I actually like the layouts. Friends of ours have a second home where from the front, it looks like yours - long porch with entrance to the house and the MBR set back with French doors to the porch on the left side. That part of the porch is hardly ever used, and when they're having guests and someone might use it, they just close the drapes to the MBR. Their porch is continuous all around the house. As for the master bath and closet,a I always thought having the entrance to the closet from the at broom made no sense...until I lived in a condo that had it set up that way and I loved it - it was very convenient to go right tp from the shower to the vanity to the closet and back to the vanity. I would personally eliminate the door from the master bath to the laundry, but I also don't see it as a problem if you think it would be useful. Re the coat closet, you might consider moving the powder room to where the vacuum closet is now, and put the coat closet where the powder room is and the broom closet where the coat closet was.

i was just thinking about the same thing. my floors are stained dark walnut (but there's a lot of grain showing, it's not sooo dark). the island in the kitchen is a dark cherry with a Java stain, the furniture in the great room is a very dark walnut/espresso and then i have this transition area between the kitchen & great room where i got this beautiful desk. i ordered the desk online and it's an espresso stain on cherry veneer. but the deep red hue of the cherry shows through a bit and it's definitely not as true brown as the adjoining rooms. maybe one day i'll have it painted, but my family is telling me not to touch it because it's beautiful and rich looking and does not have to be so matchy matchy.

Is this easier to read: Original plan: Our version so far: Here with furniture, our concept of course: We have made the kitchen on one wall only (and some high cabinets to utilize more space). Something like this: We would like ot keep 2 separate rooms for the kids. The 2 bathrooms cannot be moved a lot unfortunately as the main piping goes in the upper left corner and it would mean a nightmare to change. Yes, the in-between windows are there for some additional natural light to flow in. Also the positioning of washer, sink, toilet and shower cabin/doors are still under consideration ...

Interesting idea. It sounds almost like an ombre treatment - except you wouldn't be going from lighter to darker but transitioning between two very different hues of the same color. I think an artist or skilled crafts-person who works with wood could do the ombre effect and also blend the two colors in an appealing way. I think it could look very cool but I also think it has to be integral to your over arching design plan for your home. The trouble will be finding the person who can do it well. Otherwise, you might want to stick with one stain for all the flooring. Here's an example of integrating two very different colors in wood flooring. The contrast is high and makes a graphic and modern statement. You flooring wouldn't be as dramatic because the hues are so similar. Here's an ombre effect, which doesn't apply to your situation, but thought I'd show it anyway, because it's so cool looking! Your best bet will likely be sticking to one stain. Maybe others will pop by with additional feedback.