SummerfieldDesigns, thanks for the plan! Wow! It looks lovely and makes me excited to have a real plan, although it's just an idea, still. I'm not sure about the switch of the butler's pantry and mudroom. I was thinking of the mudroom as more "utilitarian" while the butler's pantry would be more of a "pretty" space. So now my kids will have to pass through pretty to get to the utilitarian part--not sure about that :) But I DO like ow you opened it for easier access to the powder room, which was suggested by a PP. As for the kitchen layout, I will take a closer look. Not sure about the fridge's placement (I'm assuming those are the fridge freezer towers?) I'm still on the fence about a prep sink at all. I've never had one, nor does ANYONE I know, so it's hard for me to see the benefit. Yes, I've read ll about them here on GW :) As for space usage, I think my kids will come in and out from playing through the back of the house somehow, more so than from the side (mudroom) entrance. That will be the get home spot, but the playing will be done in the big backyard, for the most part. scrapbookheaven, I do love the idea of bigger windows to the back.. Right now in my current house, I have huge windows to my backyard from every room , and I just love it! I love being able to see the kids playing, and all the light it allows in! That back wall of my house will be south facing, though, so the sunlight could get to be too much? What do you think? cj47, thanks for sharing! Yes, one thing I've learned on GW is base drawers all around :) I WILL do that for sure, just not sure how to change the program I am using to all drawers instead of cabinets. SO I've left it for now, to block out the space itself. And 16 " overhang--good call! I also like how your other 2 stools are on the lower side of your island, not in the sink aisle. But I DO like in jbrodie's kitchen how that entrance end of her island is a bit raised, to hide clutter (which I have too much of, I'm afraid!) But having stools on 2 sides seems more conversation-friendly that all lined up on one side.... oh, so much to think about :) thanks for any and all suggestions, ideas, feedback. so many great minds here...

@cpaartist - I am 100% sure that the porch was originally an outdoor porch - I opened up part of the wall in the laundry room and found the original wood siding and openings where windows originally were in the bedroom. Sadly they did a very poor job enclosing it. The back bedrooms were originally some kind of mechanical workshop - I haven't figured out exactly what type yet. There is a large barn door that runs along the exterior wall in the hall - they enclosed the wall and left a single door in behind the exterior barn door - I would like to restore that and have it open to a patio. There are a couple of houses in the neighborhood that are very similar to mine. I believe that the part of the living room with the fireplace was a later addition as well - the other houses don't have that. I love old houses with all their quirks and mysteries!

Here's a mockup on your to-scale (ish?) drawing of a new bath that keeps the toilet in place, similar to what benjesbride was talking about. I didn't bother creating anything new for the laundry, but her drawing shows a very nice idea! You could also leave the NE corner open for a dining area or study area and erect a wall at a later time for a bedroom if desired, as you suggested. The measurements are estimates but should be pretty close. The bathroom would be approximately 6x10.5. Theoretically, you could extend the bathroom farther to the east and extend your kitchen another foot or two, but I worry about creating a pinch point between the kitchen and the staircase. Incorporating that central post into the island could also create a tight squeeze between the island and bottom of the stairs depending on the actual measurement between the two.

We started with one smaller idea..., but as we found more things that we wanted to replace— each possible solution has come with additional little problems... Welcome! Yep, that's how it goes. It's fine to realise this in the beginning. You can assess things & plan properly now. After you've ripped everything out is not quite a great time to start planning. Project mushrooming sometimes means saving & starting at a later stage, for a better result. We have realized now that we need to step back and start at the beginning with a directed vision and goal rather than just slapping together ideas and hoping it turns out well. GOOD! Any tips for choosing a good designer and questions to ask would be appreciated. A lot of people will have a lot to say on that one. You might consider starting a new thread on that specifically in fact. Check referrences to find people, and check referrences after you've found people. Check actual work, check work that's been done some years back. Do not go for the least expensive. They will provide the least pleasant experience, and your actual cost will be more. Check referrences. A good few. Take overly glowing or overly bitter referrences with a pinch of salt. Find imaginitive & knowledgeable people. People who find solutions, don't avoid issues, people who bring up matters you hadn't considered, people who don't just agee, but tell you straightforwardly when things aren't good or realistic choices. Check actual work... Ask what common issues or flaws are, and how they work around them. Get things written down, everything. Pricing, time frames, who sources fittings, specs of e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. Ask who'll be actually doing the work, who'll be overseeing it. Don't work with the guy who'll check up at the end of the week. Find out what they actually do. Design, contracting, both... Check those referrences. Find out how long they've wrked with their employees & subs. Avoid working with friends or family. You think you have a good relationship, so you should. That good relationship is the reason you shouldn't. Check work that's been done some years back. Don't expect a free consultation in the beginning. Some pros do it. A lot (of good ones particularly) are far too busy to spend time in that way. They'll send you some pics and contacts of old clients to start off. Ask when they'll be available to start on your job. It's alright to wait a few weeksfor a good pro busy on other jobs. Once you have a good pro, deal with them straightforwardly, and trust them. If there's something you're unsure of, ask them, before asking the neighbour's cousin's dentist's brother. Oh yeah, and check referrences. It's the most preached, least practised tip. Guess how I know... For a project like this, what is a ballpark estimate for designer fee? There, I can't help, in the least. I'm a continent away, I assume, and things are... different. I do like that design with toilet immediately to the right upon entering bathroom. It’s in the master and would be fairly far to the right from the door so would not be visible easily from outside the bathroom The concern of a toilet near the bedroom is more regarding the sound, than unpleasant sightlines.