I have only ever grown two fuchsias, so please pardon my ignorance. I am looking for suggestions to replace one of them, which I'm pretty sure is rootbound (it has been in its pot for 10+ years), and has been declining. My plan is to take it out of its pot and re-pot it, but I also need suggestions to replace it in case it doesn't make it. To my regret I have practically no pictures of it - a very bad one is attached, which was taken by accident - it was in the background of another pic I was taking. It is growing in a large cylindrical shaped pot (ie round with straight sides) which is 16 inches in diameter and 14 inches high. It sits on the landing of our front stairs, which gets full sun. Right next to where the pot is is a wall which is about 2 1/2 feet high, so the actual pot is shaded from the afternoon sun. To my astonishment, soon after I planted the original one, it grew up about 2 feet, and then leaped over the wall (which is 2 1/2 feet tall on one side, but 10 feet above the ground on the other, as the landing is at the level of the second story) and cascaded down about 5-6 feet towards the ground. It looked fantastic, and bloomed almost continuously. Our climate is Mediterranean - hot dry summers and cool wet winters. (Right now it has decided to be a desert climate - no rain to speak of for the last 13 months, but that is not normal, and hopefully it will rain some day). We are zone 9, and this winter we did get below freezing for several nights in a row. When that has happened before, both of my fuchsias have looked dead, but have come back. So, any recommendations? I want one that has what I think of as "normal" fuchsia flowers, not those teenie tiny or long skinny ones. The most important thing is that it would also cascade down the side of our front stairs - that looked so amazing, and everyone thought I had planned it! Thank you so much for any ideas you may have - probably folks in this area who grow fuchsias that cascade may have the best experience to help me. Jackie

In this case an outward swinging door would serve no practical purpose. I don't know why Florida always comes up when this subject is discussed. The Florida Building Code does not require a door to open outward even in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone. Exterior doors in Florida must meet certain code standards for wind force, impact resistance and water penetration depending on the project location and in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, its so much cheaper to meet those requirements with an outward swinging door that it has apparently become common practice. The exterior door provisions that are unique to the Florida code are the higher door construction/protection standards and the deletion of the prohibition of swinging a door over a step. Cost before safety. For anyone who cares, the real challenge in designing a door to meet the higher standards is the water penetration requirement because the wind pushes an inward swinging door away from its perimeter weather seal especially at the sill. Boring, I know.

Since you're just now building your steps, at least consider lighting the steps instead of adding a large chandelier or in addition to a chandelier -- then you could choose your chandelier more for decor/ambiance than light. Like the spirals: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/665195807441781174/ Like the Green Luster and Rain Drop. https://www.google.com/search?q=long+spiral+led+lights&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyx7Sl36DoAhWIct8KHckOAYkQ_AUI-wEoAQ&biw=1366&bih=628#imgrc=8Ps8xjxnw_cyrM Not sure if this comes in a longer spiral or not but I doubt it would blow with the wind and I like the basic idea of it. Would probably like this one even more if it had less horizontal hardware between the light center and the actual LED lights. https://www.beautifulhalo.com/modern-fashion-spiral-suspension-wrought-iron-multi-light-indoor-lighting-fixture-in-white-p-327927.html?currency1=USD&track=PA_G_SUS226&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-Mn2xt2g6AIVx4CfCh085QN9EAkYBCABEgI6efD_BwE

You mention a model home, so I wouldn't be so quick to think that you can send in your own electrician at this point in the process. Who owns the lot? Is this a custom home or a production builder? Who is carrying the insurance? What does your contract say? You might not have a legal right to make any changes like that on your own. The time for any changes and additions to the plans would have been before you signed the contract. Once you own the house you can make whatever changes you want.