Um I assume the area labeled garage is only the ancillary garage and not the main one? Your windows sound fine. One thing you might consider is having the windows come down to the countertop on either side of the range, but having the bottom parts frosted for privacy. As for your other things, let me take them one by one: Island - open to options, this is still an area being worked, but we expect to have a prep sink, microwave (if not matched with combi-steam oven on wall), trash/recycling, and seating for at least 5. I'm also debating a 15" or 24" induction cooktop on the island - open to thoughts on this, and how it would be utilized and be placed. With an island that is only 5' wide you only have room for 2 or maybe 3 if it's kids to sit at the island. Each butt needs 24". I'm also debating a 15" or 24" induction cooktop on the island - open to thoughts on this, and how it would be utilized and be placed. You absolutely do NOT want any type of cooktop on the island and especially one that is so small. Even induction needs good venting. Are you planning on having two vents? Appliances - still working to make final selections, but here are the current options: Range - most likely 36" Wolf (DF364G) or Blue Star (BSP366B), but debating 48" - think it'll be overkill with the induction cooktop and separate oven, but it looks cool...just not worth the extra money. We're committed to gas for the look, but I feel the love of induction here! I would forget the gas and go with a 36 induction cooktop and separate ovens for several reasons. 1. Do you really want your baby breathing in those gas fumes? 2. When your child is older, then you need to constantly watch your toddler to make sure they stay away from the range, and don't accidentally turn it on or burn themselves. 3. With induction, it's much easier to clean up. Would you rather be spending your time scrubbing grates and stovetops or playing with your baby? 4. Induction is more precise. 5. Since you have a grill outside, it's almost redundant. 6. It will be a heck of a lot safer when you and the kiddo start cooking together. Range Hood - size clearly depends on the range, but planning to go with VAH Wall Mounted Professional Series (or similar) with duct to ceiling. I've heard excellent things about the VAH and my sister is quite happy with hers. Induction Cooktop - open to advice here, but looking for a 15" to 24", and most likely in the island...this may be unnecessary and removed. See above where I explained you don't have room on your island and why I would go with induction only. Refrigerator - Thermador Freedom Columns (T30IR800SP and T18IF800SP) or SZ 48" built-in (BI-48SID/S). Another excellent choice. Oven/Warming Drawer - leaning toward the Miele Combi-Steam Oven (M6160TC) plumbed in, but still need to check out the options and get hands-on experience. Trying to match with the Miele warming drawer (ESW6680). Note: These aren't shown in the plans, but intent is to put them by the fridge on the side toward the range. Just make sure you don't put the warming drawer too low down or you'll never use it. Microwave - Sharp (SMD2470AS) - open to options here. I love my Sharp MW drawer and this is the one I'm getting for my new house. Realize that every MW drawer is made by Sharp so no reason for paying more for branding. Dishwasher - Bosch (SHX68T55UC) - may go higher end to get quieter, also need hands-on experience to confirm dishes fit, etc. Sink / Faucet - Rohl 30" Farmhouse (RC3018WH) and Kraus (KPF-1602-KSD-30) Prep Sink / Faucet - TBD, open. All fine. I would also look at the Franke Farmhouse sink. I think I like the look a bit better. As can be seen in the layout, we have a formal dining room, but that's not used as much today...we'll see how it evolves with the new home. We'll also have a table in the Sunroom to serve as a quasi-breakfast nook/eating area. Down the road, we'll add a patio, as well, with more seating and eating options. The formal dining room is far from the kitchen and if it's not used, why not turn it into an "away" type of room or a library or study for now. Then if your lifestyles change where you realize you need a more formal dining area you can turn it back into a dining room. Overall, IF you don't put an induction cooktop on the island, I like the overall plan. As long as you keep the prep sink on the island, I think it's a well thought out plan. The only change I can see offhand is to move the prep sink a bit over to the fridge so you have more space on the left of the sink for prepping.

@BT Great question and not to hijack this thread but since you asked: The hip roof has long span trusses and girders. My entire design was a slight overkill since we are also in a siesmic region. I wanted vast open span living and garage spaces with no posts or visible supports. Even though I subsequently enlisted a top local engineering company for their final design and stamp, I upgraded foundation and roofing members. The same design went into our 55' long and deep garages, creating a sense of open and free space. The foundation was another piece of engineering where I chose a post and pier foundation in the 5' high crawl space, and boy is it solid; it contributes to an extremely solid floor, on slab like foundation feel in the entire home.

Beth- I have been through a similar experience to what is going on here with a simple question ([mine[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/looking-for-feedback-on-ikea-kitchen-plan-for-new-construction-dsvw-vd~5253147) was on the kitchen forum) turning into a thread where suddenly you are inundated with critiques on a plan you loved. Our plan was very, very similar to yours. At first my husband and I just wanted to dig in our heels and go forward. After all, it wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough, right? After a few days we started trying to make some additional changes in order to address the issues mentioned here. Inadequate light, too much space devoted to walkways, etc. We had already had our plans engineered, and we really did not want to start over. I even started a [thread[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/i-didnt-realize-farmhouses-were-such-a-big-trend-dsvw-vd~5269101) in this forum as a sort of last ditch effort to convince myself that it would be ok. I did not post the floor plan this time because I was too afraid of what the feedback might be! I received a lot of helpful advice regarding farmhouses in that thread, by the way, so you should definitely check it out. These forums can be brutal, but you can also learn a ton by using the search tool and coming up with a list of books that are recommended here to help you as you undertake this enormous commitment. Some of them (A Pattern Language, The Not So Big House) I had read a few years ago, but went ahead ahead and re-read (or skimmed). Ultimately I came to the conclusion that I just could not go forward with the plan we had. It didn’t fit the lot. We could “do better,” as is said so often here. Is it painful to think about starting from scratch, especially since we have sold our home and moved into a smaller duplex already? Yes. Have I spent restless nights rearranging our house plans in my dreams (not to mention all day long in my head) trying to come up with a way to just make it work? Yes. But I feel like the thing that I would regret the most is going forward with a house plan that just wasn't right because I didn't want to spend the extra time and money upfront to get something that is "right." I am not saying that you have to come to the same conclusion, but I do hope you give some serious consideration to the comments on your thread, because they truly are trying to help you build a house that you will love for years to come. Often we "don't know what we don't know," and the posters here can bring issues to your attention that you may not have even considered. If you consider them and decide to go forward with your plans, at least you are going forward with your eyes open. Best wishes with your house!

We are farmers in IL and built our home a year ago. We also make almost every single meal. We put in soapstone in November and I absolutely love it. My definition of upkeep must be different. Oiling it as needed, which I haven't done for at least 2 weeks maybe 3 now, is nothing more than wiping on the oil and wiping it back off. We are definitely not careful with it. If you have cattle and you're calving in South Dakota I hope it is going better than it sounds. Even with the weather I'd move to South Dakota in a heartbeat if I could. I'm afraid my spoiled IL cows would not handle South Dakota though. Good luck on your new home!