Updated Master Bathroom

Same Plan. Remodeled Master Bathroom. Oh and I moved the appliances around in the kitchen.   Like I said before.  I'm super scared about the choices I have to make.

The master bathroom has the shower and the tub in the same space.  I've seen some pictures of this type of layout and like it.

I like this picture from Better Homes and Gardens. It is very elegant.  I love the light that streams in from the windows.

While looking at this plan I've thought of more changes for the kitchen and the Master Bedroom.  At some point I'll get it just right.  I'll work on those and post them.

It's getting real! Sometimes real is scary...

Someone built my house and posted a picture!  I love it!!  It looks just like I imagined :)  I am thinking either yellow or light blue for the exterior.  I am starting to get to the point that I really need to make a decision so this process all goes smoothly when the time comes.  I have been having panic attacks that we are getting ready to build the house and I haven't figured out what I want to do with everything.  This house thing has been a dream of mine for so long that now that it's getting closer to a reality it's getting a little too real.  I have all these doubts that I'll pick the wrong color or choose a design that I hate in 2 years.  If I look back over how my tastes of house plans have changed I can see why I am a little nervous about making the actual decisions.

I am thinking I will go through all my Pinterest boards and really narrow down what I want in each room.  Maybe move all the decorating projects to another board and just focus on what we can get done in each room before we move in.  Hopefully that will give me some peace of mind.

Updated Main Floor

Like I said before, I am loving Photoshop!  I have made a couple changes to the main floor of the house plan (yes the SAME house plan).  I really want an outdoor fireplace and if I move the indoor fireplace to the back wall I'm thinking we can save some money by having them share a chimney!

I also updated the kitchen island to be a moving island instead of a built in.  I had to move the range to the right wall, but I like the idea of all the appliances on the walls and the island just being my big counter space.

There is an island at IKEA that looks like what I want. I like how they have it pictured in their catalog right now with two back to back.  I'm thinking we could put casters on them and move them around as needed.  The shelves will be a nice place to hold our pots and pans and I'm sure lots of other stuff.

I love this island look from BHG.  I have it on my Kitchen board on Pinterest.  I sure do love Pinterest.  I spend far too much time on that website.  I should have come up with the idea for that site.  I use to store all my links as bookmarks and it was SUCH a PAIN to find what I wanted.  But I did not so I am just going to have to enjoy it without any monetary gains from it...

The island from Better Homes and Gardens looks like one that I could get my Bro In Law to help me build myself if I'm ever feeling like I have some free time...

I am looking forward to the awesome posts and pictures that will someday come when I am building my house.  It feels so much closer than it ever has.  I just need to convince someone to sell me a lot for about 1/2 the price they are advertising them online.  I guess we'll see how it goes.  I am still optimistic that we will find something perfect.

I'm in Love!

Can I just start by saying "I LOVE PHOTOSHOP!!"  It is so fun to mess around with pictures and make them better.  I am so excited that I get to use it at my job to do something creative.  It reminds me of my drafting classes because I get to work with design again!  Love it.

The best part is this new house plan I found.  And I know you're skeptical, but THIS IS IT!  You know why it's it?  I loaded it into Photoshop and made it perfect for me and my family.  Now I just have to find someone to build it for me.

The original plan is found on Southern Living's Website.  I love their house plans.  They are amazing.  The plan is called Four Gables, but I call it Porches.  I love the porches on this plan!

The house looks like a cute little cottage you'd see on a farm somewhere or maybe near a lake or a beach. Yeah the beach that's where I can see this house.  But, since I will probably NEVER live on the beach I will build my house and daydream about the beach!

I love that I can tweak the plan in Photoshop.  It is so fun to move things around so it becomes my perfect house plan!  So this plan can be found on Southern Living's Website (where else, right?! they have the BEST house plans).  I switched the laundry room and the master closet's location from the original plan.  I needed more space in the Master Bath for the shower built for 2.  I also like that there is a pocket door into the laundry room from the Master Bath.  That will be mighty convenient for me!  I also rearranged the kitchen a bit from the original design.  I added a bigger window over the sink and moved the diswasher and added a double oven.  But looking at it now, I think I'll move the stove top over to the right counters and just have a big butcher block island in the middle where I can do all the prep work.  That sounds perfect.  I'll update and post the pic later...  I also changed the steps down from the back porch into one big stair case instead of two small ones.  I'm also thinking of moving the fireplace to the back wall so we can have a porch fireplace on the other side and share the chimney.  Yep, I'm gonna do it.  Stay tuned for it's awesomeness!

