Sorry I didn't chime in earlier. We just moved into our home and have been too busy to get back to the site. I too have a very long and somewhat narrow living and dining and kitchen area. I elected not to enclose the kitchen in, rather highlight the columns with arched tops and simple in design. I also elected not to put some sort of "room divider" between the living and dining area. I used my furniture and rugs to separate the two rooms and so far it has been working nicely. Whenever you think you need to add something, take something away. Keep it simple and streamlined. This is a picture looking into the kitchen from the far end of the living room. Looking out toward the far end of the living room from the dining/kitchen area. Dining room and part of kitchen after furniture is added: This is the floor plan to that room: Hope this helps. V

LOL - y'all make me laugh - a good way to wake up in the mornings. I was so busy yesterday I didn't have time to check in here. MDUNKIN: Like BAMA, I made a tower for my daughter from very heavy, thick chimney flue tiles. The size is 13" X 13" X 12", and I stacked six. Each tile was so heavy I could barely lift it before mosaicing, so they are VERY heavy. By the time I put it on a concrete block, added another block on top w/a finial, it was around eight feet. My first one was made by using two sizes of the four feet (12" diameter) cardboard tubes from Lowes, and I mixed/poured Quickcrete between the tubes. Since you don't have a Lowes, see if you can find those tubes somewhere near or perhaps order them on-line. I also think you could use those cardboard tubes carpets come on. Check w/a carpet store. Hopefully you could find two sizes. The wall of mine is only about an inch thick, so it's hollow on inside. I saw a magazine article last year in which the lady had used large PVC pipe to mosaic. It's not available around here larger than six inches. If you could find some of the round terra cotta tiles they used to use in sewers, they make great columns. I have an eight inch X about 30" tall terra cotta column I bought from a pottery shop waiting in line to be mosaiced. THEN I mosaiced a column made of cedar. It's about 10" square X five ft. Now if you want to know what I'd do if I were in your situation, I'd make one from scratch, using the "Riana" method you see us talking about here a lot. The diamond-shaped wire mesh they use for plastering walls is easy to bend, wire together. Make it double layered, push your concrete between the mesh and viola - you have a column. Here's the link to the thread I posted after our trip to Puerta Vallarta, where we learned how to make wire armatures for concrete sculptures. wire mesh recipe

So sorry for being such a slacker!!! I didn't think I'd get so many replies! THank you! You defintely did not confuse me more and ABSOLUTELY helped! mrsjay2u - my MIL actually bought me that magazine between the time i posted this and now when I checked it! Like you said - no help right now but SO MANY good ideas for once we're finished. SO here's where we are: We are using vinyl even though I know many people are horrified by it. We live in Northeast PA and it's very common here and easy to maintain! Plus we are only in our late 20's and we're either going to live here forever - so we'll change stuff out for better stuff down the road when we can afford it... OR we'll build again and get all the up up grades then. Looks like it will be Certainteed's Carolina Beaded siding (little thicker with a decorative edge) on the back and sides. It will also go on the front (bottom part of garage) and by the foyer window. We will use the Certainteed vinyl cedar impressions siding in the 2 closed off peaks (near attic window) and over garage. We're going to use the same color as the Carolina beaded siding above (natural clay) but it will appear a little darker because of the ridges in the shakes. Here's a sample of a different color: Then we will use cultured stone ONLY around the entry way. The big question is - what to do with the front porch by the windows. Not sure if I should keep the stone all the way across or do Carolina beaded or cedar shakes there. Here's the most current pic of our house: Ok so now that I've totally confused YOU... What do you think? LOL

Actually it's been awhile since I started this posting. I got new windows, they are taupe. It blends with the area painted underneath the window. I've planted native shrubs and perennials in the front garden - it gives a more ''natural'' look, with various green groundcovers instead of mulch. I'm a fan of native plants. Gives the house a casual look.