Hi Bren! It sounds to me like you will OBing, correct? We're doing the same thing. You're very wise to start planning so early! We've been researching, planning, and purchasing for 1 1/2 years and are just starting the build itself. There are so many variables to the questions that you asked. A lot of it has to do with where you are building. I can give you a couple of general ideas based on the estimates that we were given, but keep in mind that they probably won't accurate for your area. Anderson 200 series windows varied a good bit depending upon where we priced them. For example a 244DH2860 (2'8" X 6'0") was $329 at one dealer and the same window was $248 at another. It doesn't sound like much per window, but when you need 35 windows it adds up quickly! We didn't price Marvins...they're out of our budget range. Are you wanting pre-hung interior doors or slabs? Wood or MDF? What sizes? The size and type of French Doors will make a big difference. The metal roof that we priced was approximately 2 1/2 times the cost of asphalt shingles. Will your framer be hanging the Hardi? Ask them to include the labor cost in your framing bid. Your lumber supply house can tell you how much the prepainted Hardi is running per square. :o) ElDorado is running $15.50 PSF installed here. For a VERY rough idea on appliances you can check eBay. Keep in mind that some of the dealers sell scratch & dent and used items. For budgeting purposes I'd check out the ones from dealers selling only new items. I do suggest that when purchasing high end appliances you get them from a local dealer. You will get far better service if you ever have problems down the road. They might cost a little more than the prices you see online, but alot of our local dealers will match the prices for new items. Just ask! :o)

I have still been doing research (and reading the forum) into my window purchase, and I have some clarifications on the quotes I am currently trying to decide over.... I've decided on the company I plan to use, just trying to decide between quotes from that company. Here are the quotes: (all are from the same company/installer; the only portion that differs between the quotes is the double hung windows) Quote #1 (1) Gorell three lite casement window (2 casements with picture window) w/ Energy Master III triple pane glass (w/ full screens and internal white colonial grids) Picture window U-Value: .22, SHGC .24. Casement windows U-Value: .25, SHGC .18 (5) Mercury Excelum Harmony series Double Hung (triple pane, low e glass, full screens, internal white colonial grids) U-Value: .20, SHGC: .25 (1) MI Window and Doors Model 910 Patio Door (double pane w/ full screens and internal white colonial grids) U-Value .28, SHGC .20 PRICE: $5,055.00 Quote #2 (1) Gorell three lite casement window (2 casements with picture window) w/ Energy Master III triple pane glass (w/ full screens and internal white colonial grids) Picture window U-Value: .22, SHGC .24. Casement windows: U-Value: .25, SHGC .18 (5) Gorell Series 5300 Double hung with double pane AC Master Glass (w/ full screens, internal white colonial grids) U-Value .30, SHGC .25 (1) MI Window and Doors Model 910 Patio Door (double pane w/ full screens and internal white colonial grids) U-Value .28, SHGC .20 PRICE: $5,562.00 Quote #3 (1) Gorell three lite casement window (2 casements with picture window) w/ Energy Master III glass (w/ full screens and internal white colonial grids) Picture window U-Value: .22, SHGC .24. Casement windows U-Value: .25, SHGC .18 (5) Gorell Series 5300 Double hung with Energy Master III triple pane glass (w/ full screens, internal white colonial grids) U-Value .25, SHGC .20 (1) MI Window and Doors Model 910 Patio Door (double pane w/ full screens and internal white colonial grids) U-Value .28, SHGC .20 PRICE: $5,762.00 A few questions: 1. Does anyone have any input/opinion on MI Windows Sliding Patio Door? Their website is: http://www.miwd.com/default.aspx 2. Unfortunately, no one had any input into Mercury Excelum brand of windows.....but the company is on the NFRC list as an approved manufacturer. Does the fact that the manufacturer is on the NFRC list make it a quality window? MI Window is also on the NFRC list. 3. Between Quote 2 and Quote 3, the only difference is upgrading the Gorell 5300 glass package from the double pane package to a triple pane package. Is the improvement in U-Value and SHGC worth the additional $200.00? 4. Installation question. Is there a preference as far as a interior installation vs. exterior installation? Or is it impossible to make that judgment without seeing the house/window? Thank you for your help. mm

In one of the other posts where you asked the same question, you indicated that you were getting rid of the door to the outside. That's a good idea, unless there's some reason you wanted people entering your house through a bathroom. "Wondering if there are any builders or designers out there who might give a guess as to what this entails." I don't understand why you are not directing these questions to the GC and the architect. There are too many cooks in this kitchen, and this kind of dilemma/ mangled design is the result. You want something very specialized (dare I say idiosyncratic,) and you're not going to find it at Lowes or Ikea. If you don't like your architect, find a designer who can work with you locally. Or you can keep asking the same question over and over, and a bunch of random people will throw a bunch of random ideas out at you. There's such a thing as too much information. Ideally, owner, designer, and builder work together so that these types of things don't come up when you're staring at stud walls. Dozens of people have given you good ideas here. Hire someone local to turn the best ones into reality, or your'e going to be staring a stud walls (or a terrible design) for a long, long time.

@Victor Wilson it took me a month to figure out the ring sizes, proving my math teacher right when I asked him, “when will I ever need this in my life?”. . I used the poly 1/4 ring pieces that come in so many styles, widths, lengths and projections. Not many contractors have experience with these elaborate ceilings. The company I bought them from was no help either, even after sending them ceiling measurements and inspiration pic. After it was finished I found a company that makes prefabricated large scale ceiling trellises which would be a lot easier.