webuser_402518057's ideas
(Jean) This is probably what we can afford/want to have. but I am not a fan of pools surrounded by grass. much prefer decking inside the fencing...probably just concrete.(Joan) would you consider some off your raised gardens outside the concrete decking but in the pool area? This approach may make part of the fence disappear.
(Jonathan) Side burners and a central burner, and ADA compliant.
(Jonathan) A soaking tub needs a reasonably flat bottom and at least a modest flat edge for sitting and to aid entry and departure.
(Jonathan) More blue floral on ivory ceramic, and I like the shapes. Generally speaking, prefer very light shades. Light is what determines how well I can see.
(Jonathan) I like the size, shape, and texture.
(Jonathan) Again, maybe a lighter grey. I prefer the double vanities with the sinks set furthest apart. Good, efficient use of cabinet space for drawers.
(Jonathan) A little too dark, and with different handles. I like the articulation.
(Jonathan) I like white porcelain with blue flowers and birdies. So sue me.
Only one of several color options.
Dining Room - (Jonathan) Nice. SImple, modestly imposing. Splits the difference between Mission and very simple Empire. (Bill) Pretty good price too
Bathroom - (Jonathan) I think Jean saved this one, too. Like the layout and the glass surround (or any surround) for the toilet as well as the shower. Be nice to have the windows start higher, for privacy. (Bill) Not sure about the rocks under the vanity, maybe they have a drainage problem! Nicely modern, but a little slick for you I think. Layout and space is wonderful. (Jonathan) Agreed. I wondered about the rocks, too. They probably have a second home on the coast or on a lake that they're trying to evoke. Odd. (Joan) rocks are strange dust collectors. Maybe as a shower wall tile accent. Under cabinet lights are nice. (Jonathan) No rocks necessary.
(Jonathan) Yah shur, you betcha. But they store things much more neatly and sparely than we will. (Bill) We live in an age where you can get practically anything you want in a kitchen. Its not too early to start hitting cabinet retailers to look at their offerings. However, their "free" design services are usually just a selling opportunity, not creative designing
Kitchen - (Jonathan) Ignore the style, but this is just the kind of storage Jean would love IF it was within easy reach. We're shedding the practice of storing things up high. (Bill) Good idea, practice getting old! (Joan) Hmmm... Bill, didn’t we just renovate so I need a ladder to get in to our cupboards?? (Jonathan) One of those library ladders on track gliders? :) wish it were so..no a cheap three step “ladder”
(Jonathan) Not attached, but the right idea. A doorway to the left, a window to the right. A dormer to allow for potential future use of the rafter space. Like the style, but with cement clapboards instead of shakes. (Bill) Again, pretty much what the plan shows. The next floor plan or actually shows the whole garage! How do you feel about shed dormers versus gable Dormers? (Jonathan) Personally, I'm fine with shed dormers--simpler, easier to build--so long as the main body of the house is gabled, and of a sufficient pitch. (jean) I actually love the garage doors as well.(Joan) love this look, better roof drainage control over opening.
(Jonathan) Nice simple door treatments. A skosch stark. (Bill) I use this style of trim quite often, the header separated from the vertical trim with a parting bead and topped with molding. I think the starkness comes from the bright white paint and lack of artwork on the walls. (Jonathan) I agree. Not sure how Jean would feel about the very simple paneling of the doors. We have six panels on our current doors. (Jean) I love this. (Jonathan) We would probably have warmer colors on the walls. Like the handles--easier to use for maturity-enhanced.
(Jonathan) Ignore the arches. Maybe the hallway south of the kitchen could have built-in kitchen/pantry storage. (Bill) Great idea! I like getting double duty out of the halls. (Jean) not a fan of how busy this makes the hallway. I am not sure what wall is being referenced but in general I like things spare.
(Jonathan) About the right size. Very odd patios and decks around it. (Bill) One big issue that we have to deal with regarding the pool: there must be a 4 foot high fence around the pool or pool area and it must separate the house from the pool. (Jonathan) Those pesky codes.(Joan) probably looks better in plan then real life. Also a lot f edging needed.
This is that earlier farmhouse building. Like the climbing big old roses on the corner. Goshen stone pavers look great (I have some of them in the rear of our current house), but they're not accessible, and we're planning for the decrepit long run. (jean) love the gardens.(Joan) this is beautiful. Do you like the soft English garden feel? (jean) yes. we both love this garden feel more than anything - but we are not great at high maintenance gardening. WE love the look and do ok with things like peonies, rose bushes, Russian sage, baptisia, bulbs herbs etc.
(Jonathan) I wish we could fit a stone folly into the budget, but I think it unlikely. (Bill) That would be wonderful! (Jonathan) Perhaps when we move to the Cotswolds. Or Scotland.(Joan) do you want raised or at ground gardens? (jean) in front at ground level. In the back - possibly on or near the deck/patio a few raised beds for kitchen herbs and small plants
(Jonathan) Again, caveman TV is a good thing. This one is built a little too high. You need to look down on a fire. (Bill) True. (Joan) just sent you a to die for fire pit. (Jonathan) You referring to the dragon?
(Jonathan) I'd love to have a recirculating water feature like this, but I suspect it's not going to be a priority in the budget. Nonetheless, could you plan a space for it, for later consideration? (Bill) Certainly! (Joan) Yes!
