It seems like in the kitchens where the tile doesnt go all the way up, it works best when the cabinets (surrounding the range/hood) also dont go all the way to the ceiling. But, in your case the cabinet to the left of the range does go all the way up to the ceiling. So, I also vote for tile to the ceiling. And the staggered brick, but like steph said the stacked would also look nice, just a different "feel".

I consolidated all my Houzz pictures, eBay collections, bookmarks, favorites, and any other lists into Pinterest. I was able to sort out 25 years (1990 to date) of favorites. Dead links, why I saved something, read things I meant to come back to, and just the "what the heck!?" links. Now, I have absolutely everything in one place. (Don't worry, Pinterest is exportable.) I hate all these different places to save things, because who knows if you'll ever go back to them? On a bored day, (read: procrastinating) I go back through my Pinterest pics and enjoy them all over again. During that sorting process, I also scoured sources for pics I'd saved, authors, etc. I'm OCD that way. I did find that I had saved several cabinet type pics, things I can make, products I can use, beautiful architecture, stencils, wall paper, just plain good ideas, artwork (stop me) repeatedly, under many different categories. Wayyyyyyy too many times to count, but interesting in that although my tastes have certainly changed, just in the 10 years of my rebuild, that I still go towards the same feel.

There are a number of neighborhoods we build in where some sort of chimney is a required architectural element... Wow! Now all I have to do is figure out how to replicate on the new structures' walls the green slime! Growing moss on new walls is no problem as long as there is some rough portion for it to adhere to. I've seen the results in an AD home built in the US south replicating ancient homes of Tuscany. Or you can use carpeting as wall decor to bring the idea without the mess.Credit So which is the "fake" in this worthy house? My inclination is to omit chimneys when there is a gas fireplace and put those many thousands of dollars saved into more obvious visual enhancements in homes aiming at the C$3+ million range, the current appraisal on this property.

Resurrecting this thread with the 2 current floor plan possibilities. Until these I was absolutely POSITIVE the kitchen was returning the front of the house and thus much larger. I'm getting older and really don't think I will need a huge kitchen, besides we'll be much closer to decent restaurants. The MBR had become 23 feet wide because DH wanted a place to disappear. (It's a better size now.) It finally occurred to me to think hard about how we live and I decided what we really needed was a separate living room that could be closed off from the rest of the space. It is now the TV room with surround sound. The other living room will have the stereo and a small TV. It's still an open plan just not as open as it could be. Just because wide open is possible doesn't mean it's a good idea. My custom 7 foot cherry dining table (built so DH can get his knees under the skirt board rather than butted up into it) has been a bit of a problem to work around. I don't really need a formal dining room as we only use the table for major holidays. But then it's nice to have when I do need it. First planThe dining table just sort of sits there, floating sort of. I don't like the way the kitchen/TV room wall does not line up with the MBR/2nd living room wall, hence plan version number 2. Second Plan I like "neatness" of the walls though the MBR closet is smaller (I also widened the MBA aisle a little though technically 3'8" would be better for wheelchair access) This version has a vestibule-like area at the front door (hey, Mark!), which I kind of like. The dining room looks a little cramped but when I look at the 3D views I think it looks great. I dislike my exercise bike having to go into the garage and losing a linen closet, but, oh well. I am debating losing the soaker tub. which would free up some space to play with. Now a few reminders : The post frame and trusses are up so this is the final shape of the house. All interior walls are still moveable but those red posts within walls must remain where they are ( 12 feet apart) They cannot be cut and have headers installed, etc in order to move windows. The number of windows and is what I have to deal with without spending more money to have the engineer at the pole barn company re-engineer everything. The windows are mostly 4 feet wide by 5.5 feet tall though. They also have to remain within their respective 12 spaces unless we pay that engineer again. CP, I did manage to get DH to shift the house a few degrees so the back of the house is a little bit more toward the south but for the most part it's still has the front of the house facing northwest into the winter wind (thank goodness we planted a windbreak 20 years ago) and the back facing southeast. It is not the worst configuration up here. The furniture placement on the plan for the 2 living rooms is done with lots of chairs, most of which we do not own, and the sofa which we do own may be tossed. Just making sure stuff fits. Okay, rip it apart while I go try a plan with a master bath without a tub....