And yet more changes...........

We had a wicked little cold snap here.  Temps were a few degrees below zero.  The CHA in the house couldn't keep up with the cold outside.  I have no doubt that was partially due to do our eighty year old newspaper and old clothing insulation.  Oh, and the inch wide gaps between floors and walls and windows and doors.  It certainly wasn't helped by the fact that our only fireplace is DOA.

After living in what felt like an ice box for a few days, I started playing with the floor plan to the TN house.  Aside from upping the insulation big time, which we'd already decided years ago we'd be doing, I also changed some walls and doors and added a couple new fireplaces.  Now there is the one in the great room but also one in the master bedroom and one in the dining room.  It meant the nice french doors going to the master suite onto the back porch were replaced with a single french door and the door that went from the dining to the porch is now gone completely.  A small price to pay for knowing we'll be warm!

I don't remember what the last posting was that I had for this floor plan but I've also changed the stair case.  Instead of a formal staircase going to the Rec Room downstairs, I've put in spiral stairs at the front entry.  A half bath down stairs with the laundry facility and a built in bar.  Next to the bar will be a raised floor to put a pull out sofa bed on.  There will be a loft over it with a twin bed.  In the photo they've put it over a queen bed, but there's no reason it can't go over a sofa bed, right?

I also found the PERFECT hardwood floors to go in the bedrooms.  I'm sure they'll cost about as much as the rest of the house, but they are exactly what I've wanted my entire life.  If they're too pricey we'll just put them in the two rooms of the master suite but I'd really love to be able to swing them in the guest room too.  Seriously, how amazing are these??

Other ideas I thought were amazing that we'd like to incorporate, including a fireplace that has built in seating.  Can you imagine coming inside from the snow and being able to take a seat right at the fireplace?  Too awesome!

I found this great idea for empty space walls.  I'll incorporate it in the blank wall by the bar.  Perfect, right?

Again, given space allowance, I'd like to have this system built into where the sofa bed will be sitting.  One big drawer that pulls out a full size bed.  A drawer next to it for storage.

And last, the cleaning ideas.  Baseboard vaccuum slots so I can just sweep right up to them and kick a button and it'll suck all that dust and dirt and hair out of the house.  Laundry chutes built into the backsplash in the kitchen that will go to a garbage disposal system.  

Getting really excited about our house!  Now I just need that money........