First, thanks for some honest feedback while we can still make floorplan changes. We're aiming for a long-term home that suits our lifestyle but would not make future buyers say, "They can't really be serious." I had to laugh and cringe, david_cary. We seem to be walking the knife's edge. homey_bird, I'm afraid what you see here is the result of hours of stewing. We drafted the initial plan and want to work out all the specifics before we send it for bids. As everyone knows, one change affects so many things that we stay up late and our heads start spinning. We will seriously consider all feedback. At the risk of TMI, I'll attach the original elevations and floorplans. This second floor plan doesn't include the deep tub or larger shower in the master bath. Trying to fit those items has been a problem. Creek_side and alabamanicole, thank you for your feedback and your interest in the bigger picture. We've also been thinking about how we use the master bath. My dh likes to spend an hour locked in the bathroom each morning (?) so I would really enjoy a vanity in the hall dressing area. I don't think we would use two sinks in the master concurrently. I was hoping a vanity would help resale too if we put only one sink in the master. So what is the room between the master bedroom and bath? Good question. A vanity which could also function as a seat for dressing, an east-facing window (view of the wetlands behind us), a small triangular closet, a longer reach-in closet, and some built in shelving. I've looked at our wardrobe and realized that we need half our closet space for hanging and half for shelved items (folded clothes, shoes, purses). The previous walk-in closet plan seemed too tight for a seat or vanity and the window was small in order to minimize damage to clothes. We are open to any suggestions to get an attractive, functional, reasonably priced dressing area. The one foot deep storage in the bathroom is our attempt to get as much storage as possible in there for soaps, shampoos, toilet paper, towels, cleaning supplies etc. We could give the bathroom a foot from the closet area for deeper storage in the bath. We assumed that the shower door would be 2-3 feet wide (out of five) so the bench could wrap around and we could still open the shower door. I'll attach a rough view from our home planning software that requires a lot of imagination. The tub is just 40 inches in diameter and would be positioned near the window with the internal seat facing toward the east window/view. The rest of the deck would be tiled so we could step on the bench, sit on the tile deck, and swing our legs over into the tub. That's the theory, anyhow. We put in a pedestal sink to give us more room near the bath and to approximate art deco style. The window above it is a transom for more light at the sink. There is a mirrored medicine cabinet directly in front of the sink. We have been partial to east facing windows (top of floor plan) because that is our view of a wetlands. The master bedroom also has transoms to the south (right of plan) because we have 1.5 story neighbors on that side and would like as much sunlight as possible. Thanks for the comment about the toilet area and corner windows, creek_side. We can cut adjust those. Please feel free to throw us a comment about anything else on the plan as well. Now's our chance to fix it. Liz

Yikes, Jamie, that must have been the original model way back when! It sure does look shabby and old! Mine doesn't have the added feature of the ironing board, which I'm sure, turned out to be something no one used. Being oak, like mine, though, I'm sure it's one VERY heavy dust-catcher ;^D Terriks, I'm glad that you added that pic here, too. I love your idea and I LOVE that it was a DIY project. I'm really hoping to find ideas that DH & I (and anybody else here) can do ourselves. Bumblebeez, what kind of containers do you keep your shoes and purses in? Yesiyesi: sorry, but I'm afraid to click on your link. I have a strong feeling that it's SPAM (which is not allowed here) and that's where a person can pick up all sorts of nasty trojans, etc. Torsade: I'm excited for you, too. Please keep us posted on your closet changes and I'm anxious to see the final outcome. It sounds like a great idea. You might even consider adding a shelf above your new seating area to take advantage of any extra space. Oofasis: I, for one, am not laughing . . . that's a good question. But again, only speaking for myself, I'm so desperate for a good, reasonably priced solution for my many shoes that I'd happily deal with any dust them . . . but that's just me ;^D KSWL: all great ideas, thank you!!! I agree that someplace to sit is so handy. We keep our convertible chair/step stool in the chair position for that reason (and because it's too heavy for anything else!). I've been wondering about those telescoping rods you mentioned and am glad to hear that they are a good investment. I'm now going to try and incorporate a couple into our closet reno. Sasha'sM: You know, ever since I posted that one pic from the ClosetFactory's website, I've been trying to locate that kind of super-susan made for clothes. So far, this is one of the only places that seem to carry something similar: "Ovis Cabinet Organizers" I don't know if one would work in our closet, but it seems to be a good, practical idea for some people. You definitely can get one if Closet Factory does your closet, though. Bharensi: Your closet sounds wonderful! I know that I speak for many of us when I say that we'd LOVE to see pics of it if you ever want to share them with us. Good idea about using a dehumidifier. Here in New Mexico, we don't have a humidity problem, but for areas where it's a problem, that's a good, practical idea! I also like that yours is a DIY project. Using the GW dresser and all of your other ideas are good, reasonably-priced solutions that we all can use. TFS! Lynn

