I need to shave off some sq footage. Here are my thoughts: Smaller Mbath/closet and shaving 1' down the left side MB and Child's room. Can anyone help me with tightening up the side entry to include mud room, pantry and possibly create a booth or window seat area with dining table. We are limited on adding to the right any further (driveway). The existing structure is a log home. I'm trying to do from top to bottom: living room, kitchen an dining or just kitchen, dining then the vaulted living room (existing home). Thank you for any suggestions and assistance. Here is a link that might be useful: Existing structure

Everything sounds good to me except one thing. The Fisher stove. Fisher used to be the Rolls Royce of woodstoves, but went out of business like the other 90% of stove makers when the EPA started regulating wood stoves for pollution. If you're going to build a new home, and have all this done, why keep what's known today as a "smoke dragon"? Today's modern stoves look better, are more efficient meaning less wood used, and burn clean.

I very much like Beverly's 2nd photo of the mantle that extends perhaps 6 feet on either side of the FP opening, with shelving below on each side. It's dramatic and lovely. Back to landrstein's question about the 5.5' and 12'height dimensions that I suggested might be possibilities for the double mantles I was envisioning, those dimensions were for how far above the floor they would be, not how wide they would be. It would be good if you could get a designer to draw to scale what you want it to look like. It's important that you and the contractor are on the same page, and drawings will help you get there.

Yet in others (at least in N.O.) trellis or "decorative" fence toppings, wiring don't count. But, yes she needs to check. @ Isabella, I still think you have a blank canvas for a really lovely yard. If you think about it, your 2nd story view isn't a whole lot different than ANY urban view of your neighbors once you get your yard looking nice.