What great information you all have given. I will look into the books and since I enjoy reading will find them to day, either online or at a store near me. DH said he'd rather not have the hastle of an elevator for some of the reason that were mentioned here so that's out. We are talking about making the first floor foot print larger and keeping one bedroom and a game room upstairs to keep a similar look of the house I like so much. I also like the open feeling of the modern farmhouse photos. What a lovely space. I'd have to simplify the ceiling to keep costs down but I like the sunlight it gives. I have a story about my piano. My parents bought it when I was about 10 and I'm 47 if that tells you anything. It's a beautiful ebony 6 ft Mason & Hamlin grand. My sister and and I both play and love music so my mom went to find us a new piano and this was the ONE! The inside is cast iron frame and when she saw it there was nothing but the body. No keys, no stain, nothing. She came home and told my dad who promptly said we couldn't afford it. They had the largest disagreement of their life over this paino. My mom told the piano man she couldn't have it and she procedeeded to pout and cry for 2 weeks. Finally my dad told her to get it (So she'd be quiet about it I'm sure LOL) It had sold to someone else by now. About a month later the piano man called to say the people who bought it couldn't make payments on it so we got it for less than the original price. It was 50 years old at the time and I've had it in my formal dining area since I was in my late 20's. My family laughs and says when my house sells the piano stays with the house so we don't have to move it again. :) Thank you for the ideas!!! Sunny

Thank you all for your feedback. It is striking in its simplicity and yet consistent geometry. The site location works for the home as do the overall dimensions. Currently the existing house faces West on a gentle slope out looking over acreage and pasture and out towards the Coast Range in Oregon's Eola Hills and backed by old growth White Oak, including a very large one that anchors the existing location in the circle drive directly South of the home. This limits what we can do footprint wise. This plan is slightly narrower that the existing home and slightly longer, but very close on both sides. We would probably make it 28 wide to minimize backfill and yes, the house would have a basement, simply because we already have one and this would be slotting into the same space. Parking is currently under the house in the basement and would continue to be so. This is simply due to constraints with the site setting. The questions around whether a great room space with shared kitchen/dining/living vs more closed off space is a valid one and I'm not sure there is a right answer there. Clearly that has been the trend in modern housing, although I'm not sure if it is the right one. I know for us, we would in fact modify the floor plan. Instead of the large vaulted space in the great room, we were thinking of making the second story complete without the loft. That gives us more square footage, storage space, and room for kids and would keep heating and cooling costs in check. We like the double masters just because we have aging parents and aren't sure if one is going to end up with us. Plus, it allows us to gracefully age in place. We would do away with the giant sliders that roll back into the walls. While we love them, they aren't practical for our acreage. Instead we would use a double set of French doors on each side. Se like the idea of porches on both sides to provide symmetry and more importantly to shade provide shade to the main floor and to provide outside space to enjoy the views. Is porch space on slab really that expensive? Are we sure the windows are steel or alumnum framed? Perhaps they are darkly colored vinyl or painted fiberglass? As for the kitchen, I would definitely change the layout and location of appliances. Anyway, thanks for the feedback and food for thought everyone. Any other input, we would love to hear it!

I immediately thought of njannabelle's kitchen in her 1850 home when I saw your photos. Here's her reveal thread, 1850s Finished Kitchen Pics There are similarities - fairly long, narrowish room with low windows - but she did not have a fireplace to contend with. Still, I think reading her reveal thread and her Layout for 1850 Colonial kitchen with 3 doors and 3 tall windows thread will help you. As Sophie wrote, hiring a KD is a good idea but we can help you get started with ideas and thinking through possibilities beforehand so that you make the most of your time and money with a KD. However, in order to do that, we need a measured drawing from you. We can't give any useful lay-out advice from photos. Go to [New to Kitchens? Read Me First! [(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~3638784)to see what we need to know. It would also be helpful to see a first floor lay-out so that we know how the kitchen relates to the rooms around it and how traffic flows to and thru the kitchen. One quick question. What do you mean by "double fireplace"? Do you mean the fireplace we see has a twin that opens into the adjacent room? Have you talked to a mason to see if you can close up the kitchen side? That may allow more flexibility with kitchen lay-outs. millworkman, the OP is an interior designer, not a kitchen designer. Pro, yes, but not in kitchen design.

I lived with my kitchen for 9 years being afraid to paint, after reading so many comments about only having done professionally. I did spend over 22 hours in my small kitchen; doing a good job is paramount. In regards to durability, after 9 months I had to use a q-tip to touch up a scratch near two handles twice. I love my kitchen and wish I had painted it years ago, even though the cabinets had a nice stain and were solid wood. All that to say, I suggest you live with it for a few months. Start keeping inspiration pictures and you may be surprised that your ideas and taste change. Based on the layout and size and also openness to other room will make a difference as well with decisions. In the meantime, some upgrades may be enough. Hardware, rug, and lighting and collect ideas for these as well and consider your living room‘s style and colors in your decisions. A good place to start is with a backsplash. My son just added subway and it made a huge difference. It goes with anything and provides a blank slate for rest of choices.