Jeff: I re-read your post. One thing that jumped out at me was your estimated r numbers. Who gave you these? Dense pack cellulose is around 3.8-4 per inch r, so x3.5" is right around an r-13, plus 2.5 r for the .5" XPS (r5/ inch) giving you around a r-16 CAVITY. Your studs with the XPS will be somewhere around an r 6. Take all of this into account, and your clear wall with cellulose will be around r-12-13 range (without doing the math, your .5 XPS helps you slightly for a thermal break on the framing), less for batts. However factor in infiltration, and you have about an r-0 (truly) no matter which system. For my projects I like to focus on u values, and not r values. The companies that product the stuff (dow, Owens, etc) have done a great job at marketing r value, even though it tells a very small part of the story when it comes to the walls performance. I would say 80% of the people I talk to see an r-21 stamped on the fiberglass batts packaging and think they are going to have a really energy efficient house. This is exactly the marketing game they play, and want you to believe. They are not all evil of course, as they make some super products to use in sealing and high efficient construction, its just a lot are not readily available off the shell nor does anyone do the research on their site to educate themselves. U values focus on the wall assembly. Get the u values down, r will go up. But like I said, for your area, kill the air infiltration, and that will make a huge starting difference. I would also be curious to hear the feedback your architect gives for ZIP sheathing.

Finally have started to be installed, and I'm excited to finally have some photos to share. More in the album I just created on Photobucket, but I will drop a few into the post here: Bookcases and windowseat in library. The seat has shelves in front and storage behind. Also in the library are cabinets, TV/media space, and more shelves: Kitchen cabinets are in. There is a spot for cookbooks at the end of the peninsula. Wood will wrap around the peninsula. Stove with vent hood above it goes on the back wall. Some of the mud/utilty/laundry room cabinets are in: View of the living area and kitchen from the master bedroom showing the 5" oak floors: Going on Monday to template the granite and they hope to install that at the end of next week. Here is a link that might be useful: Our house pics

Hi Atelier! The horus samples arrived today!! Wow are they gorgeous!!! Both DH and I loved the cristalli the most. Love the uneven lines and the gorgeous crackle. Unfortunately, the lightest of the whites isn't white enough. It's practically identical to my soft white shiloh cabinets, and i dont expect that will change even when they are up on the walls. I think we will likely go with the Horus broadway in latte. The color is perfect. Will still have to track down a Cobsa in a soft white but I think it will be hard to beat $7.50/sq ft Any other suggestions to check out? Cannot thank you enough for your help!!!

The JSI factory is in Fall River MA. The address is: 485 Commerce Drive, Fall River, MA 02720 All of the displays are there and the cabinets are really lovely. However, they don't have full-extension drawers and only self-close not soft close. The drawers close hard/load. I was working with Stacey at Woodlist.com. He got me an appointment to see them. Their site also has a good list of the cabinets and trims available with sketches. The price point is higher than Nieghbors, but Stacey said that was flexible. Their link is below. I also went and saw the Kabinart cabinets that are available from mfkusa.com. They are great! There are lots of choices in doors, colors, cabinets and trim. The construction is top notch. The price is comparable to the JSI line. Has any one used the Kraftmaid cabinet buyer that goes to the warehouse for you? Here is a link that might be useful: Woodlist cabinets