LOL Wyndyacre - you are the reason I started looking for doors! I am not understanding completely how you did the foundation. Why the sono tubes? Is the frame bottom attached to them and then you have pavers as the actual floor? I may go with that if I am understanding you correctly. I don't want to use pressure treated anything so I am trying to figure out what would be in contact with the ground. I searched on here but the searches just are working as they usually do so I just looked through as many posts as I could the other night. The windows I got are frameless and I like them that way. I like things to match and this way I'm not worrying about mismatched frames, etc. Yes, I am pretty particular about some things. I am hoping to get a slider for the GH that works but so far the only used ones I have seen have been $250 (same guy I got my panels from). We are getting a Habitat for Humanity store in the next few months here and I am really excited to start shopping there - my husband isn't so thrilled.

Do you use the living room or do you "live" in the family room? Your existing first floor illustrates an irony described by a friend of mine, who has a layout almost identical to yours, tho perhaps a bit tighter--smaller family room and perhaps smaller dining and living rooms and tighter kitchen U. She rarely uses the living room and most household activities take place in the family room and at the table in front of the large window area, which in her case is a walkout deck door. She hates her kitchen because it's essentially a walkpath with a range even worse than yours because it has no plunk space at all on one side. What is ironic is that when she moved in, this seemed to be such an ideal layout. Compared to my old awful corridor kitchen, I always thought hers was good, but mine had no modern posh illusions connected with it; hers did--a mid-1980s suburban palace of the time. Her hubby doesn't want her to see our new kitchen addition because she has been frustrated for many years and gripes a lot. We attend an annual "game feed" at this house; it has so much free flow from room to room in a large donut pattern, but all conversations are very tight; can't get up any large activities that span all groups and groups are essentially isolated despite the free flow. Not sure how it functions with just a couple occupants. Got tons of money? I have wondered if the dining&living rooms should become kitchen (at back) and dining (at front) and that the living room functions should move to the back of the house where the view and such are. This will be expensive because the water, etc. runs would change so much. OR, could the "family room" become the kitchen and push all activities to the associated spaces between front window and bump out window in your design. On a more realistic note, I still believe that it's important to somehow achieve a better range access from all sides of the work area to escape from that corner. I'm going to bow out; better experts can help you.

I need to warn you. I'm not one of the talented design gurus here, just an interested amateur. I think Lisa was working with the wrong dimensions, correct? I wrote them on the diagram. Please let me know if they're correct. If so, cpartist is right. You don't have room for an island. I left off your peninsula only because you never answered the question Lisa asked: If a peninsula is put in the location in your original plan, will you have at least 60" from the edge of the peninsula to the edge of your dining table? That is the minimum needed to have seating at both and still have room to walk if people are seated at both locations. Anyway, the best I could do is this: First, let me know if the dimensions are accurate. I didn't bother to draw uppers in on the fridge wall. The blue line will be about 117" fro the end of the counter to the edge of the kitchen. The yellow line measure will be about 86" from north counter edge to south counter edge and about 81" across where the fridge is (unless you get a true counter-depth/built-in). A lot of people do something a bit different in kitchens like yours that adds counter space and storage. They go with 30" deep counters. This adds a lot more counter space and, if you get custom cabinets, also a lot more storage with the deeper drawers. It will allow you to make a regular fridge look more built-in as the counter-depth will come out to the fridge door (you do need to allow for door swing). It also gives more space behind the range for less grease splatter on the backsplash and behind the sink for cleaning items (or pretties). If you do that, the north/south green line would be 74" and the east/west will be 105". Without an island or other blockage, there is plenty of room to walk from fridge to sink so crossing over the cook's area isn't a problem. It's not the most creative layout but it is a functional one. I know your wife wants some glass uppers. I wouldn't recommend them right next to the range and hood due to potential grease collection in that proximity, harder to keep clean. Also, keep in mind, your hood should be larger than your cooktop. I think you're going for a 36" cooktop? If so, you need a 42" hood. With a 30" cooktop, you need a 36" hood. If you go with the wider hood and have a couple inches clearance on each side before the upper cabinets start, then glass doors there should work fine. Hope this helps a bit. Have you read the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First" thread? If not, please do. It kinda bounces around from pages 1-3.

Yes, we plan to have a closet/utilize the space under the stairs leading up to the 2nd floor (this closet accessible via the study). No closet under the stairs that lead down into the basement currently. Can you fit a closet in this one? Only concern is this is the only real wall in the great room. Unfortunately we need all 3 spaces - formal dining (now serving as main eating area), study, and guest bedroom. I don't want books/computers/laptops/electronics in the dining room. I play the cello - need separate music space/area, so I'm combining music area (place store music books, cello, music stand) with a small desk/books located in the study. Both in-laws live out of state (as do most siblings) and for various reasons, we've had family stay with us for extended periods of time (i.e. months), so don't want to go into guest bedroom to access my computer, electronics, pay bills, etc. Live in northeast OH, so mudroom area/place for coats is essential. benjesbride - That floor plan you sent is almost identical to ours! Only difference is the right side of the house continues to come forward, ours doesn't - ours has to recede due to lot restrictions. If it helps, here's the topo (house on the pie shaped lot)