Hi everybody, Just got finished reading this book of a thread. I would say I have learned a lot in here and appreciate EVERY single bit of advice.....the good, the bad and the ugly. Inkognito-I did enjoy the sing-a-long, it was just soooo beautiful!!!! ( and yes saypoint, I heard you singing too). I'd have to agree with everyone who said your advice was perfect. I need to close my eyes and invision what I would like there, it's hard to do but my brain sure could use the exercise. Nippersdad, you nailed my thought process perfectly, especially with the " I think it is rather unfair to paint the solicitation of ADVICE (particularly when accompanied with a smiley face) as a demand for free services." comment. First I LMAO at the smiley face remark :) but I really did think that this would just be a fun discussion for those of us who like to give our 2 cents worth on these forums. Somebody mentioned to do your homework first. For a lot of us out here, THIS is our homework. I have learned more in these forums than I have ever learned in a magazine or book. The ideas I've gotten from these types of discussions are priceless. Oh, I almost forgot - Nipper, you have me really wanting a screened in area under the deck, it's only money right? I would like to clarify that I never complained about posters and their responses. I got the impression that some of you think I did. I don't get my panties in a wad over internet remarks.

Cheryl, Thanks for permission to steal your idea. Who said "Wmitation is the greatest form of flattery."? Also love the Gale Garnett quote. Isn't the next line "We'll dance in the raindrops, we'll dance everyday?" (A must add to our hurricane song list started during Hurricane Frances, if I can find it again, and a nice one to add to the garden.) I loved your yellow bike, too. What a happy garden you created, and thanks for sharing. Goldenpond!! That a gorgeous path. I love the design, both the flow and the materials. Thank you for posting the picture. My property isn't as big as your's, but I'd just love to meander down that path and look at your plants and smile. That installation must have been backbreaking, but the result is absolutely awesome. Unfortunately, my big dog is still too skizzy (at 7 1/2 years) to do the mulch, stone and paver combo. I keep thinking we need to get her into a drug sniffing or victim finding program. Yesterday she started barking like crazy in the back porch. I let her out and she ran like a thoroughbred horse the Belmont to the Powderpuff in the backyard. She started jumping up into the tree (no shrub anymore) and came out with a big old rat, which she killed, left in the yard and came back to look at me with big goofy, "did I do good eyes?". I honestly had no idea there was a rat in the yard, and had spent a few hours working on that spot next to the powderpuff. I'm sorry about all the cleanup you have to do to endure Fay. No fun! You have a lovely garden, and I appreciate your sharing the beauty. marilyn

I love almost all of these, although that "target" kitchen was awful and expensive, I bet. I see a theme on many of these of no uppers and no paneled appliances. I think that is what helps to make them unapologetic kitchens. I find that that look is more about function, yet it also has loads of "form" to me. I love the phrase comfortable retro modern. I have been trying to explain to people that I want a retro modern 1930-40s look for my kitchen and that I am trying to make it comfortable and welcoming most of all. People understand a 50s or 60s vibe. They understand Victorian, but there were a lot of years in between! I hope when mine is done it will be quirky and happy. I want it to be a place where everyone knows they will get a good meal and where real ingredients will be used. Nothing pretentious or highbrow. My garbage can will be a garbage can. People will be able to find it and know what it is. My fridge and freezer will be visible and open to all. The stove is vintage and is not a high end restaurant grade stove. I am cooking and baking for family and friends here. I hope to have enough space to hold my gadgets and room for others to hang out and hopefully, pitch in. I'd also like to not feel like I am far away from the action when I am cooking so it will be open plan. I don't need to hide it away. It will be more Julia Child functional than "Something's Got to Give" designer looking. I also don't want it to look like I took it out of a showroom and copied into my home. If I am successful, a new guest will not have a clue what year it was done. BTW - I am a real estate agent and can't stand the same old, same old. Too many houses have expensive kitchens with nothing special about them. Boooorrring. Buyer's don't buy safe and 100% neutral. They want something to be excited about and to tell their family & friends about prior to moving in. Most people want a little style and don't want the same look as everyone else's. It is a myth that people should do things all neutral to sell. While some common elements are fine and make people feel safe about them, there should be something that is a little special, or dare I say, quirky, about a kitchen. People buy when they are thrilled and intrigued by a new kitchen. An older kitchen will matter less, but if they are paying for improved, they want it to have some feature/s that are unique.

@D.L. Thanks for the advice. I did add windows to the left side of the house. I will do what can be done to stagger them from the neighbor's windows. I will use obfuscating glass for the bathrooms, but clear glass for Bedroom B. I had thought about clerestory windows, skylights and solar tubes for adding light but did not incorporate any of those ideas. Now that you bring it up I will look at where I can add clerestory windows. However, I have concerns regarding leakage from and cleaning of skylights. And I have heard that solar tube lighting can be harsh?? I am still thinking about how best to address the kitchen storage issue. I will look into your suggestions and play around with moving walls and the refrigerator. Maybe I am focused on the wrong thing but I am used to seeing kitchens with upper cabinets. I think it would look odd to have a kitchen that size with 9' ceilings and no upper cabinets. Once I have the rooms in the right place and about the right size I will post in the room specific forums to nail down the details. I was going to go a different route with the drop zone and buy or build 4 cabinets that would line up perpendicular to the garage door wall. That would provide a little separation/definition of the Cafe and Sun room areas. I would like to have a formal entrance but I don't think there is enough space if the doors are centered. That is why I pushed it to a corner. Later we could add a half wall and a column or two [or whatever] to create a small vestibule, if we felt like we just had to have a formal entrance. With respect to centering the dining room doors, I was trying to achieve what @yellowducky is proposing without having to add more hall space. By having the doors offset to the right and the table pushed left I was hoping to create an implied aisle way. Obviously, I need to rethink it. Finally, I agree with you. If I had unlimited amounts of money to spend I would hire an architect, and a Girl Friday, and a Body Guard, and a Personal Trainer, etc. :) @lori_inthenw_gw Point taken. @yellowducky I totally agree with you about the stairs. I originally had them orientated that way but I was concerned about the head room at the top of the stairs due to the slope of the roof. Also having them orientated the way you suggest requires a hallway running from the end of the top of the stairs back to the Master Bedroom wall. I will do the calculations to see if there is enough headroom. I will also work on the other items you point out. My square footage goal is more than 3000 but less than 4100, excluding garage. Maximum of 3000 on the first level.