Now, my question is...how have others incorporated existing additions into an older home remodel? Did you just tear everything out (or down) that was newer? Or did you try to incorporate the different elements into the remodel? I'd like to try to recognize the different stages that make up the 'story' of the farmhouse, but still keep with an overall theme. You start by getting a structural analysis of the current house. Can the older elements be saved? Because if it turns out that the addition done in the past is not structurally sound, why incorporate that element? And even if they can be saved, does it make fiscal sense to do so? Just because something was build in the past, does not mean the workmanship is better than what you would have today. My brother has a house that was build in the 1920's. There were some tough times in the 1920's. When he opens up his walls he finds all kinds of things - any type of lumber was used because they used what they could find. And insulation is nothing like what is available today. Unless you know that the finest workmanship of the time was used, you have to be prepared for anything. Then, you consider the other systems that go in the house and how those will impact the structure you are trying to save. How will new electric, plumbing, HVAC, etc. be tied into the old systems. What about insulation? Can these updates be incorporated without damaging the structural elements that you are trying to save? If you need all new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, does that mean you are demoing down to the studs? If that is the case, and you need a new roof and siding, then what is the value in staying with the footprint of the old house? Financially, does it make more sense to completely demo the building and start from scratch? I am not saying that this is the case for your house, but without having a complete structural analysis plus an analysis the of electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc. you cannot determine whether it even makes sense to save the house. Once those questions are answered, then you move on to design. At this point you ask if house layouts from the past work with the life you are living today. Some people don't have a problem living in layouts from the past, while others prefer open floor plans, wide doors, walk-in closets, larger laundry rooms, larger kitchens, heck larger rooms in general. And then there are the materials that go into building a house that looks like it is from an earlier timeframe. Are they still available today, at what cost, and are newer designs better? Changes in building systems/materials have usually been made for a reason. You have posted pictures of the 1920's sunroom windows that you like. When I look at them, I see single glazed multi paned windows that are very energy inefficient and a pain to keep clean. Different strokes for different folks, you probably wouldn't care for my house. You also have to figure out how much the current footprint of the house is limiting your ability to design the house of your dreams. If you are completely renovating a house, you are going to end up with a custom home. To me, a custom home means it is customized for the people who are living there. Being unnecessarily constrained by what was, is, imo, not the way to get to a custom dream home. If you don't feel constrained by the current house, than you don't have a problem. But since you have been at this for quite some time and haven't been able to finalize your design, it doesn't sound like the process is making a lot of progress. I suggest getting a complete analysis of the current house, then taking that information along with all your inspiration photos and ideas to an architect that specializes in old house renovations and getting a professional's opinion on how best to get to the goal of a dream home.

I've skipped along, but truly I'm gonna win this, hands down: What I hate is that I have NO KITCHEN (at least by modern standards). I mean that. I have no kitchen counters, no kitchen cabinets, a fridge in the adjacent pantry, and a damned woodstove plunk in the middle of the kitchen. No, I'm not cooking on a wood-fired stove - moved that puppy out to the barn the day we moved in - I cook on a gas-fired 48" double-oven 6-burner range, thank God! Lavendar-Lass, avert your eyes, please ..... I have an authentic pre 20th c kitchen where they used work tables, and unfitted furniture and open shelves to store stuff. My sink is a beat-up version of one of those metal sink cabs, with no counter beside it - just the single basin standing along the wall. The work table and chairs arrangement is soooo annoying and time wasting. Everything on the shelves that wasn't just washed, needs to be rewashed before use. And I have that #@$#%^&*!#@$%& WOODSTOVE in my kitchen that everybody stands around getting in my way all winter long. In short I have all those elements that folks seem to crave these days in a farmhouse/country kitchen. Except that it is all I have. These aren't style elements, these are the real deal and they are unbelieveably hard and inefficient to work with. So, since I can't move the woodstove position (and can't get rid of it since it is our only source of heat) nor do I want to be cooking in the room where everyone else always is, I'm picking up my kitchen and moving it elsewhere in the house. So there! I have agonized over this for years because it will be a radical reassignment of room uses in a very old, and otherwise intact mid-19th c house. But I've lived here more than 20 years and hope to live here another 20, and I'm going to have it my way, or else. L

gaonmymind- thanks for the mls link, it was interesting. I'm surprised that the RE agent didn't have nicer pictures taken, especially for home at that price point. I suppose that they are not permitted use the ones from the SL mag spread. As to why I don't want a closed of dining room instead, well I think the issue is that the mess is in the kitchen and I want to avoid seeing it from the dining room *and* elsewhere if at all possible. Closing off the dining room would only solve the problem while dining. I would still see the mess from the living room, the foyer, or pretty much anywhere else on the first floor. Closing off one small portion of the kitchen seems like an easy way to contain a good part of the mess to a small, less visible spot. For me washing dishes is drudge work no matter where the location. My proposed scullery has a window and will be just as nice as the kitchen so it's not as if I'm sending myself down to the dungeon to clean up. As far as space, I've always found dishwashing to be a one person task (that person being me) and even when the kids are older and do help, I imagine it will be more along the lines of asking them to unload the dishwasher or to simply load their plate- a one person at a time sort of thing. Even with their help, I'm fairly certain that I will still appreciate having an out of sight spot where I can place dirty pots and pans so that they don't bother me while I spend time with my family in other parts of the house. I'm still in the very early preliminary stages of planning our new build, so I have lots of time to figure how to make an open concept home work for me and our family. I've considered other ways, like a raised island and even a custom build hutch semi-separating the kitchen from the dining space. I may include those ideas along with the scullery, I'm not sure. For now though, I'm really intrigued by the idea of having a scullery space and I plan to continue tweaking my design. Thanks a bunch for all the comments, they've really given me something to think about.

A few things to consider: 1) is there any rot? if there is rot, you need to replace those pieces or potentially all the wood (depending on how bad it is). if it is just paint that wearing off, power wash the outside. let it dry and then, depending on your home, you can add siding, splitstone, or paint it any color you wish. Replace the screens. Screens have come a long way from when anyone of on here was born. The screens make it look dark and tired instead of warm and inviting. Instead you can buy or make your own invisible screens. depending on the grade, it's almost invisible to barely visible but it will instantly update it. Outdoor rug. What is more inviting than a nice soft rug. this is where I won't skimp. regular outdoor rugs are hard and coarse but more modern ones are quite a bit softer. Add a chandelier. It doesn't have to be fancy but it will make it wonderful to use at night and updates a space quickly. No outlet, no problem. Solar lights chandeliers can make this an easy fix. Install the chandelier to the ceiling. Next, drill a small hole in the porch wall to run the cord through. Then, attach the solar panel to the exterior. lastly, paint the cord leading outside the same color as the ceiling so it blends in.