Thanks, daisy. Maybe it is the emphasis on functional & comfy that's keeping me calm. Good insight. There's a good chance the design aspect will turn out too busy, but it will be functional & comfy!

What was funny to me was some decisions that I'd had in the back of my mind for years changed in a snap: I'd dreamed of wide plank pine flooring, but saw a sample of mixed oak & said, "Hey, let's try that." Or the black granite counter tops I'd planned on -- changed to butcher block after flipping through a lumber store flyer that came in the mail (good enough, saves money). Did I spend hours online looking at examples? Nope. Very unlike our exterior remodel 7 years ago. Or when I painted the LR and spent months testing color samples.

I think it's a sign of confidence and realistic expectations. It is very admirable! Chasing perfection is no fun.

Hope you enjoy it. Post some pics!

You know what you're doing, that's why. You have confidence in yourself.

Ditto. Experience not just in the design but knowing you'll be able to fix anything that pops up. Maybe also now knowing perfect isn't something that actually exists? Maybe knowing things that seem like mistakes turn out later to be a positive?

Next project you start that you've never done before your own friend will be back. Always push.

I predict a total freak out when and if something doesn't fit properly

......ask me how I know......

lol, kswl! I know how you know : ) And I have been thinking of you lately, thinking how you were probably on top of every detail and had it all exactly visualized: Field Marshall kswl2 directing the construction troops!
Wonder how aktillery is doing? I've also been thinking of her. To cut down on costs, we are not planking our vaulted ceiling like she is (fabulous job she is doing, too). Hope that won't look odd.

Ha ha! My kids used to call me General Mom, Awm03, usually in front of their visiting friends when I showed them the list of approved snacks on the fridge door!

Seriously, I do think it helps quite a bit to close your eyes and visualize walking into the room, being in it and using it. By the time your furnishings arrive or come out of storage they will be very easy to place in the room because you have seen it in your mind's eye so many times. (And of course it helps a LOT when someone has already told you where the furniture is to go!)

So long, old family room. Thanks for the memories:

That's not a remodel, that's a gut job! Holy cow! Are you still in zen mode?

Believe or not, daisychain, yes. And we've hit a few glitches: the mouse droppings underneath the floorboards were unbelievable. We all should have died from hantavirus by now. We're pretty sure the droppings were very old, as we've never heard any mice activity in the years we've lived here, nor seen any elsewhere in the house, and we've had good mouser cats for 19 years. But, omg, YECHHH!!! The downside to living in the country: critters. Today was spent cleaning that up.

And the old air conditioner installation, we now see, is a total goof job. It's leaking again. DH says to rip it out and install a better quality one correctly.

But la de da. Hey, the Tour de France is on TV! My favorite sporting event.

I love your inspiration room, and I really like room just as it is now. You can't go wrong.

PS Between my pool permit that took 9 weeks, and a lot of ambiguity about what we can build in our carriage house, I am the repository of remodeling angst on your behalf. There is only so much angst in the universe, after all.

Awm, how exciting! (Except for the mice droppings, eeek!) Can't wait to see it unfold.

Mtn, what is happening with the carriage house? I'd love it if you posted an update.

pool & carriage house -- now, that would give me angst too. I will beam soothing thoughts your way, mtnrd. I'm sure your creations will turn out beautifully.

One of the benefits of aging, from what I hear.

How exciting awm! This will be fun watching the process.