NaviJen, pleased to see you posting with us. Mass. is a whole different style of housing than what I'm used to in Alabama. Like lower ceilings, big basements, storm windows, dormers, angled ceilings upstairs. And I've been surprised at the absence of air conditioning (a necessity built into every home in south Alabama), and the intrusive nature of many heating systems--including radiators, baseboard heaters, boilers and oil tanks! Those things take up a lot of space and money to operate also. As older folks who married almost four years ago (second spouses), my DH has a home up there, and I have one down here. That's why I sometimes do a flip-flop from north to south, you will notice. I've been redoing his house AND mine. Jen, be sure to hang in there with us, a lot of creative ideas come from this group of folks. And Steph, you are so unique, giving your boy his own bedroom!!! I'm thinking you need to get out more? hehehehe Having huge antique furniture can be a drawback in a smaller home. Of course, ONE PIECE could fit, maybe, if it is a featured piece. Something that WORKS FOR ITS KEEP. I do hope you have room for the things you've STORED FOR 14 YEARS?!! At least, put it in place and see if it leaves enough breathing room. After all this time, you may have fantasized it into something it can never be, and you've grown out of it....so to speak. Dreams are hard to give up. If I had a good spot to put it, I'd be looking for a nice armoire...just because I like those. But I realize it won't fit my house or my lifestyle any more.

I like the exterior. The house isn't overly large, and the only room that is really generous in terms of space is the master bedroom. However, it'll work for a family of five, if it matches your expectations of "cozy". Downstairs: I agree that I don't like the dining room being so far from the kitchen. Could you flip the great room and the kitchen? This would mean you'd come in from the garage and enter the family room. Not typical, but also not horrible. I'd definitely skip a breakfast table. You don't need a dining room AND a breakfast room AND island seating -- and in this space, you can't afford all those seating options. Skipping the breakfast table will allow you to enlarge the family room. I'd consider moving the fireplace to the back wall -- it'll then be on the "wider wall" of the family room and will allow you to orient the sofa towards it. It'll also mean you enter the house from the "back" of the family room instead of the "side". I agree that I hate the downstairs bathroom -- awful location, awful layout -- but I don't see anything to do about it within this space. Upstairs: Your plan of putting the two girls into the bonus-room-turned-bedroom is good. It'll work really well if you have the two gables someone else mentioned; you'd have windows on three walls, and each girl could have her bed in an "alcove". And, yes, you'll need to be sure you have egress windows and closets -- don't skimp on the closets for two girls; I'd think you could have two closets flanking the doorway. That leaves one bedroom as an "away room" -- which is good. An upstairs office isn't a great idea -- the paperwork won't really make it upstairs. No, the kids won't use it as a playroom; kids never really do use playrooms. But it could be a quiet den type room where kids or adults could go for quiet time. And it'd be a good video game room when the kids are teens. You have plenty of space in the master for a seating area, or that could be an adult office space. Overall, I don't love the house -- I don't see that it has anything special enough to make it worth the effort and cost of building -- but it does look functional on a cozy scale.

ok, let me reiterate,,,,if you move that box, with all it's wires and junctions, 2 feet to the left, then what is left behind is nothing. you don't have put a cover over it or disclose it (!) And for the record, you cannot close up a live junction behind any wall or ceiling. That's not what I suggested. I said, if there were enough play in the wires, you could transplant that box to the new hole. that's best and cheapest scenario. However, if that couldn't be done,(if the wires were too short to move) then a new box would have to be installed, the old box wires would have to be connected to the new box, and that's where you'd get your cover plate. If this ceiling is beneath an attic, it makes moving this so much easier. You would junction the new box w/the old box wires and put the box in the attic. But, if this ceiling is beneath another floor, where you are working between joists, then unless you can trace the original electrical source to this old box, disconnect it and run a new line, then yes, you will be stuck w/the cover.

I have a bedroom with a view and I second catlady999's observation. When lying absolutely supine in bed I am not looking at the view - as a matter of fact, when one lives with a view one stops actually looking at it for the most part although I do register it subliminally I would imagine. I have shades that aren't down that often which are semi-opaque in that they don't block the view entirely but I do notice a difference when they are down in the morning to block the sun. I have them up at night because I don't need privacy. However, I would suggest an adjustable bed frame which will enable the home owner to enjoy the view when he is actively looking at the view. It is really when I have the head tilted up that I am actually looking at the view - when I am lying flat or flattish - I generally am not looking out the window. Also - but not mentioned - does he ever plan to have shorter bed mates? Average height for many is NOT 5' 10" - in my universe, that's considered to be tall. :-) especially for females.