Oooohhh, do NOT get me started on how much I love used book stores! *L* In addition to the bird/chicken books I mention on my 'My Page', here are a couple of others that discuss birdkeeping in a more anecdotal, very enjoyable reading format: "Adventures With Talking Birds" by Catherine Hurlbutt, some personal stories by a little old lady wild bird rehabber, with darned good insights and advice. "A Hummingbird In My House, The Story Of Squeak" by Arnette Heidcamp, another book sritten by a lady who raised orchids and one day found a baby hummingbird, whom she successfully raised. and lastly, just for fun: "A Field Guild To Little-Known And Seldom Seen Birds Of North America" by Ben, Cathryn and John Sill. There is also a sequel to this book, both are howlingly funny. John Sill is an honest-to-goodness Audubon and Stokes guides illustrator, who in these totally tongue-in-cheek books has helped create a field guide parody to a whole flock of imaginary birds with names such as Eastern Spider Spitter and Prairie Molter. The Audubon-style illustrations, coupled with hilariously funny species names (in Latin, too) and descriptions, will have you laughing so hard it hurts. :) Velvet

peppapoodle, thanks. All great suggestions. I'm going to stick with what I ordered, to get through the next 5-7 years until the kids are grown. I did not spend a lot on the sofa, and think it will in fact, meet out life style for today. Love the table and chairs idea by the front window, but then it would block a major traffic flow front entryway into the kids living space. K9arlune, I could do that. I may or may not have a spot to relocate the secretary but it was an inexpensive find, second hand, that I chalk painted. Not as dreamy as the Lee chair but at $200 (less than a quarter the price), I found this chair on Wayfair that still gives the farmhouse, casual look I love. I may order 1, see how it looks then get the second if I love it.

One of the best decisions I've ever made re my kitchen, was to replace the hideous laminate countertops that were there when we bought this house, and to use Glacier White Corian. We did not replace the ugly cabinets - we painted them, and since they were quite plain, it worked. We actually had more cabinets made to match them to give me more counter space. But those Glacier White Corian countertops have proved to be perfect AND "timeless"! When we did the fixed up the kitchen after buying the house, we painted the cabinets a color called "Scarab Green" - it matched the green in the fabulous Brunschwig & Fils french documentary wallpaper I used, called "Fraises des Bois". The white countertops made it "work". About 15 years ago, DD told me my kitchen looked dated and I needed to update it. She was right - those green cabinets screamed 1980's, but I did love that wallpaper. Tore my heart out when it came down! But I moved forward. I painted the cabinets a light, warm taupe, used a Farrow & Ball wallpaper for the backsplash and walls, called "Polka Squares". At that time, we also redid the lighting in the kitchen and put in wood floors, bought a new stainless dishwasher (Scarab Green sprayed refrigerator had died and was replaced by a white one), a new stainless hood (goodbye Scarab Green painted hood!) and an integrated Corian sink and a new faucet. But those Glacier White Corian countertops looked terrific with the new color scheme and were in outstanding condition. Fast forward to last year. I had already gotten a new stainless steel Vent-a-Hood and a counter depth stainless refrigerator, and I was finally ready for new cabinets. At my age, drawers are a HUGE help for me, and I wanted drawers. I'm very much attracted to white kitchens, but since my kitchen faces due west and the back wall is taken up mostly by a huge bay window, it would have been very glarey and also just not quite right with the hall and the DR. While not an "open concept" kitchen, one does still need to look at the rooms that abut it! So, this time I chose Repose Gray and Shaker cabinets. I painted the walls 1/2 strength Repose Gray had them leave out the magenta (appears in bright light). I also painted the woodwork a bright white, going against having all my woodwork in the house the same color. It's fine - remember, no "open concept". I removed the old 4" Corian backsplash, and put white Carrera marble large subway tile behind the cabinets and behind the stove etc. But guess what stayed and was re-used? My Glacier White Corian countertops and integrated sink! It's still in perfect condition! And it's truly a timeless classic. It may not be the "hottest trend", but I can tell you that in the UK, Corian (almost always Glacier White) is used in the highest end homes, in particular in highly contemporary ones - it is considered a "luxury" surface there. Glacier White Corian is like a white dress shirt for a man or a great white blouse for a woman. It ALWAYS looks good, and goes with everything. Like the above, it can be bleached if a horrid stain occurs, and since it is a solid surface, it is very easy to keep clean. Yes, it does scratch, but all those scratches are light surface ones, like the scratches that appear on ones sterling flatware over years of use - it's called "patina", not scratches, as it is not something one must simply accept (as one learns to do with etching and stains on marble) - it actually enriches the appearance of the surface. I think painted cabinets are far less likely to look dated than stained wood ones are. We've had cherry, golden oak, and now are using rustic alder etc. They date a kitchen as accurately as an Avocado Green or Harvest Gold refrigerator! Other "timeless" features are true site-finished hardwood floors throughout the house, stained in a medium warm color. There have always been floors like this and there always will be. Bleached woods, hand scraped wood - all these are trends that will date a house. Good windows are also timeless. Replacing the pair of double-hung windows with a huge bay was a very good move on our part. It brought the back garden into the room, made the small room (11x15) feel longer, and gives me a place above my sink for plants. My white orchids LOVE it there - great light, and all that humidity/steam when I run the hot water (I do let it run to give them this steam and humidity, while the dog eats, before washing her dish). As lighting looks change, one can easily change fixtures as well. Undercounter lighting is going nowhere - we must see to cook. Pulls can be changed for a newer look if that's what one wants. I don't see stainless going anywhere as it makes our huge appliances appear, well..not quite so huge. And it's neutral. My advice to anyone doing a kitchen is to stick with good bones. Make the more permanently affixed things more classic. They are not only expensive to replace, they are disruptive and destructive to the house and just a PITA in general. There are a ton of granite countertops out there today that instantly date a kitchen; in 5 years, there will be a ton of quartz ones that do the same. Most people do not like the look of "aged and used" marble and it's going to be coming out. Mosaic tiles for a backsplash? That was a trend that didn't last 5 years! Screams "dated". Subway tile may not yell "I'm hip and trendy" anymore, but it also won't scream that one is dated. H&M is the place to satisfy ones hip and trendy wants and desires. Just don't do it in a kitchen that takes forever to rip out and replace, and will cost one a fortune. And don't let anyone tell you that Corian is "dated". Some patterns certainly are, but if one sticks to Glacier White, it will still look good 5 owners after you.

As drawn, the house seems wide -- a 53' porch is a 5 car garage. Your windows are different sizes and it's noticeable on the 2nd floor. This concept is an attempt to visually narrow the main part of the house, to give the smaller outside windows a place of their own, and to add some additional windows. This also shows a lower pitched roof. I'd explore some additional ideas, like keeping the center mass the same and adding the 2 story addition all on one side, making it look more "added on". Needs the help of an Architect familiar with this style of house.