Just a thought, maybe a group of medium-sized phormium along the blank wall, perhaps 'yellow wave' or 'margaret jones' depending on your color preference. They would look nice with your rocks. Then in the lawn a hymenosporum flavum, or sweetshade tree. The tree tends to grow tall and narrow, but you still would want it more than 4 ft from your house, more like 10-12 ft. It blooms right now with small yellow scented flowers. I realize a tree in the lawn might be a no-go. Maybe some hanging plants under the eaves? Here is a link that might be useful: Phormium choices

I like timeless tile schemes also, like your all white...and have learned from experience and too much analyzation of inspiration images that texture and layers trump color for impact. Break your white up by using shadow as a color- variences in tile depth when trim pieces are added (chair rails, bullnose, baseboards...) break up the flatness of simple field tile. Adding a horizontal line with trim at a traditional or non-traditional height and/or changing the direction of the subway for some portion of the room- breaks it up and keeps your options open for adding color to less perminant layers in the room. Also, you're right on about adding a bit of color between the floor and walls- I don't think matching wall base tile to the floor border tile is the best solution...keep the plane-change-line sharp. If you use small hex for the floor, consider a contrast by inserting a grey hex every 1/2 foot or so (the wide-spread polka dot effect will open the area too)or add the grey hex as a 3-4" solid or checked floor border around the entire room. Since there will be little color contrast on the walls, a contrast where floor meets wall is warming because it grounds the room. This is fun, huh? kat

Thank you for the replies! I had some unexpected travel for work and had to disappear for a bit, but I'm so glad to read all of your thoughts. Yes, if you stand at the projecting wall from the pocket office, at the edge of the living room, you are under the arch. Likewise, if you stand with your back to the range hood, you have a straight shot to the fireplace through the arch. Right now we're assuming that we will use our existing furniture (at least for a while, until we get a feel for what we want, and our 8 month old outgrows her high chair). We have a 4-seat circular table, no expansion. Actually in storage I also have a 6 seat rectangular table, solid slab style. We considered an expandable pub table with wings, especially since I'm 5'11 and hubby is 6'4 and we like the seat height, but -- in my mind, it's awkward with the tall island (pictures don't show it, but the island is about 6" taller than counters). Should the table sit lower than, or equal to the island? Or does that not really matter? I wonder how different it will look once we hung window treatments - how much that might help break things up. As for a banquette - we had not considered that. There is a recess on the opposite wall, designated as a place for a buffet in the model pics. We have been looking at different house models and floorplans for a few years and this is by far our favorite, with the exception of the kitchen! My husband loves it, but to me it feels like I'm in a "rectangle" of kitchen, and it just feels off to me. Hard to describe. And unfortunately I have very limited pictures. The model pictured above sold, and the next one won't be finished with construction until September so I have no way of taking some better pictures. We aren't likely to begin building ours until spring, but I'm trying to figure out if this room/arrangement will bug me indefinitely, or if there's a way to "fix" it! As for changes - yes, we are planning on a larger deck with a second level that will extend toward the other side of the house and provide cover for the walkout family room (in the bottom level which isn't shown on the floorplan). We are adding a floating garage, and that whole floor will provide the family room, my husband's home theater room, another bathroom, small storm room (we live in the midwest - tornado central) and a lot of space that is yet undefined. We will add a pass-thru between the garage and pantry. We will likely use the pocket office for something else (possibly our recycling station and vacuum/broom/mop/etc. depot) since we need a much larger office space - we've considered turning the formal dining into the office since we'd never use a formal dining, and it's separated from the kitchen. We're also going to add bull-nosed corners, and are up in the air about stain vs. painted trim. I like woodgrain and tend to think that painted trim is a fad, but then again - we have stained trim now and I hate it. Whew! Sorry for the novel. :) Anything that I didn't answer?

A sign on the powder room? A framed picture indicating it's a powder room? There may be some nice ones available. Unless you have overnight guests, they won't need to open any of the other doors. Is the door leading into the garage a metal door - it should be different than the others, fireproof? What kind of wall are you considering building?