Before you again consult a pro -- architect and/or builder -- do some work yourself.

Invest in a large pad of graph paper, preferably the ones that have tiny squares. (Some come with tiny squares within larger squares.). You'll also need a ruler, #2 pencils, (a blue lead pencil would be helpful for designating windows), and a good eraser and a pencil sharpener -- don't count on the pencil erasers being enough.

When you're drawing the floor plan of your entire existing home and the final plan, you can use each square as one foot; however, when you're drawing individual rooms or sections, you should have room to use one square as one inch.

Your first drawing should be the entire existing structure, with all the existing walls -- rooms and closets -- and all the windows and doors as well as all the plumbing fixtures and appliances -- kitchen and bath. Measure your outside walls from the outside. Make this first drawing without noting any changes wanted. You need to know what you actually have before you go further.

If you haven't already, draw all the wall lines double on the floor plan of your existing home -- both sides of the wall -- to represent the actual width and placement of the walls. Your walls are about 5" thick: studs, to which drywall has been added, are a bit less than 4" Pay attention to how the walls meet and how much room they take up. When this drawing showing what you now have is complete, keep it unchanged for future reference.

Now you can begin drawing the changes you want to make on other pages of graph paper.

While this seems like an unnecessary duplication of effort, I assure you, it isn't. It will help prompt you to clarify in your own mind what you do and do not like about your current residence and it will help teach you how to draw what you do like and want and how to convey that to a pro, be it architect or builder.

Trying to tell a pro you want a 12' foot room adjacent to a 12' room in a house that is overall 24' wide WITHOUT accounting for the inches the outside walls take up and/or the inches the wall in between the outside walls takes up can lead to misunderstandings and frustrations -- and wasted time and money.

Not understanding where the weight bearing walls are located and how they affect what is and is not practical can also lead to misunderstandings and frustrations -- and wasted time and money.

Once you know what you have, you can begin to make some practical decisions as to what you want. Remember some basics: When plumbing drains and supplies must be moved, that costs money. Keeping plumbing near other plumbing and near existing supply and drain pipes can save money.

Moving wiring also has economic consequences and moving walls can mean moving wiring.

Having bathrooms accessible open to living space rather than opening to a hallway or bedroom is not desirable.

When you have redrawn the existing floor plan, number each outside wall and identify the total measurement of each wall, measured from the outside. That's something not readable on your current drawings as the numbers are too light -- at least on my screen.

For your second and future drawings, begin by drawing only the outside walls of the home (with doors and windows) -- you already have those for copying. Add in all the interior weight bearing walls. Unless you plan to move bathroom plumbing fixtures, draw all of them in. Now you have the template -- the basic framework for recreating the plan of your home.

Note: It's a good idea to use index card stock (thicker than paper) to draw, to scale, the size and shape of all the furnishings you'll be keeping and using in your home. If you're going to be moving appliances and plumbing fixtures, draw them as well. When drawing your stove, it's a good idea to draw a 16" countertop on each side of it. [When drawing the refrigerator, you may want to include a 16" countertop on each side of it as well ... or vertical drawer -- whatever you plan to put in your redecorated home.] Cut out these shapes so you can set them on your drawings as you try different ideas.

When you've settled on a plan you like, drawn to scale, then you can post what I have and what I want drawings and/or make another attempt to discuss your vision with a pro.

Good luck in your endeavor.

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