I grew up in a 1-story earth home (so no basement) and we currently live in a slab townhome (1500 sq ft). If you don't need the storage/rec space and if the lot you choose is flat, I don't see the need for a basement. Our lot is angled for a side walk-out basement so we're going to have a basement (unfinished for now, possibly forever.) I'm going to try posting my floorplans directly here. Looking at my floorplans and comparing them to your requirements, I think you could make 2500 sq ft work for a 4BR. We have that formal study (I work from home full time) AND the sun room (this will be our piano room)--two spaces it sounds like you wouldn't need. It's basically a modified version of this model home.

I've been lurking on here for months now (usually hang out in the Texas Gardening Forum), so I guess now is as good a time as any to jump in! (Jump in before I start asking for help of my own) Anyway...Liz, I feel your pain! I went through the same thing with my DR. Tried SW Mannered Gold, Gallant Gold, Restrained Gold and a slew of others. While I LOVED the colors, I just didn't like them in MY DR. I ended up using SW Baguette. I felt like I was settling, just wanting to get it finished, but when the painting was complete, it was EXACTLY what I was looking for! A nice warm gold, a touch of "mustard" along with a little tan. It really surprised me. Don't let the swatch card fool you, give it a try! Michelle

Roorezzi: The floors are gorgeous, as is the fireplace. It will be such a cozy room this winter for sure! As far as baseboard heating goes, I would do as it advised. I've had it and it does get very hot. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with curtains on the windows where the baseboard runs. But I tend to be a worrier. Do you really want curtains? Could you do a faux wood blind and then add valances on the 2 windows that are framing the fireplace? Selectblinds.com and usablinds.com have inexpensive blinds that may work for you. You'd have privacy and light control, and less worry about starting a fire b/c of the heat/fabrics being too close to one another. You could still put curtains on the sliding doors if you'd like then. If you really want curtains on the windows, I would suggest making them short enough that they won't be too close to the heat. You could use hold backs as well, to be sure that they were far enough away. I think you're on the right track with reds or any spicy colors. With the rug you've chosen, I would probably stay away from a plaid...I think the two would clash. Can you find a color or two in the rug that you really like and then try and find curtains or valances or roman shades, etc? The throw pillows in the jcp pic of your rug would be a good valance color maybe?? Just a thought...they have a nice color wood blind as well in their pic.

Match for sure. I know there has been this trend for the past decade avoiding matchiness but it is just that, a very cluttered Trend that makes house look like a store vs. a house.