When I first came to Garden Web, I was a bit apprehensive as I had heard about how snobbish, and unkind the forums were. Some forums are snobbish and unkind, but not this forum. This is a wonderful place to visit everyday. Feeling blue, or at a loss as what to do in gardens, just visit here and you will be inspired by the many topics of conversations, as well as by the lovely photos of each flower and garden. I feel honored to be part of this gardening family. "One of the most delightful things about gardening is the freemasonry it gives with other gardeners, and the interest and pleasure all gardeners get by visiting other people's gardens. We all have a lot to learn and in every new garden there is a chance of finding inspiration - new flowers, different arrangement or fresh treatment for old subjects. Even if it is a garden you know by heart there are twelve months in the year and every month means a different garden, and the discovery of things unexpected all the rest of the year. - Margery Fish, We Made a Garden, 1956 Thank you all for sharing your hopes, dreams, and inspiration. I have learned from so many of you, and am even enjoying some plants either grown from seed or cuttings, or little plants, from some of your gardens in my own. FlowerLady

My new hvac install doesn't include a 5" media air filter nor fixing the hole to the crawl space inside my return vent. This is the hole that I patched with duct tape and plywood. My plan is to look for another installer (not any of the ones that previously bid on my system) and get a quote to do this: 1. Add a 5" media air filter 2. Correctly fix the inside of the return vent 3. Inspect the areas listed in the common mistakes document: (a) check the lineset for size, pressure, refrigerant -- I posted earlier that my installer says to use 3/4 suction line which is consistent with my condenser's manual. (b) check the airflow through the evap coils -- this is to make sure that the blower on the heater is at 1200 CFMs. (c) check the primary and secondary condensate drains -- installer already said he needs to install secondary drain since it's currently missing. (d) check the electrical including disconnects outside and in attic -- I already have a disconnect on the outside condenser that's slightly above and to the side of the unit. It might cost me more than $200, but I'm getting a new air filter, fixing the hole to the crawl space, and getting a checklist of items to consider fixing. Prior to getting a quote, I'm going up in the attic to review the install myself with my current installer. I'm going to check the seal of every duct to the register boots to make sure there are no air leaks that I can feel with my hand while the air is on. I'm going to check that all the new ducts are not obstructed in any run. I'm going to ask for the location of the disconnect in the attic for the gas furnace. I'm going to check the lineset for visual leaks. I'm going to inspect the lineset connections to my outside unit. I'm going to check the amount of air coming out of each supply register.

Well we're not done yet, so I'm sure I'll have more to tell you in a while..:) But, for now: -I went with a lot of vintage lighting. First of all I tried to save money which I did; second, they were charming and well-made fixtures. most of them from Europe. The wiring is fine, etc. However when the time has come to install them it appears some of them missing little things like crossbars and stuff..naively we go to Home Depot where we are told none of the standard American stuff will fit these lamps. So then it begins: running to specialty stores, ordering things on British website(why British? no idea. apparently they do have some of these parts. while other sites simply don't), and I-don't know-what-else. Yes, I saved a lot of money. Maybe hundreds maybe thousands I don't know (of course I'd like to think it's thousands)). But I really have no patience for another month spent trying to refit two thirds of the lamps. The GC has much less patience than me of course. You get the picture.. -Or: the countertop in the kitchen doesn't overhang enough. Doesn't bother me I must say, but my husband is really mad. We had no idea we should specify it, and the granite guy didn't ask. It also happened so that the inspector from the gas company came at the same time to look at something the city saw as problem(not related to the build; just a coincidence) when the granite guy was working on the template..we had to run between the two of them. The inspector is outside, the granite guy is measuring inside..no wonder we didn't ask. I don't know why he didn't; he then said that we seemed really knowledgeable and confident. No! That's how I look when I'm really tired lol. -Or: we went with a very complicated design for master bath. Or should I say, we wanted a lot done in a modest space. It looks good by the way. But they redid it so many times to fit it all, that now we'll have a) narrower vanity b) narrower bathtub. If I knew I'd let go some of our grand ideas. It would be still nice, and I'd have more functional space. -Or: I'd order some things more in advance than I did. I had no idea that oil rubbed bronze and chrome are usually in stock, but polished nickel is suddenly considered a special order and takes weeks. And you don't really know until you start actually purchasing. In short I did not know many things. So a designer wouldn't solve all of these issues of course. But he/she would anticipate most of them. Simply because of experience, better spatial thinking, better knowledge of the resources..because of studying it before and dealing with it a lot every day. Even me-not a designer-would be wiser a second time. Only I'm not going to do it for a second time, never ever..:) And if I'd choose to work with someone and had money for it-wishful thinking here-it would be someone significantly more talented than me. Sense of admiration from working with someone better than you not just helps. It creates excitement and pushes you forward too. When you're alone it feels different. Not right away maybe. But within several months, I felt less excited, less creative, less confident, less everything. It's not fun; when it's small reno it might be fun, when it's long and involves a whole house, it's already a job. Almost a full time job. And you don't necessarily enjoy it as much as you imagined. Every job has nice parts-and parts that are tiresome and very lackluster. You do the lackluster, a lot. And you pay for it too:)

First thank you all for commenting. When I break ground I plan on starting a new thread and will start with a link to all the previous threads, including this one, which is why I wanted to make sure this one was updated with the "latest and greatest" in the exterior elevation. In fact last night I was looking over some of the old threads and was aghast at what I actually started with. While the original layout wasn't terrible, the elevations were ghastly. LOL. (And I'm being kind.) I'm truly thankful that so many of you stuck with me on my journey so far and were so helpful in getting my house to where it is now. A special shoutout to the architects, especially Renovator8, Virgil and ARG. Thanks Russ. I like it. How wide is it from window to window including the door and your trim? what change did you make to your friend's entry? Thank you ILoveRed. In the drawing above from window to window is probably a bit too wide in the elevation but it's correct on the plan. So it will probably be just a bit narrower, but I wanted to have it to show the builder how I wanted it built. It's about 9 1/2' from trim edge to trim edge. Oops. Here's the friend's entry. I've been debating about the molding around the outer frame of the door entry. With or without? On the right side elevation, what is the band under the study windows? That's actually behind the master (for now until we change it) but it's the A/C and pool equipment. Both need to be enclosed according to code. However I will NOT have AC's below my bedroom window, especially with my bed up against that wall! I'm expecting them to move it to behind the study.