NewHB: Thanks!! The flowers and herbs (both in pots and in the garden) have actually managed to stay alive this year -- thanks to slightly cooler (and now chilly! LOL!) temperatures around Dallas! The silk flowers in the large half-basket have been replaced with fall ones -- always a nice change! Of course the front door area is now filled with spooky Halloween decor! LOL!

He suggested black crown moulding in the kitchen, or a black "light shield" under the cabinets. Neither is my cup of tea. I actually have dozens of oversized black picture frames (thank you IKEA Ribba) from my previous house. And some jet black furniture (thank you husband's bachelor pad). Thanks for validating my gut instincts! :D

You want something with a standard AAMA2605 finish on the exterior aluminum ..interior black finish can be done in WeatherShield Contemporary Series and Premium Series..Plygem also has it on their Mira series if you want to work toward a lower budget but their exterior standard finish maybe a AAMA2603 or 04..Marvin Integrity is not alum clad but Ultimate is and their finish is 2605..Jeldwen and Andersen black ext and black interior might be higher priced than you think in their alum clad lines. Look at Contemporary Series from WeatherShield it has thinner profiles and a squared clean look inside that will match well with the Lacantina doors (use Contemporary Clad series multislide) they will pair nicely in my opinion

I know shed dormers are the “typical” dormers on capes but what do you all think of the way the house looks with these dormers? The celiling will be very high in what will be a rather small room. The shed dormer would have a low celiljng and make the room feel even smaller?