My own opinion a quality window with a minimum of Low E Glass with argon would be a wise investment since you only have 3 windows. The Low E will definitely help with the Ultraviolet and furnishings fading. Also in my opinion I would not even entertain using Pella. Search this site as I know you can do much better for dam near the same dollars

I like the first one in the second grouping. The top of the newel post looks a little darker. It looks wonderful with the lighter floor. I also wouldn't worry about the spindles, I think yours are lovely, I have a lot of mission stuff in my house mixed with Traditional and it looks good to me. The goose...I know you didn't ask, but here's some staining advise. Try mixing Minwax English Chestnut and Minwax golden Pecan buy the smallest cans (oil based) start with 3 parts English Chestnut and 1 part Golden Pecan, and adjust from there...if you want it darker add more Chestnut, if you want it lighter add more Pecan... Your newel post looks to be either cherry or Quarter-sawn white oak...when trying the stain on your wood sample scraps be sure to try it on the same wood as your newel post. If you're interested, I can show you samples of this stain on wood pieces in my house, it looks very much like the color squirrel posted in the first photo. Joann

Suggest he purchase solid oak and use that in place of the plywood for a new countertop. One continuous piece to run across the front, then several more about 10' long for the other exposed part -- no butt joints allowed. Have him stain a piece and get your approval. Lacquer is a poor finish for a countertop. Ask him about what he can do instead. I'd also be unhappy with the exposed fasteners and what looks like a gap where the bottom and side meet. They also should have their final finish applied prior to installing the countertop and uppers. Here is a computer model showing one of the shelf units. Note how there is no face frame. Look at your first image above and notice how the left side is a single thickness, probably 3/4" and how the face frame overhangs appear to differ on each side. I'd suggest something similar to what I show, where one side is thickened, and the opposite side does not overlap. This lets the shelves extend all the way forward instead of being behind the face frame.

Can You Put Laminate on Stairs? You can put laminate on stairs, and most laminate manufacturers provide nosing pieces that fit onto the front of the tread. Sold separately, they fit with the regular laminate planks and go on the edge of the stair tread to provide a clean look and continuity between the tread and riser.