Real quick...

Change the swing of the door, to open out, for the master water closet. :-)

Can't read the details very well (I'm on a Kindle, so forgive me if I say something stupid, lol), but make sure your laundry appliances are in the right order -- Washer on left, Dryer on right, if you (or someone in the future) want to use a front loading machine -- and is that how you want the sink to relate to the other two? I like Sink --> Washer --> Dryer, personally, which is why I ask. :-)

No extra window in Bed #3, or Dining room?

Have you laid out furniture in your Great room?

As for colors, I am super weird and just can't stand gray. ;-) Maybe pick a color that matches either a tree or the lake?

Oh, and if you can/want, make your laundry cabinets deeper (okay, so I'm a fan of deeper kitchen cabs, too, because otherwise those awesome square dinner plates don't fit!), so that it's easier to reach stuff. I'm a shorty, and always need a step stool to reach anything above the washer.

Sorry, one more edit: Where is the bed gonna go in Bed #2? Along the Laundry wall?

Okay, two more edits, lol: Is your water heater in your garage? I don't see a spot for it....

Sunny I can't read the dimensions of the rooms. Also can you post your original thread?

Remember your first post - and I just love this set of elevations! It truly feels like a welcoming home with a little bit of homeschooling charm through in, too! It would be nice to see the floor plan a little larger - but I am enamored with the elevations.

I agree, rather strongly, with Virgil... I just thought changing the roof would cost money, which is why I didn't mention it before... But yeah... The roof. ;-) Please change if you can!

It's not only the roof, but the windows and front porch too.

Didn't you originally have a screened porch off the side because of DH's allergy to bees?

Is eliminating the screened porch how the builder knocked off $40,000? I can't believe that just taking off the screened porch and changing the roof to a typical builder special roof would knock off that much money. I know when the price of my house went down by $40,000 it was because I eliminated about 250 square feet of interior space, so honestly something sounds off.

Is this version much smaller than the original because it is basically the same layout as what Doug designed but missing some of the exterior charm of his original.

Here's Doug's original version:

Try laying out furniture in the LR. I wonder if it would help to center the fireplace, divide the bedroom 2 closet, and the bed could go between the closets?

I also opened the hallway between bedroom 1 and the schoolroom; the existing wall didn't seem to serve a purpose, and since that is a tight area and a busy area with garage, bathroom, laundry, schoolroom, bedrooms, it just seemed like an open area would give some nice elbow room and passing space.

I wonder...I know it looks nice from the outside, but what if the front door were where the Misc. Space is, and was across from the back door? That gives you a proper foyer, and lets the other space be living space. You could still have doors there between LR and DR, but you don't have to create space around them for entry.

bp, I believe the miscellaneous space was for the piano.

Oh, right, I forgot about that. Was it a baby grand? Or a console/spinet/upright? If the latter, it could still go there. The back door is already there, and unless the front door is used all the time, and if both doors have good seals, the piano could be fine.

I love you guys, but you guys are absolutely brutal:

Here are the plans. These are final - so please don't give suggestions unless it's something that is urgent and needs addressing or something we can do to improve function and appeal during the build and NOT add extra cost.

I really appreciate the advice on this forum, and I know you mean well, but do you really think this lady's life is going to be better with a consistent roof style? Do you really think she cares about combining hipped and gabled roofs, and if so, perhaps she has already decided to make that budget sacrifice? Or whatever?

She's still at the point where a roof and windows can possibly be changed since she hasn't started building up. I know I'm still working out the final windows on my house and they are pouring today.

Ok. I've come to reply several times in the past few days but was unsure how to respond. I agree some of this has been brutal and I've received personal messsges questioning our decisions. I feel like I'm being attacked on multiple levels. All I can say is I'm sorry if I've offended some people here regarding our house but it is our house.

Let me begin with explaining the $30,000-$40,000 over budget if I can. We took the house plans that were drawn for us (which we paid for!) and then took them to a draftsman for minor changes and to complete them. We then gave those to 2 different builders for bids. One came in at $240,000 the other at $230,000. (To be honest the second one knew what our budget was and came in at budget but had us paying cash for septic, the screen porch, the appliances and several other things which totaled $30,000) They both said that the screen porch, the longer front porch with full length steps, the detached garage, the detailed exterior trim, the extra Windows above the garage and master and a few other items drove the cost up. It was the total of all of this that made the difference, not just one thing such as the porch. Am I happy about loosing these things, of course not! But I am thankful that I will have a house and a roof over my head. Is it perfect?? Probably not, but again, I'm thankful to be able to have something we can afford and feel blessed to be in a position to build. Believe me.., I fought for the roofline but I am a wife first! My loyalty is to my husband who said we have X amount to spend and I will NOT go over budget. If someone wants to pay for the changes and the added building cost then I'd be happy to let them. Lol

Rant over.