(Jonathan) It's odd what you notice. Is there a smallish tree, like the one in the photo, that could be planted relatively close to the house--a flowering but non-bearing apple or cherry or mountain ash or something similar? It could sit in front of the entry room windows, not in front of the porch, and provide seasonal color and (within a decade or so) a sense of greater permanence to the house? (Joan) perhaps a Redbud?
And(Jonathan) A pergola leading north away from (or perpendicular to) the porch off the sun room in back might be an idea. A connector to the pool? (Bill) I’d love to see something like that.(Joan) connecting pergolas work so nicely and can provide needed shade and privacy also a place for those who love the outside but not the harsh sun.
(Jonathan) Not this style, but maybe one way to handle the beds around the walkway and porch in front would be to raise them.
(Jonathan) Having a fenced garden edge for the front walkway would be cool. Plants would need to require minimal attention. We like heirloom tea roses, as well as those ever-blooming kinds. (Bill) Would look great! (Jean) love this look. (Jonathan) We'll discuss plant species in greater detail later, but some winterberry, ilex, spirea--like that.
Way too numerous and elaborate, but space set aside for 2-3 of these near the house or as part of a deck or patio or whatever would be nice. (jean) Agree! (Joan) sometimes you can integrate a raised bed as the edging of a pool with the needed fence as a backdrop so it isn’t too intrusive.
Nice tulips. We like lots of spring and fall bulbs. Snowdrops, daffodils/narcissus, tulips. The regular ones. (jean) yes
(Jonathan) Wouldn't it be lovely? Not the house, but I like climbing flowering vines--wisteria, morning glories (plural), etc.)--on trellises that can acquire gravitas over time. We also like free-standing bronzey-pink-white hydrangea. Jean also also likes blue ones, which I will douse in kerosene and set alight, along with taking a baseball bat to any mirror balls. But seriously, variegated beds with perennials, including some that will acquire substance and presence over time.
(Jonathan) Bearing in mind that we have the gardening constancy of mayflies, I like planter pots that can be seasonally adapted. Multivariate coleus in summer, other plants in fall.
(Jonathan) Like pergolas up which vines can grow or from which potted plants can be hung. Perhaps out back.(Joan) a pergola can also be integrated in to one end or so of the pool.
(Jonathan) Ignore the interior, but that's a view Jean would love to see out the back. (Bill) Got it! (jean) I do love the idea but am picturing the pool farther from the house with deck/patio directly behind the house before the pool (Joan) agree with Jean.
(Jonathan) Always like pocket doors as a space separator. No idea where they should go, but I like them. (Bill) I’m suggesting them for the library and master bedroom, but solid doors, not French.
Living Room - This has some sense of the arrangement. The fireplace with built-ins is one space, and is related to both the outdoor on one side and the dining room on another. Presumably the kitchen is further off to the right, on the far side of the dining room.
This is arranged differently, but conveys some of the sense of space. Simple ceiling treatment.
Sporting Room - Towel hooks over the dog shower.
Laundry - (Jean) Just a beautiful room.(Joan) thecolors are quiet and clean, vey calming
We'll, like the dog shower, but we want the lab, too. (Joan) whole house vacuum?
Dog shower--don't want in laundry room. Goes in sporting room.
Jean loves how organized and beautiful this is.
Dog shower with kneeling bench for washer, climbing bench for dog. (Jean) and a two lab closet!!
Another dog bath/shower in the laundry. Not where it will go.
Like the cabinetry. (jean) this cabinetry in the other laundry room (Joan) do you want a deep laundry sink ? (jean) yes. on the sink. I hand wash and hang or flat dry a lot of my clothes. I currently have 3 drying racks in my basement laundry
Kitchen - Another gadgety shelf Jean likes.
Like the layout. Don't like everything all white.
Nice broom closet spaces.
Jean likes the look of this (not so much the stacked washer dryers) for cabinets, countertops, and colors.
Jean is enamored of these pull-out shelf things.
Old school. Like it, as long as it doesn't intrude into travel corridors in the room.
There's the dog shower for the sporting room. (Joan) our groomer has said it is much easier to wash a dog who is at waist level. But, then you have to lift the dog up. (Jonathan) Unless you build a way for the dog to climb up.
Nice.
Liked the room, not the colors.
nice.
Jean thinks this room is beautiful and well laid out, and can see beyond the color. I struggle with the gloom imparted by the color.
Like it. Like the beadboard and other finishes very much. (Joan) the fall down drying rack is genius.
A bit compact, but well ordered.
Jean says OMG yes to the sweater drying racks. (Joan) Yes! No more rack rumples!
Walk-in Closet - Like the organization.
Nice walk-in.
Kitchen - Jean would probably love this as a way to organize spices. Like the counter materials and cabinet design, too.
Exterior - Flipped layout and the garage is too tall, but nice. Could do without the arch over the entry. There's just something too 'branch bank' about that. (Joan) and all that snow and rain dumping.
Not in love with the stone or the roof line, but board and batten might work on, say, the garage. Columns a good proportion--not overdone.
Exterior - The style works. Porch doesn't (paint those columns!). Dormers instead of skylights as a source of first floor light. Nice windows.
For shared study.
Q