Here are a few links to alternate plans to check out and think about. As you look at plans, think about how you could modify what's there to meet your needs. Not wild about the bedroom sizes, but nice layout: - http://www.mascord.com/plan_details.asp?PlanID=1149B&PlanGraphicID=4985&np=true Option for a basement, open floorplan, decent sized bedrooms: - http://www.garrellassociates.com/floorplans/high-country-cottage-08141 Don't like the garage being so far from the kitchen, but otherwise a nice plan: - http://www.garrellassociates.com/floorplans/high-country-cottage-08141 A little unique, but nice: - http://www.garrellassociates.com/floorplans/diamond-creek-cottage-07440 Probably the one I like the best on this site, but I would make the island completely parallel to the angled wall with the range on it: - http://www.garrellassociates.com/floorplans/crested-butte-08070 If you could swing ~2000sq ft, this one might work--you could push the dining room back flush with the front door, then close off the doorways from the foyer and family rooms and make that a large laundry room. You could then make the current laundry room a nice large walk-in pantry. One of our neighbors built this one as shown in the plan and it was beautiful and seemed to flow well. - http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=3896 Here's another you could modify-make the dining room a den/office/potential 3rd bedroom on main floor & leave upstairs unfinished: - http://southernlivinghouseplans.com/plans/SL1746 Hope these help!

If you like the idea of a grain salad, there is one I make that I have actually written down. It is a popular side dish as it is pretty, fairly low-fat but well flavored, and it is substantial enough to be a meal for a vegetarian if any are attending. I have also made it with different roasted vegetables, depending on the season. It's a nice "make ahead" side dish because the flavors blend nicely as it sits and it can be served warm or at room temp. For your purposes, I'd serve it room temp and make it all up ready to go and just toss the dressing in an hour or so before serving. Mixed grain salad with roasted butternut squash A mixture of grainstry to use at least 3 kinds, of different colors. I use varying combinations of basmati rice, long grain brown rice*, barley, bulgar (tabuleh), quinoa, wild rice, millet, and sometimes, to lighten the texture, I add couscous. Onions, celery, carrots-chopped Green peas (frozen are fineÂif you have fresh, blanch them first) Roasted butternut squash cubes** Cranberry vinaigrette*** Chopped parsley & green onions Chopped, toasted nuts (I like pecans or hazelnuts) Cook grain selections separately, according to directions, but remember that they will absorb dressing and soften, so a bit al dente is better than over cooked. Saute onions, celery, carrots until tender, but not too soft. Toss with grains, parsley, green onions and vinaigrette. Gently fold butternut squash cubes in. *Short grain rices are too sticky for this dish, in my opinion. **Roasted butternut squash. Peel squash. Cut into ½ inch cubes. toss in olive oil and roast in the oven, checking frequently until just cooked, but not mushy. If it doesnÂt brown at all, pass under a broiler after cooking just to brown the edges a bit. ***Cranberry vinaigrette. Make a basic vinaigrette with olive oil, red wine or champagne vinegar, garlic & onion powders, salt & pepper. Put the vinaigrette in a blender with about 3/4 Tablespoon dried cranberries per cup vinaigrette, and puree until smooth. Then, add about a quarter cup of dried cranberries for every cup vinaigrette, and pulse blender until cranberries are chopped, but not pureed. Let vinaigrette sit over night. Before tossing the grain salad in the dressing, taste the vinaigrette for sweetness and add a bit of sugar if need be. It shouldnÂt be too tart or too sweet. Sprinkle the toasted chopped nuts on top and garnish with sprigs of parsley, green onion tassels or carrot curls and a few whole dried cranberries. For appetizers, a bowl of yogurt "cheese" balls with a plate of nice crackers or crouton toasts is always popular and seems a bit fancy without breaking the budget. Yogurt Cheese in Olive Oil w/Herbs Make a batch of yogurt. Line a colander or sieve with muslin or a clean, lint free dishcloth. Pour the yogurt in, fold the cloth over the top of the yogurt & put a weight on top. I use a plastic bowl with a tight fitting lid, filled with water. Put the colander or sieve in the sink or over a bowl to catch the liquid (whey) as it drains. The timing differs depending on how liquid the yogurt was to start with and how heavy the weight is, but leave it until the yogurt has become stiff, like cold cream cheese. It could be a couple of hours, or maybe 5 or 6...just check once in a while. Then, roll the "cheese" into inch-round balls. Put them in a sterilized jar, sprinkling each layer with your choice of herbs & spices. When the jar is full, pour in olive oil until the "cheese" is covered. Store in the fridge. My original recipe said it would keep for 3 weeks, but I have noted that it keeps much longer than that as long as all the balls remain covered with oil. This is a wonderful spread on good quality crackers, baguette slices or toast points...make sure to drizzle a bit of the herb flavored oil on each serving. I like to use fresh marjoram, rosemary and chives from my garden, with the addition of some salt and chili pepper flakes. But really, follow your tastes, it's a very forgiving recipe.

We DIY'd our last kitchen so we have some skills. And I'm pretty frugal and deal hunt like my life depends on it. :) We did out last kitchen ourselves for less than $4k but that was basically just a facelift- professionally painted cabs., new to us applicances, remnant granite, I did the tile backsplash, etc. I think $20K is totally doable for this space as long as we don't move the plumbing (but a girl can dream!) In fact, I'm pretty sure I can do remnant granite again if I have the same sqft as I do now. That was a huge saver. I guess now, my question has evolved to- Is there anyway to move the dishwasher in this current layout? Opening right in front of the sink is a PITB. Or is there a better layout for this that I'm missing? We will for sure be doing new cabinets, counters & flooring. Right now everything is harvest gold!

What you don't mention is the makeup of your family and where you're building. A few things. Starting upstairs. I agree with Mrspete that unless you're major socialites who change outfits 3x a day and own more than 300 pair of shoes, you don't need a 20' long closet. Your usable closet space is even more than 40' when you start using organizers. I would put windows on both outside walls in the two bedrooms upstairs. Always better for cross breezes if possible. Do you really need two sinks in the shared bath? More storage would probably be better than the two sinks. Here's my thoughts regarding large sitting areas in bedrooms. Most people never use them. They look nice but are not used much. And if you do use it, how often? I'm a firm believer in building for how one actually lives and not how one thinks they might live if they had the time, etc. Personally if it was me, I'd eliminate the exercise room and move the exercise room to the sitting area and close it off with some nice doors. However if you are one of the people who would use it, then definitely keep it. If not, would the space be better allocated elsewhere, or even better eliminated completely? Downstairs: I strongly agree with mrspete regarding Grandma and the laundry. Even if she's capable now, it may not always be so as she ages. Make it as easy as possible for her. Additionally I agree about the tub. She needs a curbless shower. I'm not thrilled about the layout of the bath/dressing area either. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to have closets on either side of a hallway leading to the bathroom for grandma. Additionally I'd move the entry to grandma's suite up towards the great room. I also agree with mrspete that grandma needs a door to the outside for safety reasons. You have a large house, but you have an office that is barely big enough to turn around in? Are you in the south? If not, that's a small coat closet in the front hall. Based on the size of your great room and keeping room, I'm guessing you do a lot of entertaining. Wouldn't you want a larger coat closet for your guests? Normally I'm not a fan of two islands but in this case I think it works fine. What is the room below Grandma's bathroom? Lastly a plan doesn't work in a vacuum. Do you have elevations?