Next on the To-Do List in relative order of priority: Garden Arch: Full Sun. Would like suggestions on what to grow on this. I don't think I want a climbing rose, since it's already surrounded by roses, but I'm not completely against any good suggestion :). What i DON'T want is something that will take over the structure. I was thinking maybe some kind of Clematis? I'd love to hear your opinions on the idea and suggestions for a variety that would work in this spot! Also happy to hear any other suggestions! Raised Planter: Need some ideas for permanent plantings to go around this tree. The area gets FULL SUN and is too far from those tall trees in back to get much relief until very late in the day. As far as style, I prefer something more informal and don't want to plant symmetrically around the tree (Does that make sense?). I know the roses are planted in a somewhat structured and formal way, and I don't mind them since they sort of separate the patio area from the garden. But I'd like to be a bit more varied with the rest of the garden. Back to the planter...I'd like something to spill over the edge in a few areas, and other plants to be more contained. Am I correct in assuming that I should wait to plant until after the summer heat dies down, especially in this area of the yard which gets a LOT of sun? Is there anything I CAN plant now that will do well temporarily so that there is some interest in this planter until I have a more definite plan? Planting beds surrounding lawn: I laid down newspaper/cardboard and covered everything with a thick layer of compost and was planning to just let the worms have their way with this soil until sometime in the fall or early spring. I've had luck improving soil this way, although not such a large area, but I'm hoping it will work fine. Should I cover the compost with landscape paper to block weeds until I'm ready to plant? Under mature trees in back: Sine this area is basically all shade all the time, albeit bright shade, the plantings will be much different than everywhere else. I'm just not sure how closely to plant near these mature trees. I'm thinking hydrangeas will do well in this spot, and I'd love to have at least a few in the garden.

Twins- Thanks for the clarification. You definitely need a larger addition, IMHO. Any chance of adding a bigger garage, to match the new addition? I don't know if you need the space, but it would seem to fit nicely into the overall plan...and probably increase the value of your home. I think your living space should be roughly equal to your bedroom/bathroom space. Think of a 2 story home...main floor living space, upstairs is bedroom/bathroom space. So...with that in mind, I would want to keep the layout of your first plan...and add the dining bump out, mentioned earlier. I'd add a rectangular dining room addition, where you have the wall of windows, in the family room. Then, you'd still have all those windows, but they'd be 10' to 12' further back, with a slider/french door on the 'left' side going out to a deck/patio, behind the kitchen. Great place for a BBQ. The fireplace/TV could be on the 'right' wall with the seating area 'as is' and maybe some windows on the TV wall, as you show in your pictures. This would give you plenty of room for the table and the seating area...without giving up kitchen and island space. You'll end up with a great entertaining space that can be flexible, when you have larger get-togethers :) As for the master bedroom (a bit off topic, I know) but I'd think about putting the master bath against the kitchen wall (closer to your other plumbing) and create a nice noise/privacy barrier. The closet could be on the front wall (as is) and the bedroom could have windows on the side and back. Maybe a slider/french door out to the patio...even a hot tub? Just a few ideas :)

Our climate: Indiana weather. Zone 5b. The kitchen faces the east, but it faces the ravine behind the house. So while there will be some sunshine, a lot of it will be blocked by trees. Especially in the early morning, which is fine, I'm not much of a morning person anyways. It will have 9ft ceilings, or just under when finished. The overall style of the house is barn-esque. We wanted something that would blend in with the setting. Brown metal gambrel roof and wooden vertical siding with a large stone chimney off of the family room. I don't want the interior to match the exterior, and it doesn't bother me that it doesn't. I actually like the idea of formal rooms inside of a barn, kind of a pleasant surprise when you walk in the door. I'm sure others will hate it, but it's the look I'm going for. I would like the island to be the majority of the countertops in the kitchen. I would like for it to be used for prep as well as seating if possible (my husband wants an eat in kitchen, I want a formal dining area, and I'm willing to do both even in the same room if the areas can match well. I would be insane to have any more kids, but I thought that after the first, and the second, and still managed a third. So while highly unlikely, there is a rare chance that I'll miss having little ones around when they all are off to school in 3 years. The front entrance will be the most used. Our actual yard will be in the front of the house where the kids will do most of their playing while they are young. It's defined by trees right now. I would love to keep it that way. As the girls get older, they will probably hike around in the woods more, and instead use the basement entry. We plan a walkout basement in the side of the hill with a porch off the front of it. I think the hill is too steep for the basement to walk out directly at ground level. We do not want to change much of the land. There is a small creek and a large trail that will run behind the house. I would have loved to put a half bath under the stairway, but that stairway will also lead to the basement, so there isn't enough room for a bathroom there. Honestly, I don't think we will use the family room much. I just labeled it family room, because as lavender_lass stated, it's a trophy room. If a door is necessary, I don't want to be able to see through it. While I personally don't mind the taxidermy (I hunt as well), I would love to have a place for it in the house. I have family that isn't a huge fan of seeing it, and it does get a little overwhelming in our current tiny home. Mostly, because it's spewing into every room in the house except the kitchen and dining room. I think we will actually use the living room more often. We're not too big on formal around here, although I love the look. And I think the living room can have a formal sense to it, and still function as a heavily used area. That being said, I don't mind opening up living room to the kitchen more, as long as there is still a defined space. I do not like open layout floorplans, and love to be able to get away from a messy kitchen if needed. That's my biggest concern with a combo kitchen/dining. Although, I love pictures of fancy eat-in kitchens. Chicagoans- I love the sliding doors with the rail at the top. I have the current setup in my new temporary kitchen here at our current home. I would love to do this on as many doors as possible. I would also love for their to be French doors to the porch from the kitchen/ dining room area. I haven't decided on countertop either. I saw some gorgeous black and white marble that I loved, but marble makes me a little nervous. My husband is well known for throwing down tools and anything else on the kitchen countertops now. Thank goodness they are pre-cut green laminate pieces that I actually enjoy watching getting demolished a little bit at a time. I'm thinking something very durable that will last forever would be ideal. I would prefer to have a kitchen that will last for the next 10-15 years, at least, with little change. Here was my little board of some materials if I went with off white cabinets.

Poor OP! Others get criticized for posting plans where they've already got everything noted, down to the location of the toilet paper holders. OP posts a blank slate and gets roasted anyway. j/k, j/k OP, you at least need to provide some info on which compass direction the front of the house faces, general climate and terrain info (rains all the time, blazing hot 7 months of year, hilly, swampy, rural, burbs, city), and lot size. Add things like # of occupants, ages, lifestyle (outdoorsy, screen addicts), pets. Then maybe the veterans here can guide you in making a bubble diagram to get a feel for how you might want to live. You can then take that to an architect, who can transform it to match your needs and wants, including some that you probably don't even know that you have. But I agree with the others: although there's a morbid entertainment in gutting part or all of a house to the bones and starting over, it costs a FORTUNE. Remodeling generally costs more than a new build, and both generally cost more than just buying a house that already works for you. good luck...