Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I really appreciate them. 1. For the windows, my wife and I really didn't like the way they look here. We prefer the larger windows instead of the tiny ones he had put. Nice to know we weren't alone. 2. I have asked about the roof and to make it "less complex", so we'll see what happens with that:) 3. The J&J bathroom on the main floor was a little difficult for use to realize in our heads. We wanted a shared bathroom, but separate sinks. We are still a little iffy on the closets because of what was stated. Any suggestions to the closets? We wanted to have a walk in feel to them, so we thought about leaving them open with no door so we could use the 3rd wall. Also, with the vanity area, what would be a more appropriate size? 4. We went back and forth with the pantry/powder room. In the end, we wanted the powder room closer to the living room. I think its just come down to a personal preference, but we'll see when the framing goes in. 5. The Master bedroom has been a contention between us, because like was stated, we would be loosing out on the light with only the windows facing the covered patio. My wife wants it, I'd rather have it feel more open. Any good suggestions on how to lay that out? If I just switch the locations, I will be running into issues from access to the bedroom. All ideas are welcome! 6. Exterior - I AGREE with every comment here. I really don't like it. We were trying to go with a stone and stucco combo, but for some reason it looks really gaudy in the image. Not really sure what to do. Any ideas. Again, thanks everyone for their feedback. All your comments I feel really help us better understand what we need to look for and there is always an appetite for fresh eyes. We get to tunnel focused and loose sight of the overall picture. I hope to iron some of these things out here and be able to start showing progress pictures as soon as we start the building process. I am probably going to start a building blog, so I will be sure to update this post and forum for all to follow the progress. Thanks, Matt

Having landing space behind the fridge on an island is convenient if one has a French door fridge. I have a single door fridge, but I find the island convenient if I am laying out multiple items--packages of carrots, celery, and meat for soup. Todd, I was thinking about your 'stadium seating' at the island. Since you have a long back wall, you could put the fridge on that wall, then have two seats on the short side of the island, which would also allow you to make the aisles a little wider, and would be more conducive to conversation. Downside is that the fridge will be more visible from the dining room. I moved the hall opening back, if that is feasible.

I go with the sunroom, too, and here's why. You can build a shed for cheap at some point, and until then you'll probably keep one car inthe driveway, and all the bikes and basketballs in the garage along with the yard and snow tools. The sunroom will make a great playroom while the little ones are little. I've seen that sunroom with nothing in it but a low-pile play rug and Lego. Or balls. Or plastic hockey sticks. Or those big Little Tykes (slide, trikes, trains) Or Hot Wheels. Or dollhouses. Or art projects (easy-to-clean tile floor). Usually just one or two of those. But a great playspace, near you but not, outdoors but not. After they are done with those types of toys, it can be dining space and added living space. You don't need the shed until Boy #1 gets a car. Oops, didn't mean to scare ya lol! Upstairs, I wonder if you can steal some space from the game room to make a reach-in closet for Bedroom 2, and use its walk-in closet to expand the bathroom. 5 boys will need more counterspace, more drawer storage, and (I can't believe I'm saying this, I'm usually a 1-sink gal) 2 sinks. Downstairs, consider eliminating the study closet and adding a shower to the powder room.

Thank you Jeffrey Grenz, Sophie Wheeler, and B Carey. I'm familiar and gotten very informed over the last few weeks with the challenges of traditional financing which is why I posted here. I have spoken with 3 traditional lenders who have not been interested. I should have been more specific and asked for self build financing options. Your additional comments added a lot of insight. Jeffery Grenz, I'm hoping to find more companies like Normandy Mortgage, they are the only self build financer that I have found googling. I am waiting one of their lending agents to call me back. I agree I can't let the project drag out. I'm planning on 7-10 months, assuming I can get a shell in 5-6. I've done two major rehabs in under 6 weeks each with my wife just on weekends and after work. I'm saving all the finishing work for us, which is good experience we already have and one of the more expensive mark up places for contractors. Sophie, we purchased the home last year and have a traditional mortgage with 10-20% equity. Tear downs are happening in our neighborhood at the frequency of one a month. There have been 8 on our street alone. New construction is being relisted with 3000-3500 sqft at $650k-850k, but in most cases has already been under contract before being built. So the big banks are very interested, but only at 10-15% down of appraised value (not construction value) and only working with an established builder. We have looked at HELOC's but the only one I looked at was for $90k. We are tentatively planning 2500 sq ft with construction costs of $200-250k. We are doing a very simple rectangular two story home with no complicated roof line. The current house is very liveable, but there is zero interest in fix up or renovation sales in the neighborhood. Many more buyers that just want to go the big mortgage route with big new house, than buying a 1000 sq ft 1940s square home. Any existing homes that sell now are just torn down B Carey, I'm glad to hear your experience is going well. I do not have any GC picked out. I have two names local friends gave me to speak with. I have spoken with two builders about the project that will be getting back with me. One already said that they are fine doing just a shell. Do you mind sharing what bank you have used? Maybe they know someone in my area (Charlotte, NC) as well. I have also looked into 203k loans, but the fact that I have to keep the existing foundation (won't support a two story home) and I've heard most general contractors don't like working with them. I am trying to go this route because I have the skills to finish the home and don't want to pay extra for it, and then double it over the interest of a 30 mortgage. I also would like to use a basic SIP construction for the exterior walls, which the local builders in the neighborhood are also not interested in. The two builders I have already spoken to that are on board with project, are ok with that element. My biggest challenge I forsee is finding more self build lenders. I would appreciate anymore suggestions on self build lenders (like Normandy) people might now.