thanks for all your suggestions. I'm just torn what to do - whether I should try to make this plan work or have him work up something totally different. My dh will probably kill me if I start over again. houseofsticks - you are right about all the porches. I don't really envision us using the front porch at all, but I do love the curb appeal it provides. but I could probably make it a little smaller to save $$. I'm also not sure about the back porch yet because he hasn't given me a back ext drawing to look at. I feel like we need to have something back there otherwise the whole back of the house is nothing but a flat expanse. I do love your porch pics - I have a ton of similar pics on pinterest :) kellhuck - I do really like your idea of creating more space in the mudroom but dh is already worried about sqfootage so I need to try to reduce things and not add any more (although I love your idea!) naf naf - thank you SO much for taking the time to email me your idea! that was so nice of you! I do like the ext with the breezeway and really need that extra hall space in the mudroom for my 3 kiddos' stuff (shoes, coats, backpacks. etc..) I'm going to try to do a built-in w/cubbies in that hall somewhere. but thanks again for your help! mydreamhome - thanks for your thoughts. I don't really need a table to fit that many people to eat. We're casual and many will probably just eat in their chairs or on the sofa or whatever we put out there. But I do need room for a least a 6ft table or so. I can't really run the porch around the back, because I want to be able to look out my kitchen windows and see yard, not the inside of my porch. My windows/sink will be on the back side of the house - not looking into the porch like he has them drawn. any other ideas? thanks again!

I'm going to suggest he hire the services of a design pro. Notice I said design pro. You said architect! The regulars here will note I usually say "Person or talent" as there are plenty of architects that I wouldn't trust to design a house for my dog. And I find it interesting that with the advent of CAD about 25 years ago there's been no huge leap forward in design quality. Ugly houses and houses that don't work very well are still being built everyday. Maybe more so as now anybody that buys a CAD program thinks they now have creative ability.

Bpathome, the rods separate from the middle (because they are expandable) so I slip off the curtains and neatly fold them, and store them with my linens and lay the rods along the drawer edge when they are not in use. I have a handheld laundry steamer, so when I want to pop them back on, I just give them a quick steam to look neatly pressed. The only sign of them when not in use, is a small (postage stamp size) magnet square that I permanently adhered to the doors top corners (because my doors are not metal). But I painted them white and they lay almost flush to the door (less than 1/8 thick) so they really do just blend right into the door.

Ways to screen and add variety without getting too busy. Colors and shrubs styles are arbitrary.