Begin by mapping on paper the usage of the back yard, including any natural pathways. Think carefully about sun exposure and how you can use it to your best advantage, and the areas where you need to control the exposure. Hardscape should come first, with materials that mix well with your house materials, style, and colors. Budget and practicality are important. Your two year old twins will go through many childhood phases rather quickly, and your garden is small, so it makes sense to use an adaptable scheme and limit the number of segregated areas. My own kids had a paved area, a grass area, a dirt area, and a non-traditional "playhouse/fort" area built under an existing patio cover. This allowed for a multitude of play activities only limited by their imaginations. We had a planting area in the sunniest spot where I grew giant sunflowers and tomatoes, nothing fancy. When they were little we were on the go all the time, and actual gardening was a fairly low priority. To summarize: children are easy to please.

MeMo I was thinking the same thing. A different paint color to give it a bit more cottage charm and stand out a bit more. Yes,the earth tones are nice, I love earth tones, but on the outside it tends to blend in with the ah...earth. I like the idea of a path perhaps flagstone going from the sidewalk right up to the front door. I also like the idea of the plants around the patio for privacy and a bit of a grassy area where you have the hose but I also think that if you did a path going up to the front door that a small plot of grass an the otherside would be nice as well. I would then fill in with flowers, shrubs, and roses all along the edge of the yard in curving beds with low plants along the path way on either side. If you are afraid of plants swallowing up the house keep the taller plants to the right and a bit in front of the patio and med.and small along the front yard. A fence and arbor are also a good idea like moonphase said. Oh and if your not going with the tropical cottage look then I would (if it were me) take out the palm and in the space between your front windows (hidden behind the palm) put a trellis with a climbing rose up it. Even if you are going with the tropical look I would take it out as it is low and blocking the house. Put in maybe some taller palms if you want a tree there. Meghan

My Dreamhome... Thanks for the recommendation. I am flattered you liked and remembered the plan I did. Great recall as well. My memory is great..its just damn short. Laurensmom.. I am not a fan of this plan either. The screen porch is forced and squeezed between the bedroom and family room and it blocks views from the way to prominent Dining room. The master bedroom or bath /closet should stre\ch out to the left so the house lengthens and doesnt get so confined and views blocked by the other rooms/massing. Do you really want a front loaded garage on a large lot such as yours ? Doors always open ? Not saying this will work but the pantry and espace should flip with kitchen or have them next to hall. The family room will most likely need to shift over and try to overlap the dining area to open the spaces. Right now its way to tight at the Dining and its not a large space so its even worse. Be careful of too much wrap around porch that costs money for very little benfit of actual living. I wouyld rather have a larger living area than porch that rarely gets used. I would also want access to bonus room over the garage from the house second floor. Unless that stairs from garage is needed it could be eliminated and save a nice chunk of change. The family room sticks out as you say you want but a rear wall fireplace takes up what is often times the best view. Not knowing your site and its best features and views I have no idea if this plan takes adavantage of these but somehow I am not thinking so. This plan excites me less than it does you. The master closet should be a minimum 7 ft wide as well for comfortable double loaded rods/shelves. Sorry to be such a pessimist on this plan but I would challenge your designer to do better or cut your losses now. I hope you can make it work and hope this helps a bit. The master shower is too small and their is no linen cabinet/ closet and it feels tight in there. The master bedroom wing appears to be 15' wide on the outside. You buy lumber ( usually in 2 ft lengths and you will cut it off and theow it away. plywood is 4x8 sheets. Carpets usually come in 12' and 15' widths. If walls are 2x6 you dont need seems if 16" out to out and can still be stretched in most cases even if using 2x4 walls. You have a basem]board tha takes up an inch or so as well. The second floor is ok but back wall windows are not a good fit with those roofs below on first floor. These would change as the first floor does as well.

I am way bad jealous- a beach cottage *&* the chance to start almost from scratch! I love that stacked stone! It seems to me that stone (other than the enormous sliced boulders that people use when they think their home really is their castle) is like water; it adapts to & reflects its environment. If you use that stone in a cottage, it'll look like it belongs in a cottage. my thought, your decision. I generally like warm colors in a home, but for a beach cottage, especially a small one, grays & blue-grays & slate are very "beachlike" in feel. Pale sand would be a warm color that would work well, & you can find vinyl flooring that has both blue/gray & warmer sandy tones. I generally like wood-stained cabinets, but in a small beach cottage, off-white would work really well with humidity & water, & it would open/enlarge the space. Since hubs loves that paneling, maybe you could keep one wall & paint the rest; when he sees how much the paint enlarges the room, he may change his mind, & if he doesn't, well, he's happy, & that's excellent. If the paneling is "real", maybe you can lighten it a bit. Best luck, & have fun!