Keep storage over garage. To install flooring over the living space you would compress the insulation and you need what you have in texas! I like to screw the plywood decking down in case you ever need access to anything below. Size of framing is important, because of weight/span. I don't think anyone starts putting stuff in the attic with the idea of storing a lot of stuff..but a lot of stuff sure finds its way there over the years. Always be careful working in the attic, Make sure there is enough light to see where you rest you tools and put your feet. oh,,,and cut plywood in half two 8x2' pieces so that it goes easily into the attic. I have to cut into 4x2 because it is heavy,,but your big guy wouldn't have that issuel best of luck.

I think you need to go into Word, Excel, or whatever program you use and make a list of everything you need to store. Do you have lots of oil and vinegar bottles and need a big pull-out for them? Do you need a big trash-sized container for rice or pet food? Do you have lots of canned goods that need low-height storage, or flours and pastas that need more head room? The dish storage opens up a whole can of worms related to where your sink, dishwasher, and refrigerator are. I saw your other thread on your layout - not sure if you've finalized it? Once you've decided for sure where your appliances are going, it'll be easier to figure out dish storage. It helped me to color-code my dish groupings (prepware in green, bakeware in brown, cookware in red, everyday dishes in blue) and assign a place for them around the kitchen. Give each drawer or cabinet a letter and number: for example, Pantry Pull-Out 1 (P-PO-1), Pantry Pull-Out 2 (P-PO-2). Play around with assigning your foods and dishes to different locations, in your table. It helps to have a print-out of your plan, with the codes written in. This sounds like a lot of work, but it feels good to do it. My apologies if I went over-the-top. :) Cate

Thanks for your thoughts. I'll try to answer your questions. There are so many places (5 tables) to eat in this house we actually discuss where we are eating supper every night! On the front porch-- in the small DR-- at the upstairs table-- or by the TV? The dining room is just used as a practice room. Loosing the designated DR will hardly be noticed. There is a seldom used fireplace room ~21'x 13' with lots of windows that can be set up for larger extended family dining when necessary. The DR room will be turned into a bedroom. We need another bedroom because in our ~3000sq ft house we only have two bedrooms. Hope you can make sense out of all that. The small dining area at the end of the kitchen will be great for 2-6 people. But even then it will be used maybe once a week. I flipped the two rooms because I crave light and views outside; my ideal house would be on a big country lot. Anyway, this way the prep area is all windows, and that is where I will spend nearly all my time. DH will hang out in the 3-season porch and with the kitchen windows open, we can talk when he is around. I'm sure we will eat on the porch most evenings. Access to the garden and a shorter trip from the garage to the kitchen and laundry to kitchen are also big pluses. I like it much better than the first layout. Anyway, there are only 40 inches between the support wall and the DR wall. That is not enough room for the 36" cooktop.

Hi Colleen! I would love to see pictures as you go through your master bath remodel! I'll eventually be remodeling my main bathroom and the 1/2 bath in the master. In the main bath I'm taking out the tub/shower surround and replacing with a "petite" claw foot tub, no shower. New toilet, new vanity/sink, and a small baker's rack for extra storage. Putting in a medicine cabinet/mirror, frosting the window so I don't need a window treatment, and a new towel rack. Also new flooring, paint, fan, light. I'm not sure what I'm doing in the 1/2 bath, except I know I'm stealing a little room from the bedroom to put in a walk-in shower. SO...I'd love to see your progress and hear about the whole experience! Do you have colors and flooring, etc. picked out yet? Haha! Cathy--so true about the garden tub. :-)