toomuchclass, you asked about the other homes on our street and in our neighborhood. We have quite a mix of architecture on our street. It's an old subdivision and some of the houses sit on 1/2 acre of land and have been there a lot of years. They are designed like ours in the old fashion Acadian style, but are about 4 times as large. LOL Some look like mini plantations. Just a few blocks away are a few full size plantation homes. The town we are moving too is close to the Mississippi river and the River Rd. as it's called is lined with some plantations from the 1800's. One of the most famous is just 1/2 mile from our house. It's a tourist attraction now. Then we have some newer homes that look like they belong in California, huge 2 story adobe's with palm trees lining the circular drive. Then we have the average 1 story ranch style. We even have a couple of gingerbread victorian styles. We are on the main street of the subdivision and some of the lots are quite large so that gives people the option of building really big if they want to. So it's quite a mix. I believe our house is most probably the smallest one though. There is a minimum sq. ft. required by the subdivisions covenant and we went with the minimum because we didn't want a huge house for the 2 of us. Just more to heat, cool and keep clean. There is no other that looks exactly like ours and I guess that's why people stop to compliment us on the style. Everyone comments on our unique roof. Today the young folks aren't looking to build this style of house so it's pretty unique to see one like it coming up in the subdivision. All the ones coming up are large California style houses/mansions. The house just next door to ours is a 2 story brick. I'm not even sure of the style, it's just a plain 2 story house. Directly across the street from us is a huge mansion of 2 stories with beautiful gardens that circle the entire property. Houses like that one surely won't hurt my property value. HA! HA! It's such a lovely scene to walk out my front door and see that house. Nothing like what I have to look at right now. Not pretty at all!!! An abandoned house, a victim of Katrina and no insurance.

Because the windows are such strong (and different sized) rectangles...what about something round? A vintage plate or platter? https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Antique-Transferware-Ironstone-Staffordshire-Round-Platter-Ashworth-Flying-Bird/113101551095?hash=item1a5560b5f7:g:W8MAAOSwWHZa4PBb https://www.ebay.ca/itm/VINTAGE-GOLD-IMARI-Large-SERVING-PLATTER-PLATE-Hand-painted-Japan/121897631329?hash=item1c61aa3e61:g:J~QAAOSwqu9VCd0g

Thanks for your research, raven. Guess I'll have to enjoy them as they were meant to be!! I have pain in my hands. My husband bought me a first generation Kindle when I was traveling with him on business, before that I would go to charity shops and buy ratty paperbacks for .50 or so. I didn't have my own laptop then. We worked in Europe, so our checked bags (2) could weigh 50 lbs. each. I took loads of paperbacks and just left them behind. More room for ceramics, food and kitchenware on the way home!!

First off, my condolences and I agree if you are not planning on selling now, give yourself the time to grieve and push this to the back burner. And if you are staying in the home, definitely keep what works for you. I'm a realtor, in Pittsburgh suburbs so your market may differ. I would talk to your contractor and obtain a bid for closing off the door. I have no idea what tiling or finishes this may impact, but this sounds like a small job. If and when you decide to sell, have the agent share the estimate with potential buyers if they push back on this. Sometimes buyers are scared off because they think something will cost a lot of money and really have no idea. I recently used this strategy for a listing that lacked a first floor powder room. Estimate was about $7000 and sharing this helped.