I appreciate her concern - we raised twin boys in a split foyer. We did a ton of baby-proofing (we called it "naked house syndrome"), since we feared one climbing into the oven while the other climbed into the toilet. But we didn't do anything to the walls around the stairwell. As others pointed out, don't keep furniture backed up to the wall. Of course, one needs to supervise to ensure a chair doesn't get dragged over. My bigger concern was the top of the stairs. With two big boys, a tension gate was not going to be sufficient. I had my uncle build an oak gate, and I built a frame so it could roll out of the way. The gate itself is wider than the opening. Somewhere I have pictures of both boys standing on the lower molding, peeking their little noses over the top. Best wishes to your daughter in her new home!

Les, You know I actually did that for my mom yesterday, showed her my very first "before" picture and then the one I just posted and I agree. I took a deep breath and told myself not to sweat the small stuff all at once cause it's SO much better now. I can relax now and find the perfect lamp, cushion, plates, etc. but in the meantime I'm very very pleased with the difference you all have helped me make in there. It's not a place I avoid looking at when I walk through now. I walk in and pause and smile. magothrivergirl...Thanks so much for the link! The ivory and ebony one are both pretty, better than any I've seen so far and I've got it bookmarked as I start my search. I appreciate the tip and I want to look some more but those are great. Thank you again. carriem25...Anybody here is qualified to add their opinion and I appreciate ALL comments. Sometimes when somebody doesn't like something it will at least make me take a second look at that element and make sure I'm not overlooking something. Sometimes I focus on one thing and never see something else obvious. And sometimes things don't translate well in pictures so I have to walk in there to actually see in person how it looks. I honestly think when I'm in the foyer the space is large enough that the bells don't look that busy. The entire expanse of wall going up the stairs is blank so it still has an open feel in the space. I think for now I'm going to leave the bells grouped together but I do appreciate you making me take a second look at that. Thanks for the compliment on the chest and lamp too :-)

Thank you, Kawerkamp. I think you are right that function is definitely better in my original. I am planning on a single basin sink, but we don't have a disposal anyway since we are on septic. I suppose I technically *could* have a disposal with septic, but it isn't recommended, and though we had one in our old kitchen, after 5 years, we don't really miss it. That does bring to mind, though, how I keep our garbage at the end of the peninsula run in a step-open trash can, and that is another strong argument for function over form in putting the prep space on that end! I really missed my pull-out garbage for a long time, but now that I have that can, I have grown to appreciate the space it is able to use since I can make the opening that much smaller practically but not permanently. In typing this, I now realize that it will mean my garbage can facing the entrance rather than tucked away as it is currently. Bummer. Oh well, I think I'm just going to have to make function over form my mantra and start chanting it whenever I start deviating too much from the practical. It isn't as if the sink looks *bad* in the practical layout, it just looks "better" in the other. I had really wanted two pendant lights over the peninsula, but I think that might look strange if the sink isn't centered, but my husband wasn't crazy about the pendant lights anyway (he thinks they'll get in the way), so it is probably a sign, lol. Funny you should say that about moving the doorway. I had moved it as you describe just this morning in another mock up that didn't work out but not with this one. I do use that little closet like a mud room. It is PACKED with hooks on the door for kid coats, drawers up the middle for everyone's shoes, etc... But, if I could put a coat closet in the middle of the foyer between the two entrances instead of to the side, it might work. We've wanted to change the wall between the living room and foyer in that section to a half wall and column like one of the other homes on our street with our floorplan has (and is original), and that would definitely open up the two spaces nicely without it being too open. I really think it is most likely going to make the foyer too cluttered, more than it already is, but I should see if my husband will put it all in sketch up so we can better visualize it. And...now that I look at my floorplan again, I think it probably looks like the opening to the living room is when you first walk in, but the thick part is actually the opening and the black line the wall. I did that quickly, and I was not consistent, and I see now it is confusing.

One other observation: you seem to be trying to eliminate as much "unnecessary" interior space as possible. But there is a graciousness in allowing a little extra space. If it were me, the absence of a water closet in an otherwise nice master bath would be dealbreaker. As much as I love ample garage space, your 3-bay garage looks out of place on a modest 3 BR, 2.5 BA rancher. Also, as a home office space has become a necessity to many people, the lack of a 4th bedroom or flex space of some sort seems to handicap the utility of the house, since you've also foregone a formal dining room in lieu of a bigger kitchen eating space. There's a reason homes have grown bigger. We live differently. Your home needn't be 3,000 SF, but a little more interior space and a less cavernous garage will put your home more in line with 21st century housing.