we will be selling our primary home to buy the new one. given the comps, we should get enough out of ours to buy this place free and clear, but will probably have to finance some of the remodel. of course fate is fickle, and while i have an extremly desirable location for comuters and great schools, it is best described as a vacation or second home, since it has two bdrms and a studio apt, which we've always had rented. but our zip code isn't the sexiest one--we live twenty miles from a very famous and popular ski area on a lesser mountain which appeals to local families (day skiers) and vacationers who prefer to avoid the crowds and the lift lines. our place is a real three season vacation home, not only is there sking and snow sports, but we have a large brook directly behind the house with waterfalls and swimming holes and a privatly owned covered bridge. you can swim, fish, hike, and mountain bike right from the backyard, so i think it attract active outdoorsy types who want a home where they can play and entertain. we have a large extended family, so when we remodeled we incorporated a large great room with wet bar and can easily seat forty for dinner. if we lived in the neighboring resort area, we'd have this place listed for much more, but then again that area has a ton of listing just sitting, and this neighborhood has more activity, since it's got less listings, if that makes sense. the apartment could easily become a bdrm suite again,if someone needs it, but as as second home it works really well as a caretaker apt. i will be shopping around for a buyers agent to represent me and getting the house ready to sell. now to find that statue...

Did you install the Simpson doors? How are they working? I live in Tennessee and in addition to humidity, rain and heat we also have cold. I do have a good overhang, but I am very firm about having a good seal around the door. Do you think the slide up and down bolt system(there is probably a better term) instead of a 3-point lock is just as good for forming a seal? I know this is old but I hope you find it.

homechef59 - Yes the idea of adding the second story has been run by a professional who came out to check the load bearing walls etc. Every piece of molding has been painstakingly removed so it can be striped of 10 layers of paint and used again once walls go back up. The house is lovely but it isn't quite worth blowing out the entire structure and reprogramming the space. If I were to do that I would certainly do things differently but as it is I'm attempting to move as few walls as possible. All of the fireplaces are staying just as they are. cpartist - I hadn't considered bumping out the wall in her room. That could definitely work. I'll measure out once I'm back at the. In your revised plan you moved the MB door closer to the opening of the front door and I'm really trying to avoid it unless I can shield it from the front door in some way. In the MB/Bath there is a double sided fireplace where you suggest putting the wall of closets. The wall of closets could work for her space so I'll ask her what she thinks about it. Thank you! I'm actually trying to be fairly kind to the current structure of the house by not gutting the whole thing which has been suggested by numerous professionals who've come to give me bids etc. Aso, not every house is worth the large investment of a total gut which I don't think is supported by comps. tartanmeup - Definitely going to attempt to come of with a less congested space plan for the back area. I think cpartist's approach of moving that wall would work as well as shopping37's approach of closing off the mudroom. I'll make a few revisions and post those ideas. decoenthusiaste - Lots of info to consider. You read the workstation correctly. There's a large monitor at my desk along with speakers/monitors but thankfully it is temporary. Having a window directly behind my monitor is functional for what I do for a living but it will be eventually moved elsewhere. Still trying to land on the best arrangement for the back area of the house. I hope not to die there! LOL I just don't plan on ever selling it. I REALLY appreciate you all challenging my ideas. It creates internal tension but the resulting thoughts/questions are helpful and I posted here for just that sort of "gut-check". I consider this homework but I promise you I'm going to hire someone who does this for a living and take their recommendations seriously.

You could also do white curtains and trim them out, using ribbon or other trims, in one (or more) of the colors if you can sew.