The table and the buffet are not the same set....The table looks like a nice maple of about 1935.....the buffet, looks like "tree wood" ( my words for nothing special) and cheap 1920's stuff. Around $120 where I live and the table about $150 to $175 around here.... Not really "antuique, more like vintage. Linda C

Ok, mighty. I just responded to every statement you wrote and then I lost it all. Very frustrating. In a nutshell, I agree with all of your suggestions. Some other changes I want to make...on the garage I'd like to bring the right side forward about a foot to offset the section like my inspiration picture. I didn't realize I could separate the existing windows and use traditional ones. Would you suggest repeating the same windows on the second floor? "Flaring of the shingles at the foundation or at a belt line could help too. A taller trim board at the head of the window and no flat trim board at the sill would help a lot. If the nail-fin window doesn't have a proper projecting sill (most don't) add a PVC sill nosing from ATW (see link). You could also add a small band molding to the outer edges of the jamb and head trim of the windows. You could also add a classical crown trim to the head to match all the classical pediments and cornice returns." Could you post some examples? I understand your link, but I'm not sure about the rest. No view, unfortunately. Just an obnoxiously huge window. I've seen 3 windows close together with the one in the middle a little bigger. I kind of like that. I can't find a picture though. That is a pathetic post on the porch. I'd like posts like the inspiration pic. Hopefully my builder can improvise. (breaking out into a sweat) "Why couldn't your architect figure out these basic architectural detailing enhancements from the photo you gave him/her? I suspect he/she not only skipped some courses but perhaps the NCARB exam." I'm not too impressed with the drawings. I like that he listened to our wants and needs and didn't just do what HE wanted, but...I was hoping for a WOW when I saw the drawings. We've waited many years to be able to afford this. I don't want to be satisfied, I want to be thrilled. Thanks for your input. Any other ideas are appreciated. mythreesonsnc - again I agree with all of your comments. Not sure why the architect didn't add these design elements. The front three double windows are existing. I'll post a picture of our "mobile home". This is what I've called it since we moved here. The rest of my neighborhood is custom homes. No two are the same. We bought for the location. Most homes are riverfront. If I could afford a teardown I would. Here is a link that might be useful: our Sears kit - mobile home :(

You're welcome. Can you put a lower counter below the one window on the left wall? If it's the right height for a baking counter, say 33", that would make a nice baking center for you. If that's possible, here's another idea. Move the DO to the lower end of the left wall with a pantry cab between it and the wall. Then add a lower counter below the window, spanning the distance between DO cabs and cabs on upper side of the left wall. Then turn the island perpendicular to its present position and shift it over to give you enough aisle space between perimeter cabs and island. Rhome has only 36" between prep area and cooktop and it works for her but most prefer 42". This eliminates the butt to butt problem of sink, DW and cooktop. On the backside of the island, go with a raised curved counter with seating facing the baking center. This eliminates the in-a-row seating that makes conversation harder and also provids a buffer between seaters and cooktop activity (a pop-up downdraft helps with that, too). These changes mean that fridge traffic no longer crosses the work zones so you can eliminate the undercabinet fridge. You can increase to a 36" fridge if you need more room. Oh, one thing just popped out at me. You wrote that you're doing standard depth fridge but your plan shows a fridge with CD dimensions. A standard depth fridge will stick out several inches more than you show. You could take the money you would have spent on a fridge and undercab fridge and get a CD fridge instead and gain more aisle space. I'm talking stand alone, not built-in. If the window doesn't allow for a 33" or 34" counter, you could still put one in front of it, just do a "floating" counter. A GWer did such a thing for her sink in an old house. Wish I could remember who it was.... It was clever and allowed her to put counter where one wouldn't think counter could go. Until I remember who it is, here's my recollection of how it works. She has cabinets up to the window sill, then open space in front of the window between lower cabs and counter. You could leave this clear or put baskets there for storage. The unfitted look would be appropriate for your old home's age. Heck, if this look works for you, you can go with standard height counters and have a really nice long counter run, perfect for baking prep.

Welcome to the forum Elizabeth! As you can see, we have a wealth of knowledge here. I would take a look at one of the sites on the internet to see what type of roses make your heart go pitter patter. For me, it us usually the David Austin (DA) roses. I love the full old-fashioned look. However, this year, singles and semi-doubles seem to make my heart skip a beat. David Austin has a site on the internet so you can see the color and form of rose. Heirloom also had a great site on the internet to look at pictures of roses as well. These sites will give you an idea as to whether or not the rose will do well in your area. That is important info to have from the get go. I too would start over and get something that will look pretty, do well in your area and that you love. Let me see if I can post some of my pictures on here of my DA roses. Munstead Wood Princess Alexandra of Kent Brother Cadfael (he gets very tall) Ambridge Rose