Mine Devoted Dame- love the suggestion of added Windows. These small things we can pay cash for and I think it will make a big difference.

If we swing the closet door out it'll hit the shower door so I think it's staying or.,, some will shudder..., a pocket door!

water heater is tankless in the garage.

Bedroom 2 will have a full bed on the laundry wall. I considered moving the door from the hallway into the bedroom down to the other end but then it's right across from the kitchen which I won't like. And it's DS's bedroom which as a teen may not be what I want to see while I'm sitting at the island drinking wine and eating Bon-bons! :)

Jannicone- thank you!! It's been such a long process and we really are happy!

I'm on my phone but will post a larger pic later this evening. Too bad the photos don't open larger!

Although I agree with the comments on the roofline it was the final budget cut item. It saved several thousand dollars. I understand that for some the roofline might be a deal breaker but for us it's a give and take.

Artist- as I said before we had to make modifications but the square footage is basically the same. It came down to what we feel we can pay off in 10 years and not be house poor. I wanted a screen porch for DH and DD but DH said we have two options: 1. Save and add it in a few years or 2. Install a nice screened gazebo next summer. Cost saving was about $12,000! We also travel extensively for DH's job and with him being blind I usually go with him. His company doesn't pay my way but I've had the opportunity to go all over the world. If we're house poor we can no longer do these things we love to do. It's a trade off I guess! And one that I'm willing to trade.

BPathone- thank you for your ideas!! The empty space is for my grand piano and a wall of semi/ built ins. We aren't big TV watchers but we've measured the living area and think it will work. We plan on a couch facing the fireplace/tv area and flanking it with 1 or 2 chairs. We should have about 14 feet across which will work.

The entryway door location was part of our original issue. With the lot being rectangular and the garage being in the back (actually we laugh about which is front and which is the back of the house!) we felt it was too awkward for guests to walk from the driveway in the back all the way around the house to the "front" so the French doors are more for front porch access and sitting. The friends entry is off of the driveway and garage in the back but it has the "front door" how confusing is that???

I really like opening up the wall in the school room. That seems to make a big difference.

Andy-I love you!!! Yes, some have been brutal and I almost didn't return because of it. DH suggested I delete the entire thread but I wanted to at least listen to what is being said and have received some advice which will be helpful. You are so right..., we DID make that budgetary sacrifice. Others may choose differently and I respect that. I know what we are dealing with is my spouse who's blind and a son with special needs and limited time to pay off this house.

I'm truly grateful for everyone's input and respect the feedback we've gotten even if some of it was hard to take.

Have a most happy and blessed Thsnksgiving,

Sunny

Miss Sunny....

I wasn't referring to the wardrobe closet door, but the *water* closet door (the itty bitty toilet room). That way, you can easily close the door as you enter the space, rather than standing on the potty to clear the path of the door. ;-)

But since you mentioned the wardrobe closet, lol, I personally say skip the door altogether (since it's not within direct sight of your bed or your master room door), or do maybe saloon-style swinging doors (full length, half length, whatever), or some pretty drapes in your favorite fabric (lace, gingham, sheer, velvet). Or those beaded curtain things... Wood beads would be kinda neat (no need to go all Vegas with shimmery sequins, unless you reeeeeally want to, lol).

Actually that water closet in the master is begging for a pocket door!!!!

Thank you for such great suggestions. I'm sorry I got confused about the w/c. I really like the idea of a pocket door. I'd considered it then forgot. Lol.

Ive also thought about double doors for the closet. In our last house we had 2 funky doors. One was a 4 panel very old door. Still with layers of paint and a rusty door knob. I cleaned it but left the paint. (Yeah it probably had lead but we didn't chew on the door - just a pet peeve of mine to chew on the doors)

The other was narrow glass double French doors into the bath. It was beautiful and unique so with your suggestion that's what I want to do here. Not too long ago I saw a matching set! If I could find that I would add the other doors leading from the bedroom into the bath.

Thank you again!

Sunny

Here is a larger version of the floor plan. The measurements are still a bit blurry but hopefully this will help.

In adding the window to the dining area should I put it next to the counter run or down towards the porch??

I hope everyone had a blessed and very happy Thanksgiving,

Sunny

I think I'd center it on your table, or put two skinny ones on either side of a centered hutch, if you were gonna put a china cabinet on that wall.