LOL! Laxsupermom, I'm in L.A. so dead of winter isn't usually too hard on the herbs once they're well established. :) Thanks so much for the "love, love, love" since I've been time-shocked for months and missed them elsewhere. It's very reassuring! In fact, in looking at why I don't need the greenhouse window, I'm realizing it's not because I need it for the winter thing, or even for the beauty thing, and it's not even the light thing (though I'm reassured that there won't be less light). It's the LOVE thing I want!! If I do this I want to love my windows as much as I love the newish french doors on the studio, rather than, eh, it's a window. Raenjapan, I hadn't thought of doing the greenhouse window at counter level. Interesting idea! It could be very cool. I don't know if it's possible. This one might be only standard sizes. But I'll check. Rhome, Good point! I don't know if the shape and placement of the old windows would bother me, but the yucky oldness might! Thanks for pointing that out. And the kitchen has looked like crap with stuff being packed piled everywhere for so long I forgot how pretty it will be. :) With the slider right there I don't really need the pass through window and counter, especially since the penninsula is turning into an island so there won't be the walking around it, but it'll sure make entertaining out back easier. Rosie, thanks for the straight answer! Part of my problem with the decision has been that I am the designer. My contractor--one of the guys wanting this--has a design background and has contributed some excellent and important ideas, and I daresay the cabinet maker will contribute some more (different one than the also excellent guy who said to change the windows). Mostly, the design is mine however, with a lot of input, help and encouragement from the folks here.

Thanks Spencer, you just gave me an idea... since the 1/2 BA butts up against the back wall of the garage I can just reroute the existing GFCI protected line that currently runs to the BA and connect it to a new single receptacle on the back wall of the garage... then switch that line to the LINE output side of the GFCI. This is easy to do because the drywall has been removed from the wall with the GFCI due to recent Earthquake strengthening. Since I need to keep power to the upstairs baths during this reno I can temporarily connect the new home run line to the existing garage GFCI since its only a couple of feet from the panel. It will get routed to the panel when the rest of the new circuits are added.

Ok, I understand. I was trying to just get to the point and didn't realize how helpful you all would be. I'm thankful for your consideration. My dad is an engineer and did the inspection. That being said the areas that need fixing are very obvious and I aim to do that. I have a price to take down three trees in front of the house for 1,000. The others I can handle with a chainsaw. I'll do the painting myself and have a contractor fixing the porch and putting new gutters. The contractor will also install new top cabinets in the kitchen to match the already replaced cabinets on the bottom. That's 5k. Also all the floors will be sanded and poly for about 3k. Does everyone agree that the foundation that's exposed should be dark blue to match all the shutters? I'm planning on sanding and painting the front door the same color as the shutters. I was considering putting the key stone window trim above the front windows as well. I will do a lot of the lawn maintenance myself. I am planning on replacing some of the lighting. And do consider the fans to need replacing. Does everyone agree that the columns can stay as they are? I need to see what happened to make them lean toward the road. If they can be salvaged I can save a lot of money there however I thought 10 inch pillars and a colonial railing and fence would add class to this house. The railing that's there is very water logged and they used siding that doesn't match the house.

So u have a tandem... too... mine is 14 ft wide,entire length with my addition is 34 ft, my garage door is standard 9 ft wide by 7 ft high,your door seems wider which is why i thought you had a double car side by side.Gutter question is my shed front porch lines up with gable roof,so both gutters are interlocked or even with each other. You have a staircase which i dont. I want to ask u how your gutters work with flat roof,if i consider s flat roof,Im hopingjust gable comes off& ceiling inside can stay intact along with gutters, soffett vents, as they are. A deck is a fine idea! Im gettibg a sketch done for flat roof, but 1st im just going to paint door blue & maybe the trim, tan or leave it white. Let me know how your gutters work, thanks again..