Jane, I was not attempting to discourage you from painting your floor. I just wanted to share what I learned through my own experience, because you had mentioned that you once considered using tile. Also, whoever buys the house might choose a floating floor and the paint wonÂt make a difference. Although I decided not to use paint on my porch/sunroom, I plan to go ahead with painting the plywood floor in the finished basement. Like you, I am contemplating a beachy (or summery) look, especially since I am on the coast. I thought about a distressed white or a gray similar to weathered shingles or weathered wood (ThereÂs so much of it around here). The patterned floors look great and seem like fun. The possibilities are endless. You can use stencils or sponging. You can also paint a faux area rug. This year I donÂt have the time or patience to attempt a pattern, but I am trying to learn decorative painting and maybe soon I can acquire the skills to attempt a pattern. For now, the painted floor is something inexpensive to go under area rugs. IÂm no help with a color scheme, but your wicker serving cart is great and will probably look good no matter what colors you choose. With area rugs, lots of plants and that lovely wicker cart, the floors donÂt have to be noticeable unless the paint looks really good.

I go with the sunroom, too, and here's why. You can build a shed for cheap at some point, and until then you'll probably keep one car inthe driveway, and all the bikes and basketballs in the garage along with the yard and snow tools. The sunroom will make a great playroom while the little ones are little. I've seen that sunroom with nothing in it but a low-pile play rug and Lego. Or balls. Or plastic hockey sticks. Or those big Little Tykes (slide, trikes, trains) Or Hot Wheels. Or dollhouses. Or art projects (easy-to-clean tile floor). Usually just one or two of those. But a great playspace, near you but not, outdoors but not. After they are done with those types of toys, it can be dining space and added living space. You don't need the shed until Boy #1 gets a car. Oops, didn't mean to scare ya lol! Upstairs, I wonder if you can steal some space from the game room to make a reach-in closet for Bedroom 2, and use its walk-in closet to expand the bathroom. 5 boys will need more counterspace, more drawer storage, and (I can't believe I'm saying this, I'm usually a 1-sink gal) 2 sinks. Downstairs, consider eliminating the study closet and adding a shower to the powder room.

I live in a cold climate and love our sunroom, we call it a 3 season room. They are very desirable around here. We use it spring, summer and fall as our livingroom. Sometimes if we need the room in the winter we open the slider door and turn on the heater. At one time it was a porch and could only be used in the summer. I would never consider turning it back into a porch and it would lower the homes value. Its use would be greatly limited. How large is it? It hard to tell on the picture, but if it is narrow balcony then I don't think it would hurt the value greatly, if it is room size then it would hurt the value if you live in a cold climate. You could reframe it with different windows or paint your home to blend with it.

Note to self, do not read Houzz comments while at work. I was lol-ing in my corner and I'm sure everyone thought I'd finally lost what little still remained of my mind. :) Jan Moyer: I had a quick browse through your projects. You do beautiful work! I find it a bit sparse...joking. :) I can see how my house would drive you crazy. 15 years of homeschooling means I have way too much stuff. (No, I'm not one of "those" homeschoolers. I don't own a denim jumper and my kids are all professionals; IT guy, nurse & doctor. Phew!) mytwo cents: I love the sofa and the chairs and the thought of a checkboard entrance with an Asian piece and, and...:) Seriously though, our homes are a reflection of our lives. (Apparently, mine is cluttered and too busy...true story.) I recall reading an article that said NOT to buy anything that you don't love, nor display anything that doesn't have a story or reason to belong. Your home tells me that you appreciate traveling to experience many cultures, love beauty, read expansively, and that you're a dreamer at heart, though practical out of necessity...usually. How'd I do? :D I love the before and after you posted. I'd be happy with something like that, though our project would likely be done in stages. It would certainly be easier to put the sunroom on the left, but I fear we're too close to the property line; we have to be 30m (98 feet for the Americans). Adding it to the master bedroom might already be pushing it. I can hardly wait for the architect to visit. I'll have some stellar options to show him! Meanwhile...I'll be decluttering. (Good thing I didn't post a photo of my laundry room...:D)