Also PPS7 - We thought for a long time about powder room placement when it came to the house plans.. We saw many ideas on where people put them but for the most part the options we were seeing was to either A) put it in the foyer area of the home, B) put it off the kitchen, or C) put it off the dining room.. After giving it some thought we really didnt like the idea of putting the powder room off of any of the eating areas.. We also didnt like the idea of putting it in the foyer.. The idea of walking into a home and bam there is the bathroom.. Again its personal preference but we just like the idea of having it more tucked away.. We were actually goign to not even have a mudroom but personally I hated the idea of walking directly into a main room of the home, whether it be the foyer, living room, kitchen, etc.. I like the separate entrance.. And honeslty the most I see being stored in that room is coats and shoes.. However we were thinking of reworking this area as we would like a side entrance into the home.. We were thinking of moving the mudroom to where the powder room is and then putting the powder room where the entry door from the garage is located and doing a powder room that is narrower so that when you open the door you have toilet on left and sink on right.. But again we do like the current setup.. Here is what it would look like:

ozzy and teedup- I completely agree with you about the drapes coverthing the trim. However, my problem is that the trim runs right up against the side walls, so I cannot extend a rod over the trim on each side. I went out looking for a tension rod so the drapes could go all the way to the end, however the only ones I could find had a polished brass finish or a silver finish, which would not go in this space. I am going to keep my eye out for one in an antique brass and I think that would correct the problem of the trim showing. After living with the space for a few days, everytime I walk up the steps, I smile. So for now, I do not think I will change much. I have decided that I do like the lamp in the middle, so it will stay there. I may play around with some other accessaries on each side of the lamp. Maybe a stack of old hardback books. Thanks again for all of your suggestions!!!

Enduring: the game room is actually the original house dating to 1790. The part with the kitchen is the addition :). Game room is about 12 x 14 with only one 6 foot segment of uninterrupted wall. 100 years ago, it was the dining room and our current dining room was the 'front' parlor, but we dont' really feel a need for a front parlor these days. Palimpsest: Good idea to check out old design books. Haven't been to the local library lately, but would be good to see some things that aren't just today's style since I don't want to get too stuck there anyway. The contractor I plan to use seems to have a tendancy to make things a bit more finished than suits my taste (why would I need trim around a wall oven--oh yeah, that's how they make money :) ), so I need to prepare myself to push back and allow the space to be a little funky. Aliris: I was playing around with that pennisula idea too after Rosie suggested one coming out from the other wall. It actually works pretty nicely as it doesn't obstruct the main traffic route for guests from dining/living to guest bath and doesn't obstruct the windows. It does result in a lot less counter space and storage however than island plan and I really want that counter space! Chris 11895: Yes, I've had the home depot kitchen designer and three different contractors (2 only do kitchens) on site. You guys have come up with everything they did and a good bit more. Thanks! Thanks to everyone for all the ideas. I'm really glad I listened to that gut feeling that something wasn't quite right and asked for help. Without the push, I never would have mocked up that chimney and discovered what a bad idea it was. Nor would it have occured to me that I could move the counter just far enough off the window wall to allow for light and cleaning rather than making it a tight passageway. I'll need to figure out what goes back there (shelves? table?), but that's something I can play around with once the counters are in. So, I think at this point I'm very happy with that idea. It leaves me with a comfortable width galley, lots of counter space, and I get to keep my kitchen table and radiator, which are my favorite parts of the kitchen as it is now. I know some of you despair at putting anything even partially in front of the windows, but believe me, when they are through the whole house you realize that the other option is having no furniture! We have a couch set up like this in the living room: sofa table behind it between the two windows and then sofa is a couple feet out from the window wall. It still leaves the light and windows visable, but makes the room functional. I have an appointment to order cabinets next week, so I'm going to move on to the next set of decisions. I'm sure some of those will lead to a few more questions! And yes, pictures will be forthcoming in a few months.

I just reread your OP.... those 2 top sections with the grilles are meant to be a design feature.. they are not meant to be covered. Again, that is why you see that natural break within the window as a whole. No shutters, nothing unless glare is a problem, and it doesn't appear to be. Just because it is a window does not mean it has to be covered. It's like those ridiculous 80's palladian windows. Or, more accurately, the overuse of them and the often inappropriate placement of them. Quite often on the same house. Someone thought they were fabulous looking, they were certainly new and different and modern to anyone who didn't know how long they have been around.. as wrong headed as that was, they were right in treating the upper sectioned off palladian part as a design feature, meant to be admired and not covered up. There were all kinds of atrocities hung as window coverings on the curved upper part. I think there were home sewers who probably made a small fortune in fussy chintz ruffles and such. Also, no swagged over, anywhere. Panels, straight panels. With all the unevenness, you have even less wiggle room, design wise, trying to swag them. Plus, I think swagged is very, very outdated. As outdated as those covered, ruffled, ruched and swagged palladians look/looked and what your nice looking tall windows will look like if you cover them with anything meant to be a design factor. Think about that. Outdated before you even get started. The natural break also makes it easier to decorate around... all that soaring height. The one clean line the rods are seen as will act as a stop. That is another reason why the top section was meant to be a design feature. Because it isn't easy to see actual space between all the windows and trims and doors, you will have to play around with the configuration of the panels. For instance, you might want to leave the space between the tall windows and the start of the fireplace stone free of panels on that side of those windows. But, the far right tall window looks to be butting up to the door frame so you'd have to figure that into the equation. Likewise, the far left set of windows.... not much room for a stack, but one panel on the left side. Also, the triple window could just have a right and left side panel.. I wouldn't put panels on the small space divide between the 3 windows... it would defeat the purpose of your nice clean line above, and it would make that space look choppy. But you could go with 2 panels, 1 at the end of that triple and another one running right up to the outside of the tall window to act as the bookend to the other one sided panel on the right side tall window. If these were my windows, I would consider using modern grommet panels. They take a bit of time learning how to hang them, but they are the best solution for a row of uneven windows. I know, because I have just gone through the same design dilemma. And again, that natural break did you more than a design favor... it will also do your wallet a favor... you won't have to go with expensive custom drapes. That break will allow you to buy standard 84 inch long off the rack drapes. Retail. I was able to get 12 panels, bought as 2 panels to a pair, of beautiful faux silk dupioni for 150 dollars. 24.99 a pair. I like these drapes so much, I bought them for all my other windows with a couple of extras in case I want to change them out because of color.. Not for the 12 panels.... that color will not be changing. I'm in no hurry to spend 150 bucks again and the color, a burnt orange with an almost metallic sheen were bought to coordinate with new furniture and 4 throw pillows i had bought way before I ever had the furniture. I just knew what my colors would be..grays with this burnt orange with eggplant added into the mix. And because these grommet panels do take a "getting the hang of them period" no pun intended.. I found myself short 2 panels... mostly because I decided that I would, in fact, sometimes need to close these drapes to block the sun (hardly ever except a certain time of the year, late fall here in Florida in late afternoon) or for night time glam. Seriously, I don't throw around the glam word easily or often, but they do look fabulous. Sexy, even. Anyway, these grommet types can be hung at differing widths depending on your needs and window shapes and spaces without looking wrong. Plus, the fact that they are easily moved, pulled open, closed or anything in between makes grommet top panels the best solution. Really, they whip across the rod so easily Good luck with your room!