@Spottythecat and @sanctuarygirl: Thanks! I hope the budget will allow copper standing seam on the porch, but that's a want, not on my list of must haves. I just checked out your house on the Sept Build thread... you're right, it is very similar. I like yours a lot too, and looking forward to seeing your progress. The plan is based on the Richelieu, but I hated it's interior layout, especially the closed off kitchen. I used the rough exterior dimensions and front elevation to draw out a plan for our draftsman. My focus was on an efficient space that would carry us through until the kids leave for college, yet not be so bloated that we had unused space. Some people probably think I'm crazy to leave off a breakfast nook, but that represents who we are. We're not formal or fussy, but we like to eat together. The large island will serve that purpose. I kept the dining room for entertaining, but the reality is our friends are happier having drinks and chatting at the island. We all have things that fit in our lifestyle... the beauty of GW is that we can get great feedback that we may not have considered. @neroselover: You may have to click to get a link to the full-sized image on photobucket, but there is a pocket door between the sink and tub/toilet area. The kids assured me that will work... and if it doesn't, I'll be on the other end of the house where I can't hear the argument. ;-) @rrah: There are upper cabinets in the kitchen. If I get some time, I'll scan the rough sketch of the elevation. What am I missing about the refrigerator being near the sink? I'm trying to think about how I cook now, and I don't make many trips. I get all my ingredients together, then prep. Actually that was why the sink is across from the stove... mine isn't now, and I find it aggravating to cross over to it during prep. I put the ovens out of the way of traffic. It seemed like it would be annoying to have to wait for someone to pass before I could open the door. I thought I had considered prep, clean-up and baking zones, but it sounds like I'm missing something. Help me see what it may be. By the way, the storage side of the island will hold the things we don't use often: ice cream maker, deep fryer, holiday dishes, and that sort of thing. @lavender_lass: Excellent idea, but the hubby won't go for the extra bucks or the chance it would ruin our hardwoods. I guess I'll be getting some exercise. @live_wire_oak If you go to the link, you can enlarge the plan. An elevator isn't in the budget. The purpose of the basement is for our parents to continue independent living for as long as possible. When we pass that point, I will hire a live-in sitter, and there will be a room down there for her. Yes, that bath needs to be ADA. It currently marks the rough in locations. I'll definitely make sure we have plenty of room for a walker or wheelchair. The basement garage has to remain. My husband is a car collector and needs room for his toys. ;-) He's even building another 4 car garage/workshop on our property. Some might say he has a problem. I originally had the kid's bathroom separate, with a hall entrance, but this layout makes more sense for them since my son is sharing the space with a teenage girl. Speaking of boys, and dirt... he's trained to enter through the basement garage door (which hasn't been added to the version yet) and remove his dirty clothes/shoes. That floor can be sprayed down with a hose. There are harsh penalties for getting my floors dirty. Ha! Tell me more about what you're seeing with the stairs. The bonus room will be a crafting room for me, so I'm not worried about large furniture needing to go up. It's mostly shelves and a couple of desks and a cutting table. All of those things will easily fit. Anything going in and out of the basement will pass through the quad sliders. What do you mean by the stairs don't appear to work? The rough estimates are 500-700K. We start getting hard numbers this month. The garage under is actually a very cost effective way of gaining space, and worth every penny. Thanks for all the comments, I'm going to look at making a few more tweaks, but I think it's FINALLY time to start building.

Thank you all for your kinds words. It's funny how long it takes to finish the little things and the coincidences that influence decisions. arlosmom, the bakery is unfinished, too. I will get some pictures up before long. It was your white kitchen that made me hang on to painted cabinets with a vintage look as well as your gorgeous sink. A precious inspiration! Thanks. cjc, Your kitchen is beautiful. QS oak could not have improved perfection. You are so lucky to have the old hutch. It was a beautiful inspiration for your kitchen, which has some brilliant design features. I love the microwave closet/cabinet and the cozy doggie crate. I understand how tough it is to make the choice. I was vacillating between stained cherry or oak and painted cabinets until I found the qs oak antique doors. Particularly the door into the garage that yelled, QS OAK, stupid! lol If I'd found a painted door, who knows? Judy

Localeater: I do! I feel like I'm in a spa or something. I've never had such a nice bathroom in my whole life. the Hansgrohe shower fittings are really nice, too. And the Kohler tub drain has a pop-up plug.. you just step on it and it opens and step on it and it closes. Who knew! If you want to clean it out, it unscrews so the days of the gross hair and yuk brass junk in the drain hole are over. I didn't even realize that till the other day so that was a nice bonus surprise.

I totally 2nd Aura bath and spa paint. I painted my master bath with that paint in Sherwood Tan over new year's weekend (my idea of fun!). Initially I was disappointed when my BM dealer said that the bath and spa paint only comes in matte finish. But from the time it went on the wall till now, I cant help admire the finish every time I look at it. I did two coats, and it is absolutely beautiful. I am getting ready to paint my guest bed in Baby Turtle, and will be buying Aura regular in matte for that as well.