I love it- very nicely done. Our floorplan is very similar. I think it will live very well. We go through the Mudroom to get to our covered patio and it's no problem. But we can also go though our dining as our 2 patios are connected. I cannot imagine asking guests to go through our Mudroom. I would consider a single 42" front door instead of the double door. there doesn't seem to be any breathing room between the door and stairs. As far as the large sticking out garage- here are a few brainstorming ideas. How about leaving the kitchen, dining, family room and master as is, but putting the master bath in front of the master bedroom, shifting the office/ guest, entry, craft room the right, putting the garage to the right of the kitchen/ Mudroom and the screen porch behind the garage. Do you really need a 3 car attached garage? or is the 3 rd garage for lawn mower, bikes, tools, gardening etc? Would you consider having a single detached garage. It seems like you have plenty of land. Or we did 2 side entry with one forward facing garage set back. both attached.

Window4U is actually a very good contractor by the name of Dave that runs probably the most well respected window replacement company in Chicago. His phone number is on the website as well. I suggested several brands in my previous post. The 4 brands that you have looked at so far are average at best and all high pressure sales organizations. You will get long sales pitches that start with vinyl windows costing over 1K per unit and drop as you haggle. That is an exhausting process and especially if you consider that the 4 windows that they would try to sell you are middle of the pack at exorbitant prices.

Thanks - I'll touch base with Dave. I'd read good things about him on this board (and am interested in Okna), but as his location is nowhere near me, I wanted to go into a few showrooms first. Here's a question - I like the look of the existing aluminum sliding door and it works. Should I replace it? Will it take 20 years (or more?) to recoup the costs via energy savings from a better sliding door? I'm concerned about energy savings, and also with the fact that anything in front of the sliders fades (as we don't get a ton of light, I don't prefer window coverings). I'd hope that a new door would have some kind of UV protection. We don't currently use the door much and could put plastic over it in the winter. We are mostly gutting the room that it's in, though, so now would be the time to replace it. What's the way to go? THANKS.

I had 32 Alside mezzo Windows install. The windows are not bad but the contractors that they have are horrible. You have to be careful because people will say that they are "Alside certified" and will rip out your windows and screw the new ones in sideway then run for the hills... One of those companies Oakland Construction or Orchard 10 is another name they go by also...