You could be living in the sunniest desert ever, and that wouldn't matter if the plant was plopped down in a room with no windows-light can't penetrate walls the last time I checked :p I would slowly introduce it to the balcony-don't immediately shove it out. The leaves will sunburn and drop, and the plant will have to expend even more energy to grow more leaves. I would leave it out in the morning when the sunlight isn't at its strongest, and leave it there for an hour before bringing it back in. The next day, leave it there for two hours, then the next day for three hours, etc. until it gets used to the sun.

definitely shopping around. We ended up with a more expensive travertine at a lesser price than "cheaper" ceramic tile, all because we shopped around! We also found a recommended tile setter crew, rather than using the local tile store, which wanted a small fortune (and you had to buy their outrageously priced flooring. They would not install anything but their own (seriously marked up) products. We've decided to wait on planning a pool and having it installed, so of course that is a massive savings right there. LOL! Also, watch holiday weekends (the one coming up!) and sale flyers for savings on appliances, plumbing fixtures, lighting, etc. Many online stores (or regular stores) have sales for the holiday weekends, and you can save a bundle! Something I am doing is trying to shop in neighboring states, rather than our own, for big ticket items (like our kitchen appliances). I found a store in a neighboring state that will deliver for free, because I have a large order. AND, I don't get charged sales tax as I am out of state. That is a very big savings right there! I shun credit cards, but just yesterday I opened one at a store I was shopping in, to receive the discount they offered me by opening an account. They rang me up. I put it on my new "temporary card". I then walked over to Customer Service and paid the "card" off. So I still won't pay interest, but I saved almost $200.00!! To me, it was worth it. Just remember to close those accounts so you don't raise eyebrows with your lender at all of the newly opened accounts. LOL! Don't be afraid to ask for a discount if you are purchasing multiple items from one supplier. Not all will oblige, but some will, and it's a good feeling to save a bit. Our lighting store is giving me 20% off because I have a large order, and I asked for one. They didn't offer it until I asked. And I didn't ask until they saw how much I was ordering! It worked like a charm. Stores need your business. Try to entice them to give you a savings. If it means a large sale for them, they are more willing to accomodate your request. If you only buy one item, probably not so willing to negotiate price with you. Just ask politely, but like you expect it. I say something like "Great. Our order looks perfect. I like the selections we made today. What discount can you offer me for my large order"? It's not offensive. They don't have to give you one at all. But I find that many, if asked politely and with a kind smile, are more than willing to give you a deal. Makes them feel good that they made a sale, makes me feel good that I saved a few dollars. Happy all around. So just ask! My last savings thought is related to design. Most photos in higher end design magazines show really expensive finishes. And building a home helps you quickly realize that all of those expensive finishes add up to one horrendously expensive home. So, do your homework. If you really love a certain tub, check around and just get a price range. Then you'll know right off if you need to give up your dream of the fancy light kits in your bathtub, or the disco ball in the game room... whatever it may be. I find it easy to give up some of my wishes when I prioritize what is most important to me. I can do without some things (an expensive chandelier) when I remind myself that by choosing a less expensive fixture (still pretty, just not as ornate maybe) I can put the flat screens in all the rooms we had planned on. Or by running our own speaker wire to the 1st floor rooms, we can still get a whole house music system on the 1st floor (the only place we really wanted it) and save thousands of dollars. That saved money can buy the best stereo system components for the best sound system available. Things like that. I guess I'd put it in a nutshell by saying "doing without unimportant things, to get the most important ones on my list". Yes, I'd love smart home capabilities. Yes, I'd love an 8 stall horse barn and lighted outdoor riding arena. But perhaps my money can be better used to buy a piano for the children to take music lessons on, for furnishings in the various rooms that will make our home a cozy, comfortable space to live. I've lived in "empty rooms" when first out of college and in 1st apartment, and it was neither cozy nor comfortable. Remembering that, I'll take the furnishings over the horse barn that would possibly sit unused since we are so busy! Okay, enough of my rambling thoughts. Enjoy your process, and I'm looking forward to seeing photos of the cabin as it goes up! Don't forget to share. I don't see enough timber/log homes go up on this site. That will be a fun one to watch!

christine1950- I'm including a link for applying bubble wrap to your windows for additional insulation in the winter, using nothing more than water from a spritz bottle, so it's easy to do and completely reversible. We've been using this tip during the winter for a number of years and getting great results. Our home is 7-years old and has energy efficient windows and we can still tell a difference - especially the bay window in the dining room when we sit down to eat. Tips about using this method.... -Cut your bubble wrap just slightly smaller than your window. If the bubble wrap is a little too generous and is larger than the glass, it will quickly get air under it and begin to pull away from the window. -Check your bubble wrap occasionally and spritz it with water again if it's pulling away from the window. -If you have hard water, use distilled water for the application. Hard water contains minerals that can actually etch your windows. -Bubble wrap with large bubbles works the best, but we have plenty of windows that have bubble wrap with small bubbles on it. -Check furniture stores for a free or cheap source for bubble wrap. -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Bubble wrap window insulation

We had 10 feet ceilings in upstairs bedrooms, and 9 feet in kitchen and family room. I never noticed the difference, until when preparing for sale I noticed our curtain rods somehow look a bit better in the family room..:) at 8 feet you start feeling a difference. really high ceiling-you obviously feel a difference both 9' and 10' feel very similar to me..just right.. maybe also because the standard ceilings were a tad higher where we lived before..and older ceilings were even higher..so I'm used to that cathedral ceilings, which we also had-no, wasn't used to them..it was, like, wow. But it was a nice layout so while some places felt very high, some felt much more intimate. Also of course has its drawbacks..heat coming up and all that. In summers too hot, in winters too cold..well then it's Southern CA so the weather is paradise..it's just that one gets real spoiled real soon..:) all our guests from abroad were in awe though since it was something different to them. my MIL still sighs over that townhouse and goes on and on on how awesome it was..to her, felt out of this world beautiful (pretty irritating since we moved only because of her lol) now we have 8' feet in the rooms(except for living and entry)..well plenty of skylights and my playing with paint help with the perception of height. but to her, again, it's a bit low, because she's not used to it. and it's not special. that was all to say, really briefly lol..10' to 9', you won't probably feel any major difference..unless you're very sensitive to that kind of thing