Ronda, The plat map is usually provided by a survey company. If the old owner has a certified plat map rather than one he had drawn up, that would be better than relying on his memory or description. The plat map will give you the exact footage along the property lines, as well as any easements or right of ways on the property. What I meant in #6 was to triangulate between the three points, (the power source, the perk area, and the well, keeping in mind that you don't want to have your well any closer than 100 feet to your sepic and leech field). You want to place your building site in a location that will cost you the least in running power lines, septic lines, and water lines. Just as a side note, I don't know what kind of experience you've had with well pumps, but I highly reccomend a submersable pump rather than a "above ground" pump. They might cost a little more in the begining, but they are more trouble free and less likely to freeze than an above ground pump. I am aquainted with the Winchester area. Since your property is on the mountain, be sure to bury your water and septic lines at least 18" below the ground level, preferably 24", to stay out of the freeze zone. And any pipes you have in the crawl space under the house, wrap and insulate the heck out of them! There is nothing like having your septic and water freeze in the middle of January and having to get out there and try to unfreeze them. I learned my lesson the hard way. I know that this sounds like over kill, but we do have some freezing weather here, and it's better to be over cautious and trouble free, than to skimp and have trouble every year. Besides, a ditch witch usually runs about 50.00 a day, and you can do A LOT in a day. On your perk test, the county health inspector will make a diagram as to where he thinks the septic system should go. Check around in that area for the BEST septic installer, (they are usually the ones who dig the cemetary plots for funerals), and use them. They will be able to look at the lay of the land and correct the health inspector's map to give you the best flow for the septic. Also, it always helps to have an extra 100' of fill line put in for those times when you have extra people in your household. While we are on the subject of fill lines and septic systems, I bet you've already heard of "Ridx" septic system additive. It's good stuff, but a little pricey. I use a half gallon of butter, or soured milk added to the system about every other month,or whenever you have it. It has the same enzime action as the Ridx. I've been using the butter/sour milk thing for the last 6 years and have not had a bit of problem with backups except the one time that the line froze. In fact, I started my system with about a gallon of the buttermilk and, like I said, only one problem in 6 years. I hope this has helped. If you want to contact me directly, I'm at chiefgraybear@yahoo.com. Best of luck, Gray Bear

I stick the vacuum in the bottom of my closet, and the ironing board against a wall next to a dresser. The dining-room table leaves are under teh bed. I used to have clothing sort of stuff, or linens, under the bed, until I realized that they could be refolded to almost any dimension, but the table leaves (or the ironing board) could not. So, the non-malleable items went in the physical space that would accommodate them, and the linens & stuff went elsewhere (and I purged, as well). You could put your sofa so it's a few inches out from the wall and lay the ironing board on its side there, if you liked. Or hang it on the inside of a closet door. And the drying rack is just behind the bedroom door--since that door is always open unless we're going to bed, I don't normally see it, and once I'm going to bed, I don't care.

I'd start by making a list of exactly what you need TO DO in the office -- not only items you imagine there, but tasks you want to complete in the office. If every one of us made such a list, we'd probably find that we vary widely. The house we're building is for our retirement, and my list would look something like this: - An ideal office would be a long, narrow room. This gives the maximum amount of wall space for the square footage -- and wall space in an office means storage space. On the other hand, empty space in the middle of a square office isn't appealing to me. The picture of Carnege's office above looks good to me: Large desk, space to walk but not 'specially large, but I'd replace the sofa and window with a set of floor-to-ceiling shelves. - Space for one person to sit at desk to use computer, write grocery lists, pay bills -- we never work together, and have no problem sharing one desk -- one comfortable roll-y chair must be available for the worker. - Want a built-in desk that faces the wall: Shelves just above the desk. I want to have office supplies located conveniently at our fingertips, perhaps mounted on the wall in attractive containers -- a desk that faces "out" can't give you that same amount of "stuff" at your fingertips. I want never to have to hunt for tape, scissors, a good ink pen, stamps and envelopes, calculator, etc. - The space above the desk must include a large wall calendar. - Our eyes aren't getting any younger -- need excellent lighting above the desk as well as task lighting low on the desk. With lighting in mind, light colors would be best for the desk area. - Want to be able to listen to loud music at the desk without disturbing the rest of the house. As such, this should be located at the far end of the house, away from the main living area. Maybe a small TV? - Place to open /sort /store mail and other paperwork -- avoid bringing paper into the main house, where it sits and becomes clutter. As such, the office should be by the casual entrance - the place where you'd naturally bring in the day's mail. - Large trash can (stored under the desk) for tossing junk mail and for use in working with crafts - Charge laptops and ipads ... sometimes need electrical outlets for craft items ... place these just above the desk -- no one wants to scurry around and reach under the desk to find an outlet. I do not want to see a bunch of cords everywhere. - Print documents occasionally -- would prefer the printer to be located out of sight -- in a drawer? On a low shelf behind a curtain? Try to keep this important-but-seldom-used item out of the way and avoid dust. Space to store paper and ink for the printer. - Store craft supplies, especially scrapbooking supplies ... and storage must be attractive to look at -- mixture of baskets and boxes covered with cloth? Want a whole wall of storage shelves -- perhaps located on the wall behind the desk. - Storage of emergency supplies: Candles and matches, flashlights, batteries, etc. - Desk top should be tough -- able to withstand future grandchildren's crafts or magic markers -- and my own mess. I'm thinking of an inexpensive Ikea butcherblock countertop /no drawers underneath. Also need enough space to "leave out" a project that isn't finished /needs drying time /whatever. - Need space to store sewing machine, but since it doesn't come out all that often, it doesn't have to be prime space. - Space large enough to wrap gifts and store gift wrap materials. - Store a moderate amount of paperwork -- insurance, licenses, birth certificates, investment info -- and this storage needs to be secure -- perhaps a rolling file cabinet that can slide under the desk? This would also include a simple storage system for receipts. - Store valuables in a hidden safe -- arrange for this to be built into a hidden cabinet. Can be out of the center of things. - Hooks upon which to hang extra keys. - Whole thing should be attractive, bright and sunny with natural light, a happy bright print for the curtains, and easy to keep clean -- no fussy materials. Whole space may be cozy -- large isn't important. Space for photographs on the wall and at the desk. - The floor should be easy to clean and hard-working: Laminate, hardwood, tile. No carpet - Finally, the office must include a bed for the dog. He is going to follow me in there, and he needs a place to lie down and nap -- otherwise, he'll just bug the snot out of me. So, that's my list -- you need to consider what YOU would do in your office. Note that I didn't say anything about having a comfortable reading chair, about meeting clients, about needing storage for any specialized work machinery, about needing a sink for messy crafts, about having a private entrance, about having a separate house phone line or modem for the computer, about placing it adjacent to the kitchen -- because those things don't figure into MY needs, but I know that they would be priorities for someone else! You'll note I didn't mention books -- because I have another area of my house set aside for books. Someone else might want a small table where you could play games as a family, or someone else might want to overlook the kids' play area in the back yard. Someone else might need space for two-person projects, or a place for a gun cabinet. So, really, step one is your own needs.

More light as well as more storage. Replace those table legs with a stack of drawers (look at Ikea's "Alex") that you can use as your desk legs - I have them, and their height is perfect to add a tabletop onto -- that's one of their intended uses. You can get all drawers, or drawers and a filing drawer like the one pictured. You might want to consider some type of wall-hung storage, but it depends on your style and the kind of things you want stored.....but I like them as they add to empty walls and make them look less empty. Things like this hanging magazine/file rack, or this one that is 4 hanging canvas bags that could hold anything from your phone charger to emergency flashlight or extension cord.