at the center of the vanity. It is really obvious and when I think about it I literally want to cry :( . This is our forever house and everywhere I turn, a tile job is done badly. I could really use a good referal!)

Did you stop blogging? Was hoping to see the finished project.

The art in my bedroom is all over the map. It's where I put my art that doesn't work well elsewhere in my house, which means it is a bit of a motley crew. Even given that, it's not displayed to its best advantage. Textile piece over the bed (because I live in earthquake country and if something is going to fall on my head, I want it to be soft and light). This was a gift I received in the context of my work from some Chinese visitors. This one and the one on the left in the photo below are by a friend of mine. The orange and purple one was the first original art I ever purchased, right out of college. The two on the right I purchased at the annual open house for Creative Growth Art Center, which serves artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities. The duck (or grebe) is a wood-black print and I love the color of the forest. These last to are also from Creative growth. This is by far my most controversial piece of art, which I've shared before. The consensus seems to be "I couldn't have that in MY bedroom." To which I can only say, then it's a good thing it is in my room instead.