I have the same problems as you, with trying to find cheap containers. This year I experimented with milk crates and landscape fabric. So far, it's worked out pretty darn well. I'll try to post pictures of them. Basically what I did was measure, cut, and sew the landscape fabric so that I made a rough cube, with enough fabric at the edges to let it overhang when I stuffed it into the milk crates. It gives plenty of aeration, and plenty of drainage. I figured out how to make a good tomato container as well, using two stacked milk crates. I cut out the bottom of one, using a heavy duty serrated knife, then I cable-tied them together. Then I just made an extra tall landscape-fabric liner, filled with soil, and planted my tomatoes. They seem to be pretty happy, at least with all the room. You'll have to invest a little cash into buying the landscape fabric, but not too much -- $10 for 3'x50' at Lowes, and it gave me quite a few containers. The milk crates I scrounged around for (free). You don't have to use milk crates though, anything that will support the fabric is fine because you're just using it as a frame. So, I had left over wire laundry baskets that I used for containers, old wicker baskets, an old plastic hand shopping cart, an old wire trash basket....

You might find it much easier to take the whole roof off and replace it, especially if you want to make the wall taller. Sounds like you're re-roofing anyway, so you're most of the way there. Just do it once and right. Either stick build it or use trusses, it will probably cost about the same either way. Saving the old material doesn't seem worth the effort.

Anything really goes these days but if it were my house, I would stay with cool metals, like silver, nickel, pewter, stainless and of course black. You can mix and match these throughout your house in light fixtures and cabinet/door hardware. I agree about staying away from the golds and bronze.

That faucet is gorgeous. I have to see what shower set might go with it. It is the printmakers, and we definitely stepped away from Tudor style a bit with it. We didn't want to go too dark since it's a north facing room. I'm worried about the vanity and quartz making it too modern or industrial, which is why I'd like the other choices to try to bring in more of a vintage and feminine sort of feel to balance that more masculine piece. Almost a soft industrial, if that's possible. i was thinking of doing a frameless mirror like this.... Do you think that would work? any wall sconce suggestions? should I stick with the brass for things like towel bars, shelf brackets, etc if I go with brass faucets? Or should I introduce black there to pull in the dark color of the floor?