That was fast!

It's been just under 2 months since my last post, and boy have things changed.

The house looks like... a house. They're installing the electrical systems today--HVAC and plumbing are already in as are the fireplace, windows and garage door.

So far, I've only found one thing that wasn't done right the first time--the doorway from the great room to the hall was installed backwards. My project manager got it fixed quickly and everything is looking good.

the corrected doorway

Guest bath/shower

I am SO excited about this exterior vent in the kitchen.

My new, big soaking tub

I ended up selecting the smallest available floor plan, mainly because I had major issues with the other plans. Here's a list of the things that struck me on many house plans I've looked at:

• Walk-in closet off the master bath(or any bath)

One word: Moisture. A bathroom has a large amount of moisture, even with a good exhaust fan. WHY would you want your clothes right next to a main and continuous source of this? It's just asking for trouble. Even if your clothes don't get musty, moist environments are great for silverfish which love to eat cellulose (ie, cotton, rayon and linen)

• Coat closet 10+ feet from the front door

Seriously, if the coat closet isn't right inside the front door, it's just a closet.

• Laundry off kitchen or any main living area and/or laundry closet.

I'd much rather schlep my laundry to the other side of the house than have a pile of laundry in the kitchen. Also, even the best machines make noise. I want mine behind a solid door that I can shut. Finally, I do fabric dyeing. The utility sink will be in the garage--right outside the laundry room. Less distance between these two mean less mess.

• Long, narrow approach to front door

I don't want myself or my guests to feel like they're approaching a back alley dive. Maybe I'm a little claustrophobic, too.

• Access to common rooms through kitchen

My new kitchen is open to the 'great room', but I've seen some plans where you walk through the kitchen. I consider my kitchen private in some strange way. I don't mind you see it, but I'd rather no one have to walk through it to get to my main living area. Kinda seems like having to walk through the back garden to get into the house...

Laundry room