Beautiful home! Very well maintained. I do like the looks of the home you attached as an example. I've done a crude photoshop of the house with the same brick as the rest of the house. I think I personally prefer the window, but I don't feel strongly about it. And don't think it looks bad/out of place without the window, either.

@joseph_corlett I have no intention to pick up a fight with you online. It appears that you're a GC, not a structural engineer, so I guess I will place more trust in the words of a licensed structural engineer and do what s/he suggests. Obviously, you have the freedom to leave whatever comments you like here. But, if I were you, I will probably refrain from doing that. What you said previously gave me the impression that you may not know what you are doing as a GC. If I am a customer in FL, you are probably the first GC to skip on my list after seeing this post.

I appreciate the suggestion of dimple board and recognition that I am not growing an Amazon jungle. I don't understand what it is about these forums that encourages prideful comments that suggest that I actually know the answer, and am just being stupid. "Exactly how much space and materials will you be saving by cheaping out on building the back wall of your 24" tall raised bed? Is it worth the risk of damaging the wall of your garage?" Is this a question or a statement? Well, the reason I came on here was because I DIDN'T KNOW there was any risk of damaging the wall. By your answer I will assume you believe there is. "Penny wise, pound foolish. And aside from that, planting things against a brick wall in full sun will bake the plants in the heat retained by the bricks." Again; doesn't even answer my question. Plus, really....bake my plants??? C'mon man. You don't even know what color the brick is. I've had stuff planted here since I moved in and it does just fine. Tomatoes love heat. All that said. after more deliberation and layouts, I ended up pushing the whole thing away from the house 24" to give me another walkway even though it creates the need for another door now. Now that it seems like soil in contact with brickwork is going to make the brick crumble apart; I should probably do something about the soil that has been pushed up on 2 courses of brickwork for the last 55 years. Miraculously, the house is still standing.

We’ve had a few folks have concerns with the striations, we’ve decided to go with a smooth texture brick now and not painting it. Now we just need to figure out the brick color - any thoughts? We’ll have SW Alabaster paint, our wood floor are seen in the photos too, with either Light or Dark sandstone or Buff. We’ll be using a Roman brick. Thanks again for the suggestion!