Caligal, it really sounds like you want to stay with your current home. However, I'll just point out that right now the inventory of foreclosed homes gives people unprecedented chances to obtain homes they could not hope to have before and many will not be able to afford in future (let's hope no more such "wonderful" home markets). I don't mean go looking just for a bigger home (although in your case some additional size would be nice), but rather a lifestyle improvement: A decent home in a location that is particularly desirable to you. You know, location, location, location. Things like good schools, a pretty sociable neighborhood, close to family, en route between friends and mall (they'll be dropping in), favorite amenities close by (cows in pastures or high-density shopping, your choice), good proximity and transportion to work. Whatever floats your boat. If you're not already in a place you'd really like to raise your children and even be happy growing old, this current opportunity to make your home there should not be passed up for any but the most important reasons.

johnliu - Point well taken! We have no plans to try to one up the Duggers, so unless we have a big, happy accident, this will be the last one year old under our watch. :) geokid - thanks so much for working on that plan (I need to get going with that ikea software) for me! It's a cool idea, but I think the two doors would look odd from the DR side. The kids would love it when they do their laps around the floor! ideagirl2 - I like your idea about the L-shaped banquette, but I don't think the wall is long enough (based on the dimensions that I've seen online). Also, unless we trap one side, it will take up the same amount of floor space to let people in from both sides. cheri127 - thank you for posting those pictures! I have to admit... I love how your kitchen looks opened up! Wow - that's a really eye opener for me. I'm a huge mission fan so your kitchen is right up my alley. I guess looking at a gorgeous kitchen isn't the worst thing in the world. One thing - it looks like your kitchen seating and your dining room table are run in perpendicular directions. Ours would run parallel and I feel like it would look weird with two tables, literally, sitting a few feet from each other. Do you think that would be an issue for you if your DR table was oriented parallel to the kitchen table? kaismom - that's definitely food for thought about the house flow. I don't necessarily think that flow is an issue, but we do have issues with our entry points (front door and door from garage into den) - you just walk right into the room - no vestibule or mud room. It makes me nuts because everyone (me included) just drops all their crap on the floor and the couch and eventually (hopefully) it migrates to a closet (which isn't super helpful for bags, etc). Unfortunately, I don't know how to rectify that without making wholesale changes to the house and I'm not sure we're ready to go there. I did a quick layout of the two main levels (ground level - garage, den, powder room and 1st floor - living room, kitchen, and dining room). Both of these floors each have two entry points from the outside. Ok, peninsula people! I did another layout the replace the banquette with a peninsula and uses one bench as the seating for the kids, but (I think) allows room for another stool. Thoughts?

you really need to post the whole first floor layout and elevations to see window placement, overhangs etc. Also which direction is north and what climate are you in? Most folks here will not comment on isolated parts of a house because a house has to work as a whole and all parts need to be in relation to one another. While the layout looks fine as is if you only have windows on the ends it will make for a very dark home

Get some samples and start testing!