Thanks, Ikbum - good to know! Right now, I'm thinking that if I can find a good slider - maybe with a transom on top, if that will make using the door easier - if the way I'm thinking to go. Will post again once I'm settled. Thank you to you and asm. This conversation has been really useful!

I have a patio door with a single sidelight the same width as one of the patio doors. It looks like a 3 panel setup but only two of the doors open. I think they are 36" wide but would have to double check. So a bit wider that your existing opening. Looks similar to the door in the picture but i have two doors that open.

Actually both are pretty poor. Agree that in both the garage is way too small. First the Clay: I just noticed that to get to the laundry room you need to climb up or down stairs on the landing to get into the room. And you open the laundry room door if you're inside and step down? VERY UNSAFE! Oh and it gets worse! To get to the master bathroom, you have to walk up two steps??? I'd hate to be trying that one in the middle of the night when I'm half asleep. Hate the two story family room for all the reasons stated already. Hate that the toilet is on the same wall as bedroom 4. Also hate that the closet takes up an outside wall so no chance for windows and cross ventilation on two walls. And not a single linen closet?? In the whole downstairs there is a total of 1 closet. Where do you store anything? The Paxton: Since you say you don't use a dining room, what will you use it for since you already have a rec room and a family room? At least there's a single closet downstairs besides the coat closet and the pantry. Still not much storage though. Again hate the open to below for all the reasons stated. This at least is not a hazard with the stairs coming out of rooms. Double doors into the bedroom? Where will you put light fixtures? Good luck walking around the tub to get to the toilet in the middle of the night if you're like me and hate turning on the light. That bathroom is very poorly designed. The master shower looks small. How can you have a sitting area if that's the space you need to walk past to get into the bathroom? The shower looks very small considering all the wasted space in the bathroom. Again, no linen closet for the other bathroom or for bedding? Personally, if it were me, I'd keep looking. That's a lot of space but most of it is not good usage.

Thanks aprilneverends, Oliviag/bring back Sophie, Flo Mangan, daisychain01, and Jennifer Hogan. I greatly appreciate everyone's insights! I like the idea of black, however I worry if I am too heavy handed with too much black in the small space, the contrast will be too strong. In my home in Illniois, where I live all the time, I have touches of black in each room, such as: art, a cabinet, a lamp, a clock, etc. I feel it's grounding and offers a nice pop with other colors and finishes. I currently have a chair at the upholstery shop that is going to the Michigan house. It's a wood frame chair and I plan to have it painted a worn black or dark charcoal. The fabric for the back and seat cushions is a buffalo check with creme, soft grays and beige tones. I also fell in love with a painting of a white/creme cow with shades of gray, brown and green on a black background this summer. She's waiting patiently to move to Michigan. Perhaps I should post her picture as inspiration for all of you too. :-) I love her contrast, her eyelashes, her whiskers, her quiet strength with her feminine flower crown...she just makes me happy! In my Illinois kitchen I have a colorful rooster with a wide black painted mat. I bought him the same way...he just made me happy and he's found a home in every kitchen since I got him. When I see pics of black door knobs and black kitchen hardware I do really like it, but will it be too much contrast in my small spaces? Would it be better to perhaps do black lighting or other pops of black and do a worn or brushed metal on door knobs and such? Or..be brave and go black. Go big or go home! :-D I also like worn brass. I have brass plates and crystal door knobs in my little 1940's white stucco cottage in Illinois. I'm definitely a vintage girl! That comes from both mom and grandma. From the time I was just a little girl I was with mom & gram scouring antique shops (or junk shops as they called them) flea markets, estate sales and garage sales. Thanks for indulging me my chatter and big thanks for your assistance!!! Over the next couple of days I plan on visiting several stores in my area on recognizance missions to see what colors, finishes and designs make my heart sing. I'll be looking at hardware, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures and tile. I welcome your insights! Here's my cow....I need to name her....maybe I'll call her Matilda or Tilly. :-D