The computer drawings were scanned at too small a size and the linework used to show materials is too thick so it all runs together when posted to the forum. I am concerned with the way masonry veneer is used at the bottom of the exterior wall and above the entrance. The masonry veneer stops higher than the window sills which creates a collection of details that I would try very hard to avoid even if I thought it looked good. The masonry over the entrance should sit on top of a masonry wall below; masonry should never sit over a wood beam. All the giant hipped roofs make me uncomfortable too. If you have read my other posts you will know that I think combining the English/Tudor front facing gable tradition with the French steep hipped roof tradition destroys the simple charm and architectural integrity of both styles. Too many traditions and styles makes a muddled design in my opinion. I suspect this idea originated with developers who were not aware of the origin or importance of these ideas and were simply trying to marry their ever popular multi-gabled front facades with a roof that reduced the amount of unused second floor space in regions that do not like to use that space for bedrooms.

2 doors with separate frames = 2 separate doorways mulled together. This does not equal a 6' opening, except during the rough framing stage. You will have 2 separate completely framed openings side by side by the description given. I have seen the setup I think you're talking about (2 doors in 1 single frame to mimic the look of the patio doors). They took 2 doors and put a working latch & deadbolt on one and the receptor on the other. The receptor door also had a non-functioning handle and a slide bolt on the top & bottom for stability/security when the door was in the closed & locked position. You might be able to have a 3 point locking mechanism installed--check with your builder on this. The big thing that stands out to me when you do this is that it is hard to get the same look of the patio doors. Patio doors like you get from Pella, Jeld-wen, Andersen, Marvin, etc all have a more sleek look because the glass sits in a low profile frame. Most imitators have a bulky plastic frame that holds the glass in place. In my experience, the plastic yellows (even with a coat of paint on it) and the plugs for the screw holes never line up properly. The closest I have been able to find to a door that looks like the real patio doors from the manufacturers mentioned above is the Plastpro flush glazed door. You may want to check them out. If you want to see photos, just ask--we used the Plastpro doors on our house. Here is a link that might be useful: Plastpro Flush Glazed Doors

Okay, let's see if I can catch up on all of your helpful posts! I met with a landscaper and we were pretty much on the same page but there were a few things that I didn�t agree with. Maybe I just have no clue what I'm doing and maybe his recommendations are truly better than the picture I have in my head! I'll be meeting with another designer on Monday to get his take on it. The first guy was free and we just talked about what the plan would be. The second guy charges $50, but will draw up a whole design. They also do driveways, which the first company does not do. The one thing that I really didn't like about the first guy was that I felt like I had seen all of his ideas in my neighborhood already. I don't want something crazy that doesn't fit the house or neighborhood, but I also don't want the same thing everyone else has. How do you get your house to stand out from the others but still "fit"? Just because everyone else has "x" number of garden beds and "x" amount of front yard grass doesn't mean I have to, right? I did read over our HOA docs and they simply state that no more than 20% of the yard can be raised garden beds or container gardens. I would really like to make maintaining the lawn easier and to shade the front a little more. He wasn't on board with that. As I said before our yard is quite short, only 25 ft deep from the sidewalk to the front brick. So that will definitely play a big part in the design. The front tree is a cherry tree (with fruit) and I have been told that it will grow large enough to provide cover for the front window, not too sure about the door. Every arborist and landscaper that I have talked to seem happy with that tree and tell me not to touch it. The shutters have actually done quite well with all of the sun and heat that they get exposed too. No warping or anything. Considering the roof color is a good point. I think the wrought iron color would look great. I still don�t know what I want to do with the door. I have been playing with pictures of the house for days now. I've cut and pasted so many different designs I'm stuck. I think that there are some styles and looks that definitely work, some that definitely don't work, and then there are the in-between ones. I don't mind having my house look a little different then the neighborhood. I have two tri-levels on each side of me and three true 2 story colonials across the street from me. From my mock-ups I think can get away with some different looks that neither of the other two styles could pull off. And that is why I'm stuck. Too many ideas. I think a designers eye is what I need. The other challenge I am having right now is prioritizing what to do with the house first. The inside still needs to be painted. I could use some new furniture too. If I did do painting I would want to update the lighting while the ceilings are getting a fresh coat. As far as the outside goes, we obviously need landscaping. But we could also use new gutters and soffits, possibly a new door, and new hardscaping. My husband would also like to close in the carport. There is just so much to do and I don't know where to start. The changes we have already made to the inside were easy because they were done out of necessity. Really none of these other things have to be done. I think that I would like to focus on the outside simply because I have a 4yr old and 1yr old that make it a little harder to maintain the inside versus the outside. And I can handle the inside myself. I obviously need professional help with the exterior. So, any ideas on how to prioritize my projects?

Sounds like a pretty typical inspection report for a home built in 1930. Seems to me that this wanna be buyer doesn't have a clue about old homes and thinks they are being cute by posting this report. For a price in the ballpark of 150,000-165,000, I'd think this is a very fine house!