A flock of sheep is actually a great idea and very picturesque. But, everyone is thinking way too hard. A fortune to me is over $5000. Considering I spent $4000 on just getting the beds around the immediate house dug out, filled with good dirt and tilled in, (per a landscape company), $5000 won't get me far. While I would love to have tons of trees and evergreens and design "garden rooms" , I do not have the funds nor the energy to take care of that much work. I wish I knew how to download pics, but, let me try again...... In lieu of digging out large beds ( and preparing very clay and rock filled soil to accept any plantings well) I have cut around large areas of the pasture to let natural stuff grow-- just to give definition at this time. One area will become a border that I will devote to evergreen screening and perennials, the other probably to fruit trees next to a kitchen garden. The area that I need one focal point on is the large grassy area far away from the house. Anything put there needs to look large. A gazebo is a good idea. We already have a barn closer to the house. Black fencing is prevalent here, but I'm not sure how I would shape that as it really isn't needed (we have no livestock or horses, only a dog). I guess I'm asking for your favorite very large tree, 5 adirondack chairs in a row, (honestly, I do love the sheep.. think I could get fake ones?), An interesting shape to fence in on a hill. Thanks for trying again.. silly ideas welcome...this is supposed to be fun!

If I do this right this is my inspiration pic or the tub/shower layout. Only without the slant ceiling or skylights [Contemporary Bathroom design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by Chicago Kitchen And Bath VeDco Design Group, Inc

Mtnrdredux-the view would be my side yard, a street and then the neighbors house across the street. I was thinking of it for light and watching the kids in the yard. Herbflavor-Thanks! We were thinking about carving out some space under the stairs for a drop zone, but aren't really sure how to achieve that yet. There is a wall now separating the kitchen from the dining room. There are a lot of pipes running through that wall so it will stay but we can rearrange the cabinetry on it. There is no wall next to the kitchen table, just a pennisula and there is a wall enclosing the stairs. As for style, I don't know. Everything in the house is "builder grade" - snap in place floors (with deep dirt collecting grooves), "brass" fixtures, etc. The house was built in 1995 and is part of a collection of all very similar houses. Is center hall colonial considered a style? (sorry for my ignorance) Ginny20- The sink is currently in the right L and the stovetop in the left L and the microwave is right in the little walkway by the dining room. Heating up lunch for my kids in the microwave, which I do a lot, blocks the access to the pots and pans, utensils, and dinnerware-perhaps we should just move the microwave and not remodel? :)

Buehl, you are AMAZING. Thank you. OK, here is more info: Goals: Better function more storage better counterspace 2 adults, 1 cook frequent from scratch meals, avid baker, canning and preserving in summer, frequently host casual dinners/parties, often have people hanging out in the kitchen No significant structural changes, but plumbing/electrical can change Want to keep it open to other rooms Appliances: Range or Cooktop 30” (possibly 36” if cooktop) Single or Double Wall Oven? Existing standard DW Existing 36”w SXS CD fridge Add a vent hood Prefer no or few uppers Currently have a pantry closet, deep shelves, not very functional. I’m thinking pullout cabinets instead. That is the house plan. 2 large bedrooms and 2 baths are down the hall. There is a deck adjacent to the sunroom/living room. Here are some of the before shots of the kitchen. We dismantled the ridiculous island and reconfigured it temporarily. We painted now to mitigate my loathing of the wall paint. "Are you changing the flooring? Would you be willing to have an island that extended into what appears to be a family room a couple of feet?" The kitchen flooring is new, and we will be extended into the living room. And yes, willing to have an island. "Where exactly does that Family Room wall start?" The above images should answer that question.