Simply amazing. Yep, you guys are right. Especially you Calbay, I mean you researched windows for a whole year, you're definitely an expert. I've been polite up to this point, but if you want to mock me for simply having conversation and expressing my opinion (oh my gosh, oh no, someone has a different opinion than me, I better spend the next hour on a website where I have absolutely no accountability formulating a mildly humorous and rude response) then let me tell you how I really feel. I mean are you kidding me? Did I try to sell you something? What if I did? Oh my God, that would be the worst thing to ever happen, you could actually end up buying something. And, what if you ended up actually buying a really good product, or a really good idea? And what if the idea or product actually turned out to be great? But what if it cost more than you thought it should or would? Putz. Where are all your test specifications and results? Did you perform all of those tests in your secret lab? I mean, you claim to be just a homeowner. Where did you get all your information that is so much better than mine? I've based ALL my information on credible industry experts. From which sources did you form your own 100%, absolutely correct, no one can have a different opinion, OPINIONS that you now stand behind so arrogantly. Tell me this Mr. I'm just a howeowner who researched for a whole year: IF 2770!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS say it costs $1044 per opening for a midrange vinyl window, why are you so so upset that mine costs a whole $100 more???????????????? Do 2770 experts all have it wrong too? And why in God's name do you keep saying money is no object and then continue to cry about that fact that good vinyl windows are expensive? Yep, you are brilliant, after all, earthquakes jump right out of the stinkin' ground and impact windows (I've actually seen earthquakes before that throw rocks at windows), so why bother having a fusion-welded window sash that can withstand 2500 pounds of pressure when you can have a really good wood one that, yes, a person can pull apart with their bare hands, at least if they're really, really, super strong like me. When your house is shaking violently from an earthquake, you could put one of your bullet proof windows in front of your other bullet proof windows to keep all the projectiles from impacting your sashes. That way when the windows fall apart, atleast they won't be all dented and stuff. Are you nuts? You claim that I am generalizing my information even though I am the only one, with the exception of Oberon, who is actually giving very specific information! "Generalization is often the first hint of a sales pitch." What on earth are you talking about? Is there something wrong with somebody selling something? You claim to have actually bought windows, which means that somebody actually SOLD YOU WINDOWS dummy. I ask again, what am I trying to sell you? The fact that good vinyl windows are worth more than you think they are? So what if I was selling you that idea and I was wrong, do you think you're helping anyone reading this? Wood windows are a lot more expensive, in general, than vinyl. Yeah, even the expensive vinyl's are less than wood covered in vinyl. So what's your point? What are you so mad about? It doesn't seem like you would really want anyone to buy vinyl windows. What are YOU hiding? What stake do you have in this conversation? Do you sell crappy wood windows? Did you spend too little on crappy vinyl windows that fell apart? Or are you just a "concerned" homeowner who, after a whole year straight of research, has nothing better to do than butt in on an otherwise productive debate? If you're upset because I mistakenly used your name in a previous post, then I apologize and you should get over it. I can hardly believe you accuse me of generalizing and trying to "sell" something when I can not find one useful post from you on this entire site. You obviously think I'm a sales person, and you're dead wrong. But what if I was, is that really a good reason to get personal. Whatever dude, you're silly. You should put a patent on your super duper window and then sell it for free. Hey Skydawggy, heh, heh. Way to go buddy. You and Calbay make a perfect couple. Yeah, but before I do the model home drop, I bump the price. It's called a bump and drop. Heck man, there's no other way I could make a window worth $1100. Yep, we just make it all up. The things are only worth about $50 and we mark them up 2,200 percent. We are the most profitable company in the universe. I grossed $150K last year, how bout you? You guys are silly. So. . . anyway. . . if there's anyone else reading this who wants to jump in this otherwise useful debate and personally attack me for voicing my opinion (which IS backed by fact), after you get done chuckling to yourself in your pathetic heh, heh's, why don't you at least throw in something that might be useful for the OP.

Thats a good price for the Okna patio door, its as solid as a rock. You will enjoy that door for decades. The OP pricing was ridiculously low even for 6 years ago. Prices have gone up a lot since 5-6 years ago, particularly this year with all the shortages on materials and other supply chain issues. You are getting good pricing. stay away from home depot or lowes, not sure you would like the quality. I am not a fan of andersen or pella.

Great idea about the foamcore Kippy, that would be fabulous and so much easier than painting. I'll give that some thought. I need to get bold, there are so many amazing paints out there. Everytime I go to Home Depot, there is a new line of metalic spray paints. jlc712, I think that the bookcase is where I can make the next biggest impact in the room. I hate to get rid of our beloved Little House on the Prairie set, but if I find a niece to send it too, that will make the parting a little sweeter. Maybe if I thin out some movies I can store books below in the cupboard. My audiophile husband loves his sound equipment, however. To think, I can't turn half of it on! Great idea about the calendars. Clever and budget-savvy. So hard to throw away those beautiful calendar pictures. I've got to put 9 frames of something above the fireplace. That wreath comes down this weekend, its the Feast of the Presentation so the time has come. Maybe I'll find 9 pictures of the Blessed Mother to frame. There is an endless number of painting of her, and I could gaze at those forever. Of course, my husband would want pictures of National Parks, so I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do. Tibbrix, you are right, this big room needs big furniture. The coffee table is 48" and the sofas are 72" so it gives a foot on each side to sit. Remember, we walk behind the sofas, in front of them, beside them AND we chase Captain around the room! It's really a dog run, I guess. I would have loved to buy large English-arm three cushion sofas and lovely accent chairs, but it's the fact that we move the loveseats (sometimes daily) to watch television or play video games. I know this seems crazy. We only have one functional TV. With seven kids on board (well one is gone but we still have her bedroom that she shares with a sister), all of our rooms are full of kids. I figure that when the time comes to change the furniture once again, I have seven people who would love free sofas. ; ) Need to work on paint, don't have a budget for that now. Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies. It means so much to hear your opinions. -Cupofkindness

This: A lot of people hate moderns [....] and this: I designed this floor plan thinking of [...] resale. Are incompatible, unfortunately. :-( If you go too far outside the norm for your area, you either have to (1) ignore resale, or (2) compromise on what you want. I totally get this. :-) My family is weird, so I'm prepared to ignore a few resale elements in order to tailor my future custom home to us. Architectural style isn't one of those things, because it's a huge part of "falling love" with a house for most people, and for a lot of folks, buying a home is an emotional thing. It not only affects my house, but all of my neighbors, as well, when they go to sell their houses. [...] I also need to have a home that will A) be attractive to a family for resale purposes [.... and...] Let’s roommates have their own cooking space in the short term, and if resale ever happens, opens me to a wider pool of buyers. Designing a single family residence for a typical family, and designing a single structure for a roommate situation/apartment/duplex, require 2 very different -- and often incompatible -- approaches. Instead of putting everything all under a single roof, explore the idea of having a detached casita/mother-in-law house/granny suite in back. This would help keep your main house at a size comparable to your neighbors' houses, while giving you *and* future buyers the flexibility of either renting the "house out back," housing adult children/extended family, or keeping it locked up with minimal maintenance/heating/cooling costs during vacancies.