I think it's too early. Often our nurseries put them out too soon and I go back a week later and they look like crud from cold damage. It's hard, but I try to wait until later, at least late April, maybe early May, and I still bring mine in overnight in a bowl of water if there's any chance of frost or extended really cold temps.

When I first got really interested in daylilies How Beautiful Heaven Must Be was just coming out. I longed for it. Not only because it was such a pretty daylily with great form, but also because of the name. However I also found out back then just how expensive new daylilies can be. I still love it though and it would be a toss up between your Wonder of It All and HBHMB as my favorites of this group. How wonderful that you have both. How do they compare for you as far as growth and bud count etc?........Maryl

Hi Danielle, Welcome! I'm glad you found us! First, I'm a fellow minimalist. :-) I recently (last January) bought an old 930 sq. ft. manufactured home, where I live with my 30 year old daughter. We are refurbishing/remodeling it from the ground up. This is the fifth house I've owned, but the first one by myself, after I got divorced in 1998. My daughter Joy and I are in the process of becoming certified organizers and we're writing a book, "Minimalism and the art of the lovely home." So it is in that spirit that I say I think you will want some more room as the children grow up. It doesn't have to be another 800 sq ft, in my opinion, especially if you're practicing minimalism. As a child with three siblings and later a mom & wife with three children born pretty close together, I suggest you may really want a second bathroom sooner or later. What works when the children are young may not work as well when they hit the tweens. That doesn't mean you have to do it right now, but if you're going to remodel anyway, it would be cheaper to do it at the same time, rather than do two (or more) separate remodels. I'm not clear on how many bedrooms you have now or where they are located. Does your house have a full basement? If so, are you counting that as part of the 990 sq ft, and how is it being used? I completely see how the remodel the architect is proposing would cost $175,000. Where are you located? The plan has some seriously expensive components. Moving the staircase is a biggie. Moving the washer/dryer is expensive because of the plumbing, and the bathroom addition can be expensive, depending upon where it is located. The other thing to keep in mind is that the architect, builder, and/or GC (general contractor) rarely brings a remodel in under budget. This isn't because they are bad people. It's because once they open up the walls, plumbing, and electrical panel, they must bring it all up to code. It's the law, and it will be inspected. You should have a reserve of at least 20% over the estimated cost of the project. But--I'm not just being negative! I think you can have the things you want at a far lesser cost! As llucy, Desertsteph, and Shades have indicated, the plan leaves something to be desired. I think you would find the proposed layout very frustrating in all the ways you indicated. If it were me, I'd send the architect back to the drawing board. Tell her/him the stairs can't be moved, the mudroom/laundry/family room needs to be next to the kitchen, and the master en suite doesn't have to be that big. A bedroom is not, or should not, be expensive to add on. Do you really need the mudroom to be a family room too? A small, simple laundry room would be less expensive, and you already have (I think) a living room and a dining room. Dining rooms are often underutilized . Could it possibly double as your home office? Just keep in mind that when you move plumbing or electricity, or when you move or remove a load bearing wall or major structure (like stairs), it gets expensive fast. Try to have your bathrooms share a wall, remembering that ceilings and floors count as walls. That would cut the cost. I second llucy' suggestion to X post to the kitchen forum. They can be bossy, but they are mostly well-meaning, and several of them devote a great deal of time to helping people with their floor plans. They are really good at it! Several are actually professional designers and others could be. Also, check in with the plumbing folks. They will tell you the most cost-effective way to relocate the laundry. There are some really great people on the bathroom forum too. Remember--YOU (and your DH) are the boss, not the architect! You tell her or him what the budget is and make them do their job and come up with a plan that works for you! Good luck! Please let us know how it turns out! :-) Sincerely, Debbie

Think about these interesting possibilities. How often does your family use the living room? Looks like the front of it might make a good study away from all the hubbub. Then move that wall with the pocket door so as to increase the size of the part of the family room that links to the screened porch. That way you'll have room for a dining section nearer the kitchen. Change the dining room to a master; you'll be glad you did as you get older and the stairs become an issue, or if someone has illness or surgery and needs to be on the ground floor. This also isolates the kids upstairs where you'll be happier as they grow into teens. Turn one of the two larger upstairs bedrooms into a bonus/play/gaming room for them. Flip the laundry around and use that closet and the back hall for a small powder room and a stacking WD close to the new master. See if setback rules allow you to add a closet bump-out in the front where that window is right of the porch.