A fan can reduce the feeling of hot, typically anywhere from 7 to 10 degrees. Obviously in our southern climate a fan will not be enough once summer time temperatures kick in. A fan in a room is probably not bad insurance to allow occupant that comfort choice whether to use the fan or not. Typically a ceiling mount fan is more than adequate. They come in all sizes of fan blade reach. Most small rooms a 42" fan blade ceiling mount fan is more than adequate for larger room you could install a 52" fan blade ceiling mount. Most ceiling fans come with a reversing switch that depending on how you have it set will either blow air up to the ceiling or down to the floor. Not everyone likes a ceiling fan, because if you have a home office or the room you are trying to cool is on the second floor of the structure... the fan is probably not going to do much most of the time and blowing things around is kind of annoying. If keeping utilities low are your goal: There are ways and methods to find the cool oasis you are looking for. Obviously this comes at a cost far greater than merely installing a ceiling fan. Air Conditioners are rated in SEER's this stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER rating, the less it will cost you to operate. Approximately 12 years ago 10 SEER equipment was still being sold (prior to 2006). Now the minimum SEER rating is 14 for the south. However, current SEER ratings can hit 20 SEER or higher. These systems not only are cost effective but also reduce humidity to a large extent. To the point a ceiling fan would make you too cold on most days. Comfort is a fickle beast. No two people are alike. But a home is an investment and I can guarantee when it comes time to sell that investment a well cooled home in a hot climate like 'Texas' you're more likely to find people who want to be really comfortable. This will help you sell your house, when that time comes. If you're comfortable with a fan, imagine how much more comfortable you'd be with less humidity. Single speed AC's just can't measure up to the task of humidity removal in the south. In my home, ceiling fans are more of a decoration piece... and also serve as a back up in case the AC goes down. I service the Katy, Texas area.

Fixed windows are less expensive generally than those that ope (casement, slider etc). We just recently ordered some transom windows, 7 foot wide and angled - that window cost about $1500 CAD. But, like others said, it means some structural work in the wall as well as new interior and exterior finishes. It is certainly doable and those inspiration pictures are beautiful. Have a look at some pictures on Houzz for more ideas. I agree with Jan, that the fireplace needs to have more presence, it looks too small for the space. I couldn't find any pictures that mirrored the style you like, but here are some ideas to expand and extend the fireplace, making it much more of a focal point and then put your new windows around it. I'm not suggesting a stone facade like this, but you see the idea to make it wider and taller and then place the windows around it. The height extension could be a drywall bumpout - it wouldn't have to have stone or covering of any sort on it, but you could consider painting it a slightly different colour or some nice architectural trim - actually the second inspiration photo with the taupe walls, see that fireplace, nicely trimmed out and extended. Those changes would really make a difference to that room to help with the scale of the tall ceilings which you like. As you can see in the original picture, there is a ceiling fan up in the corner and a not very pretty one at that. So that may tell you that Jan's suggestion that heating and cooling the room is currently an issue. If you consider extending the fireplace, then consider some concealed vents in the extension that would help move air around in the room and allow you to get rid of the ceiling fan. That room has potential for sure. I think it would be greatly helped by some paint colour and some large scale art and different window coverings. You could do a LOT more if you want but maybe start small and see how you like it.

If you do not need or care for the ceiling fan than replace it with a single light fixture that relates to the existing fixture over your kitchen dining nook area. The chandelier you have in mind is very formal which does not feel like a good fit for this combined kitchen/ living room. The urban/ rustic nature of the living room flooring has a more informal feel. Having three light fixtures would detract from the attractive vault feature in this room and is not really necessary. It is a very nice room with great windows!

The OP did not mention placing bedrooms in the basement. He asked about costs of a 1-story house with a basement vs a 2-story house with a basement. I stand by my original comment that a 2,000 sq ft basement will cost more to construct than a 1,000 sq ft basement. Of course, once the larger basement is constructed, the owner will have more living space in the 2,000 sq ft finished basement than in the 1,000 sq ft finished basement. To further your unrelated discussion, here where I live in Northern NJ, we have a lot of steep lots that lend themselves to walk-out basements. One of my favorite houses is on a steep lakefront lot. It’s a ranch and the master bedroom suite is located on the main level along with the open floor plan living room/dining room/kitchen, plus a powder room. The walk-out basement features two additonal bedrooms a full bath and another living room. Its a 3 bedroom house and 100% of the living space has windows with specatacular views overlooking the lake! The main level features a large deck across the entire width of the house overlooking the lake. Below the deck is a patio that also overlooks the lake and is accessible from the second living room in the walk-out basement. I love it! The basement absolutely DOES NOT feel like a basement! The space not overlooking the lake is used for other non-living space functions. On the main level there is an attached garage on the street side. In the basement, there are mechanical rooms and storage rooms on the street side which is underground. 100% of the living space has lake views, INCLUDING the rooms in the basement.