doorih, I love the example you posted. The other ones...not so much. Will your entry be similar? I like how it shows off the entry and separates it from the other rooms coming off the entry. It's well done! DH lays wood, vinyl plank and other flooring. He's done this pattern many times. Angles and points are his favorite way to install tile, wood and even patterned carpet. Our den's antelope patterned carpet is laid at a 45 degree angle. But it will definitely cost more for the install and there will be more material to buy.

Holy cow, I had no idea stair railings were so pricey. Are you changing/ removing the carpet (and either replacing it with more carpet or a runner) because you don't like the current carpeting or is there something wrong with it? Also...niche..okay, so you're cool with quirk and it's a niche, which (to me) screams "I need to house an old, chipped up, vintage-y chalkware statue of an obscure religious figure or a circus animal". But that's just me. Like an infant of Prague would be so cool. Santos figures are great, but...chalkware is pretty darn cool. Chalkware (okay, maybe plaster...) advertising figurine. St. Therese. A really banged up version, verrrrrry neat. St. Therese...in a niche (err, a grotto...). If you don't buy this on Etsy, I will. Or you could put some removable wallpaper inside the niche and add a tuck a puck light up in the top arch of the niche so whatever you put in it is downlit. A soft/matte metallic or seagrass wallpaper would be really neat. or you could paint the back in a really moody version of whatever color your furniture is.

@ci_lantro Oooh - I like that one too. Our iron door (not yet in our possession) will have 5 glass panels of what is called "water cubed" glass, so the varied glass on this fixture sort of fitting. The door will otherwise have very simple straight lines - black iron. I do have a first impression of this fixture seeming more Mission style - but I do see how it is very transitional (mid-century, craftsman) too. As much as I want to jump into this purchase so all these finishing touches can be in before move-in, this might be one best left until AFTER we have the cabinets, flooring, doors, windows, counters, paint, etc. in and done. I'm not a professional designer, but think I generally do pretty well figuring things out - this one just not getting that aha moment yet. I'm really a "less is more" person when it comes to design - bottomline, I want anyone walking into our home to NOT have to think too much - everything must be simple lines, have a sense of calm and belonging to the space, no clutter or stand-alone reason it is there. We will be using a luxury vinyl plank - WPC or SPC - which is another immediate issue of decision. So far I like the more realistic looks of Republic or SLCC brands, but I can't quite put the exact type/color together yet (grays with brown and black undertones I think will end up in the choice). Kind of want the choice to have a bit more modern than rustic look - will create a new thread for this dilemna, which I know many struggle with - knowing the stains for our beams and island will largely help me get this figured out.

Those tiles look slick as the Dickens. Imagine coming through the door with heals on and ending up somewhere in the far wall. Or a slightly damp leather soled shoe - it would be like a skating rink. It's your choice. They are handsome tiles. It would help keep a sense of cohesion. I would lay tile to the end of the parquet. And then tile the powder room in the same. You could run the tiles all the way down the hallway but it would depend on the rest of the space and how they would tie in together. Remember: those BIG tiles are going to be a PITA to lay in a small powder room.