As I mentioned in my prior post, I live in Wisconsin and the utility bills for vaulted ceilings and lots of windows may not be as high as you think if you have a well insulated house, high efficiency HVAC, use a set back thermostat and have good energy efficient windows. We have a two story great rooom with twelve 2-1/2' x 6' windows in it(two rows of 6 windows with 3'-4' between the rows--the window wrap around a corner and there is a fireplace in the middle of the the windows on one wall--the bottom rows do not go to the floor because we have window seats). Anyway, our total gas and electric bill for our 3,200 sf house plus another 900 sf finished in the basement for 2008 was $2,427.64 (or an average of $202.30/month). Our total gas and electric bill for the first 9 months of 2009 (meters read on the 10th of the month) was $1,744.37 (or an average of $193.81 per month), which I don't think is excessive at all. We have a gas furnace, gas hot water heater, gas oven and cooktop, and one gas fireplace. We have the usual other electric appliances, air conditioning, run a dehumidifier down our basement all summer have a 60" tv down the basement which is used a lot by teenage boys, etc. We don't have a pool or hot tub. I don't know where you are located in Wisconsin, but if it is in an area served by MG&E, you can find out the average annual energy use and cost for any residential address that is served by MG&E at MG&E's web site and you may want to use that to compare energy uses of various houses, although keep in mind that it is hard to compare houses without knowing building materials, amenities and the personal habits of the occupants (i.e., do they use a set back thermostat, how warm they keep the house, etc.), how many gas fireplaces they have (I was surprised to learn that the pilot light on our gas fireplace costs about $20/month--I'm glad our other fire place burns wood), etc.

I've lived with this yellow brick for 10 years, with semi-regular power wash and enzymatic cleaning, and I'm done as far as the color. There are several not so pretty repairs to the stone window surrounds and to the brick, that were done over the early years (I'm guessing) on this 80 year old house (1300 sq ft), that would "disappear" if it was painted. The decision to use opaque lime-based European paint is set, just not the scheduling of it...and the hardscape surfaces will get a fresh power wash when the brick is cleaned in prep for paint. The newly painted trim is deep green, and the shingles are brand new. We also just replaced numerous wood windows. We park in the driveway, there is no garage. Sometimes we park in the street and the grandkids play in the driveway (back patio is gravel, back yard is veggies). I like the idea of using metal on a porch roof that begins higher up the roof slope and has itself less slope. How would standing seam look with the finishes we have/will have? Would a small porch dormer above the front door change the load for that beam, allowing it to be smaller? How might the cost and complexity of these options compare to mere replacement steel beam, and no extension in depth? I'm fine with simple, and great with less $$, the goal being to find an attractive but conservative way to minimize that overhang and open up the front of the house & window that it is hiding. Thank you everyone!

The back of my house faces south and has a lanai on the back that is 10' deep. In the winter the sun comes streaming into my living room, no problem. In summer the living room is still bright but the sun doesn't come in as it should be. I can sit on the lanai all summer with no sun hitting me which is perfect and this time of year, the lanai and living room is sunny all day.

Really interesting house. I think it will look striking painted a creamy white with black trim. I would get rid of the stone edging. Make sure you kill all the ivy. It is a menace that is outlawed in some states. It can grow back from the roots. If rhododendron, mountain laurel, variegated holly and other evergreen plants do well in your area, I would plant a selection along the foundation, but not in front of the windows. Get some low growing plants for there. In front of the foundation plants, install perennials for seasonal color. You could also plant an ornamental tree like Easter Redbud, which has beautiful purple flowers on the stems in spring and lovely burgundy leaves. Another plant to think about is Hydrangea. They come in a taller variety that you could use. Just make sure you don't plant too close to the house and allow enough room for the plants to reach maturity. Much with a natural material that is not dyed. I would get larger lantern, maybe in a more modern style. Good luck and enjoy your new home!