Here is the latest plan from the architect. I do think I am going to move forward with this and cut back on one other remodeling project in the house to help make up some of the cost difference. -The architect flipped the bathroom. -He extended the wall on the left, which will have a long window above. He left one slider to get the bikes out. I like the wall as it adds more privacy from the road/driveway. -He added a door out of the garage to the back yard. - He added 8" in width by moving the wall closer to bedroom 3, so now the room is almost 13'8". But I am thinking I might just move it back to 13'. -Now, do I want a slider where the parrot cages are with access to the backyard? I kind of think I do. I can see myself pushing them out there to clean them (although they are fairly easy to clean with Lysol/bleach wipes). I could see this as a dog room also for someone else with access to the backyard. As it stands now, I might put a fence as in the third pic, and let a dog use bedroom 3 with a doggie door to the fenced area. - Th ctr. Is suggesting a door in the six foot opening into the laundry to keep the AC separate. I have no idea what to put there. Thank you!!! :)

Regarding the shutters - it's not the color of the shutters - it's that the windows are too wide. Shutters are supposed to look functional even if they aren't functional. They are supposed to look like they can cover the window on which they are placed. They never go on bay windows or triple windows unless they are Bahama type shutters which would be inappropriate for your area and inappropriate for your house. Please read this short article on shutters: https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/ As to the front door, that oval window is what makes it a Victorian style door. Your house isn't Victorian and would look so much better with an MCM type door or a solid door. The reason others are suggesting a light color for your door is that a brown door creates the "black hole" effect on the face of your house. It's hard to visualize if you are accustomed to seeing the brown, brown, brown that you currently show. There are other neutral, but lighter paints so your front door becomes visible. I agree that the landscaping you have now buries the house and doesn't bring out it's features. I hope you end up with a good landscape plan. Reach out to the landscape forum here too. They can provide suggestions, for free, to enhance your landscaping.

Well in theory I agree with H202 but rarely do you see a situation where the match is exact - usually you have to sand the existing and stain all to get an exact match. Sheen is the other part that is really hard to match as an older top coat looks different than a new top coat even if done in the ‘same’. Best if your pro wood floor contractor can show you stained boards for your approval prior to starting. Have patience to wait for the right pro and maybe wait til wood prices adjust as now would be the most costly time to do this work should you go that route. A charcoal slate look floor tile would work should you choose to go the tile route.

@ci_lantro it would have been wise to consider changing out that half round. However, the front windows were replaced (minus the half round because it's still in good shape) about 8 yrs ago. This siding project is set to start the end of this month. We recently ordered some windows for the back of the home and the price had DOUBLED in the 8 years since we replaced the front windows. We wouldn't have enough time to order the transom at this point and we're probably at the point of "good enough". Hindsight is 20/20. There are things I would have done differently if I had a do-over button (window grid patterns etc. - I didn't know at the time that we could customize the grids in the windows we were getting and the installer didn't ask what we wanted). I've learned a lot in 8 yrs. Maybe these half round windows will come back? Yeah, probably not!