June, People shouldn't have to hit the "ENTER" key when typing a post. Instead, people posting pictures should be aware of the image sizes that they are posting within the threads and not post images that are so large that they will require everyone reading the entire thread to scroll. As Jel was saying above, people have different screen resolution settings on their computers. I just looked up some statistics, and as of July 2006 (according to w3schools.com), 58% of Internet users have their screen resolution set to 1024x768, 17% have their screen resolution set to 800x600 and 19% are set higher than 1024x768. Changing your screen resolution is not too difficult, and you can play with it to see how it affects what your looking at on your computer. Here are some quick directions: While your desktop is visible, right click and select Properties from the options that appear. The Display Properties dialog box will appear. Select the Settings tab from across the top. In the area for Screen Resolution you will notice a slider bar that you can drag left or right to change your screen resolution. Once you change the screen resolution, select the Apply button in the bottom-right corner. You may see a prompt that says something like "Your desktop has been reconfigured. Do you want to keep these settings? Reverting in X seconds". Select "Yes" (you can always change it again). Now, open up a browser window to see the affect. However, knowing what screen resolution most people are using doesn't take into account that not everyone has their browser window maximized. If the window is not maximized, horizontal scrolling may be necessary even if the images are not too large. It is probably a safe assumption that if your images are sized to be no wider than about 750 pixels, most people viewing the thread with your picture will not have to scroll horizontally to see the picture or all of the text within the posts. Simply adding the "width="XXX" as Jel mentioned will cause the image viewers see in your post to resize, but the image that is being called from PhotoBucket (or wherever your images are hosted) is still the original size, and the file size can still be quite large. The file size is different from the actual image dimenions being viewed. Large file sizes for images can cause the posts to take a long time for people who do not have a high-speed Internet connection to download. The best bet is to resize your images appropriately before uploading them to PhotoBucket. You will not need to include the width code, and the actual file size of your image will be much smaller. ~Angie

Dekeoboe, Thanks for posting those images within the thread. For the stools, we'll probably change the 8 stools as shown to 5 stools (one on end and two on each side) since we have 5 in our family. Lafdr, Thank you for the many comments. Our lot is 2 acres, but we probably only have about 1.2 buildable acres because of the pond and woods. Also, the lot is much deeper than it is wide so we don't have a ton of width to the lot but I appreciate the thoughts about getting more windows/natural light (which is important to us). Think we'll go ahead with the Jack N Jill bathroom. I'm guessing that the doors won't be locked much. For the stairway, we're picturing an open staircase something like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/nemo-contemporary-staircase-orlando-phvw-vp~3745201) [Modern Staircase[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-staircase-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_745~s_2105) by Winter Park Home Media Design & Installation Storch Entertainment Systems So we wouldn't be able to locate the coat closet under the stairs if we opt for something like that. Still not sure on what we want to do for the sitting room. Would you remove the walls and just have a wider bedroom? We're still debating the advantages and disadvantages of the sunken room. We think it will look cool, make it easy to transition from tile in the foyer/kitchen to hardwood in the great room, and give us another 14" in ceiling height in the great room, but we understand the safety issues and some of the functionality issues that could arise. bpathome, We appreciate all comments that improve the functionality of our home. We will flip the pantry. pixie, We'll make the changes to the kids closets. Good ideas for other possibilities for that 6x8 extra space in the one bedroom. I'll discuss with my wife. You're right - we may want to add a door to the closet. I'd like to shorten the closet a little but don't know how with the current layout because we want to maintain a wall for the covered patio. Excellent idea for changing the mudroom door to enter into the hallway across from the pantry. That will give us access to the mudroom if we enter the other garage door also. My wife loves that idea and is now asking why I ever drew it the other way :). Switching to 5 stools should solve the issues with space in the island right? Yes, that circle is a fire pit. Against code to have fire pit under an enclosure? Bummer. Scrapbook and kirkhall, Thanks for the notes about the pocket door. We'll be moving that doorway to open across from the pantry. Thanks all and please keep the comments coming!

dibgar I understand your indecision about the dining room table. We also will have a dining room in the same space as the great room. I didn't want to put a chandelier because of the position of the dining table in relation to the entrance as people come in from the foyer. So I think what I will do is put 2 sconces on the wall next to the table (I don't know if you have room for that) and then put a can and 2 halogens on each side of the can (as recommended by Whitehead. In your situation can you consider a chandellier that is drapped across the ceiling from the wall (portable type). So in the event you move your table you can move your chandelier. Or else, have you thought about a round table. I think it might take up the space better than the rectangular one on an angle. That way you could put a can and even if you move the table, the can won't seem out of place (maybe.) I'm no expert on this lighting stuff and am learning as I go. I am just trying to use common sense and practicality to get me through the process. Try posting on the decorating forum. Those people have tons of ideas on everything. Good luck.

Nice to see "Happy Campers".. was was hopeful as the load, long time as it was, seemed to load everything, all my history and some rather old drivers, e.g., Palm Desk Top. But over a short time, must be about the start of this thread date, the whole computer has bogged down, not just browser, both Firefox and IE, I'm not using the newer whatever-browser, but even the WiFi interface. I try to remember to shut down my WiFi when I am done, but leaving the computer on. Then I click on the wireless Icon and click connect. It is not a click, click, click operation, long (what 5+ seconds or longer) delay getting to each click. Wasn't that way in the beginning. I use a password as that is port of the IE security for saved passwords, I use a master pass word on Firefox.. suppose that's the problem? Wasn't in the beginning. Just before this exploration and gripping Firefox forgot all, I mean all, its personal data. I did a refresh on Firefox, then a restore on Windows 10, still total amnesia for Firefox. I have backup on a flash drive, but haven't plugged that in to recover. Seems houzz log on survived, must be something at the houzz end, not Firefox memory. On Linux, I used the Ubuntu GRUB to set up the dual boot, and right now I don't recall what the problem is... maybe it too slowed down, maybe there's something wrong with my mental clock too high an expectation. That possibility noted, I did some blogging on the Ubuntu forum, now a member, and there was some agreement on the problem. I have considered using XUbuntu to resurrect a XP Dell desktop that is very sick. But rather than dual boot, thinking using a USB Hard drive as the boot for XUbuntu and leave the Windows boot loader in tack. I think that leads to my too slow peeve. I suppose I may have problems with drivers too with Ubuntu.. I want to run my laser printers for one thing. The one dual boot I have worked "out of the box" with my WiFi.