If it's a full-depth fridge it may need to have the doors taken off to move it in, but that's not a major proposition. I think most manufacturers have taken into account that most housing stock does not have 36" interior doors, yet. We had a problem in a 1950s house with a counterdepth fridge being slightly too large to fit through a doorway because of a combination of width and height and having doors that were only 28" wide and 6'6" instead of 6'8".

Yes, designing a basement space around mechanicals causes much compromise. I believe our basement depth is very similar to yours - finished floor to ceiling is 89.5 with a 10" drop to accommodate the ducting which for ours runs throught the middle. I'm not certain I understand the "room to room" exchanger. Connected to the fireplace above but does it just "dump" warm air into the basement? If yes, why can't you simply install a vent in the ceiling or wall rather than encase the duct section. If it runs to another room on the main level and "radiates" heat into the basement, enclosing it will minimize the radiant heat. If you must enclose, can you install drywall at 45 degrees to create a tray ceiling effect? Might minimize the look of intrusion into the room. My preference would be to just enclose the ducting and if your hutch is planned to remain below, the soffit will not be an eyesore. Are you using 2 x 4's for strapping across the ductwork to create the box. If you change to 3/4" ply you'll pick-up 3/4". I personally would not build any soffits to "balance" the room unless you can create the tray ceiling effect and your windows create a problem doing that. Here's a link to our basement. We installed an electric fireplace for auxulary heat. Good luck with your build-out. Here is a link that might be useful: Basement Photos

Thanks everyone! As suggested here, we tested the height of the would-be bath with some boxes and 2x4s this afternoon. While we technically can walk into the raised tub, it feels awkward and would be very challenging for our 5 yo without a step or stool (there's no room for a built in step). So a few notes: - we live in a concrete high rise; re-routing plumbing is extremely challenging (hence the need to lift the tub 6" for a drainage slop), but in some cases is doable. - We decided to split the would-be tub/shower space into a shower and closet for a compact and ventless WD). The shower will be 34"x37", the closet 34"x35". - upstairs where the WD and linen closet were going to go, a new 32"x66" drop-in tub will go back into this space instead (there was an old outdated one there previously). We lose some storage by putting in 3 full baths vs 2.5, but hopefully this is a good compromise! We're just working on a new floor plan as we speak. I'd love to get feedback on the revisions once I post it in the am (our brains are fried for today, but we really appreciate everyone's help!!)

I think you have Chili Thrips, and would combat the insect with a systemic containing Imidacloprid. I see no evidence of Rose Midge Fly, nor of powdery mildew, which PM I first suspected. Asian in origin, the Chili Thrip has already invaded our most extreme Southern states: California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida along with any other locales within these states' latitudinal range. However, Chili Thrips, like many tiny, winged insects, especially aphids, can be carried by the wind for hundreds of miles, and settle into other areas, a more northern region in your case, for at least the remainder of a growing season, possibly/probably dying out over winter (as yet uncertain). The more northern climes they are blown in and settling into, at least for the season, are presumed to be too cold for them to survive over winter. I suspect that in time it will be apparent that the Chili Thrips can permanently spread its range northward, somehow surviving with the colder winters. I don't see any Chili Thrip damage in my roses here in zone 6b, Pittsburgh, PA, but Flower Thrips are abundant here, but not present in my specific garden. Its current isolation due to rampant, commercial urban development, may be a factor since I am surrounded by a cement, brick, and asphalt 'urban death zone,' ( I call it), where entrance by outside life forms, good or bad, are rare events. The midge fly I have is a remenant from a greener, more idealic age. For example, it being the height of Japanese Beetle season right now, yet I have only counted one, singe beetle in my roses so far, just ONE among 40+ rose bushes. Moses