This may be a dumb question but are matelasse covers heavy? I was looking at some of those too but I never even heard that name before I came to the forum. I really don't know what I'm doing as far as trying to layer a bed. You can see the bedroom going in and out of the main bathroom so I'd like to get this room looking decent. My goal is to have all the rooms in order so the doors can stay open. lol Tina - Thanks for the suggestion. Deep down I knew the vellux wasn't probably very desirable all by itself. You're right about the solid cover and patterned folded down. I do like how people combine different fabrics but I don't really know what else would look right with it. Also don't know if that would really be for me, iykwim. I did a search for the pick stitch and I like how it looks. I'm thinking either the white or sandalwood would be best. I'm leaning towards white but would that end up being too stark? You're saying you'd also get the pick stitck shams? Do you sleep on those type of pillow cases? They're just for pretty right? I really need to get this room painted first. Going to get some samples and make this on my near future to do list. Here is a link that might be useful: pick stitch

Wow -- Like Geokid said -- pictures make all the difference. Love the nook and it could work perfectly. I don't know that I'd even worry about closing it off ... it is like it own little room! Very cute. You said that you already have your phone line there but what about electrical ... I have about 4 plugs all utilized. LOL. I'd position the Lap Top or monitor in the window corner so you can look up and out the window. That will minimize frontal glare. A full L-Shaped surface would look nice (below the window then along back wall). I'd put shelving on the right-hand tall wall (half way up or full) but I'd make it shallow (like 12-14 inches) so it doesn't cramp your work area. On the furniture -- I hate to recommend too much because the options are all over the map. If you folks are DIYers you can order laminate countertops to mount to the wall, secure on legs or to sit on-top of equal height cabinets (file cabinets or even kitchen cabinets) that are strategically positioned. Or ... you can go the OfficeDepot/Staples route and get something more modular and "officey". Alternatively, you can go more formal and get actual wood pieces new from a Furniture Store or off Craig's list but those pieces typically limit leg room or roller chair use. Finally, my favorite recommendation is to look at Pottery Barn's collection or the Martha Stewart Living Craft Collection. These two sources have so many configurable items for surfaces and storage it is mind boggling. The only drawback is most are self-assemble and limited in color. Key is ... make the nook as functional as possible for your work day with lots of surface space. Have plenty of underneath or shelf storage to organize books/papers/bills or simply to hide/stack stuff out-of-sight. LOL. Sorry for the long suggestion -- I've had too many offices in my life! Here is a link that might be useful: Pottery Barn Modular Office System This post was edited by PinesEverywhere on Fri, Jun 14, 13 at 7:44

My dad loves parquet. I am not a huge fan but I don't hate it. Seems like it often elicits a love or hate response in some folks. I would be worried about that only if resale was going to be an issue in the future not too far off. Otherwise, you have lots of options, maybe even hardwood laid over the tiles? I'd check to see if that was possible. There is something to be said for a small house with uniform hardwood floors throughout, I think it is a great way to go if the house is small. Other options are cork (my brother did this) or linoleum, although I think cork would be better on the feet. It seemed like kind of a pain to install, but he likes it.

Multiple thoughts, not all in line with the majority: - Five bedrooms is a huge house. The potential field of buyers who want the space and upkeep of a house that large (and who can afford it) is relatively small. More plainly, You're looking to build a house that only a small percentage of buyers can afford to buy. Wanting a thing and being able to afford a thing aren't the same. Your pool of resale buyers will be small, so selling could take a long time, or you might be forced to take less than you want. - Yes, people will like the idea of a "master up and a master down": live-in space for mom, space for a live-in nanny or elder care-giver. Plenty of reasons people would like the space. But the real question is, Will your resale buyer be willing to pay what it will cost you to build it? Personally, I think you'll attract plenty of interest, but you may not attract the necessary dollars at resale to make this worthwhile. - How old are these small children? By the time you finish building this house, they'll probably be at least a year older -- how long will you want to have bedrooms close by? - I'm a highly practical person: you're talking about a short time when kids are small. To save money, could you sleep in a "non-master" upstairs for this short time, then move downstairs? - How "master" do you see your "masters"? That is, when you say "master bedroom", are you envisioning a slightly larger room with a modest walk-in closet and a private 3-piece bath ... or does "master" to you mean a spacious room with a seating area, a massive closet and a luxury bath? The question isn't just, "Should I have two masters?" It's, "Just how much will I put into a master?" Your own vision of "how much" can make a world of difference in this question. - Don't overbuild for your neighborhood. Remember that the biggest, most expensive house in the neighborhood is "drawn down" by the more modest houses that surround it. - Summary: Don't be caught up in just whether this is a desirable idea -- it is. Consider first and foremost whether it is an economically viable idea.