You might consider the attachable or cascading hangers. Began using the Homz brand of these years ago from Target. Several manufacturers now make them, along with loop shapes alone for attaching hangers you have. They are flatter than the regular plastic hangers so take up half the rod space of those. They hook to each other vertically without crushing the fabric. Bed Bath & Beyond carries this type in 10 packs for $4, an average price. Ignore the prices at Amazon (too high in my book) but read the reviews, including one from another 1920's homeowner. Although we have a large walk-in closet now, still appreciate the degree of organization they offer, such as 5 summer-weight long sleeve shirts hanging in a line together with sleeves exposed so I can choose one easily, along with the hanging space they free up. My DH finally decided to try them & was surprised it's much easier now to locate what he's after. I put shirts right out of the dryer on these hangers & find they don't wrinkle hanging in the closet. There are also children's sized hangers like this useful for lingerie, as well as skirt hangers. Hang purses from them, too, stacking the hangers & enclosing the whole thing in a clear zippered dress bag. Shoes not worn daily go with silica packets in individual clear plastic shoe boxes labeled with ID that stack neatly, boots in larger boxes of double width & same height, feet at opposite ends & shanks along the outsides forming two interlocking L's. Two of the shoe boxes fit atop one of the boot boxes & it's easy to restack them for the season. They fit on a top shelf or floor & keep footwear clean & easily retrievable. Out of season sweaters are stacked into wider versions of the boot boxes, with arms folded across the front & the bottom folded to the neck in front. Keeps them from creasing & several fit in each box. Out of season pants & trousers go into the same size box, folded so the legs of one interlap the next pair, keeping them from wrinkling. After measuring my pants from waist to hem, found a dresser with drawers long enough to fit them without folding. Pants & sweaters are swapped out from dresser drawers to boxes each season. Inexpensive pretty hatboxes hold odds & ends, stacked or on shelves. Can you tell I've lived in homes with no or skimpy closets over the years? Some of those closets were 6" deep with single doors & hooks screwed to the wall or ceiing. Resorted to flat-top wooden trunks with & without legs that could be stacked to conserve floor space. Still have a 3-stack of those in the front room here, with others doing duty as end tables, coffee tables, bedtables, bedroom trunks & window seats in this modern home with plenty of large closets. Craft stores & places like Tuesday Morning & Marshall's carry inexpensive decorative cardboard & wooden nesting boxes in a variety of patterns & configurations, including book boxes that stack or sit upright. These hold desk papers, folders, magazines & catalogs, gloves, hats & scarves in the coat closet, even my brush in the powder room with a pedestal sink & no vanity. So fond of trunks & boxes, even the matching end tables flanking the LR sofa are hinged trunks on legs holding a stash of board games close at hand & out of sight... Here is a link that might be useful: Attachable hangers example This post was edited by vasue on Tue, Jan 6, 15 at 18:58

Things are slowly coming along. I've purchased a headboard, new bedding, and I've found a couple of art pieces I like that are very similar in colors to the inspiration picture. I haven't been able to find a one piece roman shadebig enough but I have found a black out shade at Ikea that I would probably dress up with panels if need be. My last big decision now is paint color. Any thoughts? Here is the inspo pic (top) and the 2 art pieces I'm considering for above the bed. I know I need to keep it light since the room is so small but I don't want it to be too boring either. I dont even know where to start.