The second floorplan is good just how it is.  Two bedrooms for the kiddos and a playroom / guestroom / craftroom for every thing else I need.  I like that there is some storage space in the kids rooms that we can turn into secret hideouts!  What fun we will have!

Well there's my plan for the moment.  I think this is "the one" but you know how I am with plans... I need to find a garage plan to go with this and then we'll be set!  We decided we want to save for another year so we can have a bigger down payment which should make it easier for me to get all the awesome amenities I have been pinning!  We'll see how things go.

Practicality

prac·ti·cal·i·ty /ˌpraktiˈkalətē/ 

Noun

1. The quality or state of being practical. 
2. The aspects of a situation that involve the actual doing or experience of something rather than theories or ideas.

In all reality, I should be looking for a houseplan like this one from Dream Home Source. In reality, you can find this plan on practically all of the house plan sites.  

 I'm not saying this house is awful.  It's quite charming in some respects.  But it just screams practical.  It has one level, and it is very square.  It would probably be the most cost effective plan I have pinned thus far.  But It doesn't have that WOW that I am hoping for.

There is adequate space for our family of 4.  3 bedrooms and a nice bonus room as well.  The layout isn't too bad with the master on a separate side from the kiddos rooms.  But it just screams practical at me and for now I am sticking to dreaming.

Plans-A-Plenty

The Potter's House from Southern Living

Front of House

 Rendering

2nd Floor

First Floor

I really like the Southern Living house plans.  This one has a great porch.  The main floor Master bedroom has awesome closet space and bathroom.  I think it would work nicely with my dreams of the perfect bathroom.  I love how the second floor has a space that we could turn into a secret hideout for the kiddos.  I'm thinking hidden doors in the toilet room and decorating Peter Pan style!  I would definitely use the dining room/study space for an office/craft room and add some doors to keep the craft mess hidden away.  The powder room just off the entry is wasting space with that toilet, I would move it over to the same room as the sink and add to the closet.  I would push the wall of the laundry room into the closet by the porch in the master bedroom to give more space for folding. I'm not 100% sold that this is the plan though.

You can check out my Pinterest Board for other plans I find acceptable!

What? A new housplan?

That's right, I've changed my mind again.  I do realize that at some point if I do build a house I'll have to actually pick one.  And yes, part of me is terrified that I'm going to pick the wrong one.  But, we'll deal with that when the time comes.

Main Floor

Of course it has an open floor plan.  I love that look.  I really like the Office for my own little craft room.  I also like that it is not too big and not too small.  Just right for our family of 4.  Of course I'd make some changes to the kitchen layout, can't find perfection in any plan, but not a lot.  I prefer an island to a bar so I will have to work some photoshop magic on this image to create what I want. I love the size of the pantry, but I'm not sure if it would work in the layout I'm dreaming up...  I really like the laundry/mud room area.  It is perfect for when the kids come in all muddy or wet, they can just throw their wet stuff in the hamper.  With the powder room right there it makes for a great clean up area for our plethora of outdoor activities.

Second Floor

I know Hubby would love to have our room on a separate floor from the kiddos, but when you're on a budget you have to let some things go.  I personally don't mind because it's less of a walk when I have to get up to help them with something in the night.  I love the open foyer with a nice shelf at the top to put up some nice decor items.  That will be awesome. I'm envisioning a larger shower in the master bath, but it looks like there is space for that. I'm thinking E will get the smaller room since I plan to utilize the upper part of the house for her loft to give her more space.  N would really like that window seat in the larger bedroom. I love the balcony off the master, but the door placements in the room leave a curious predicament for where to put the sweet king size bed that I miss so much these days.  I'm thinking move the double doors over to the right a bit and reduce it down to a single door.  That will give me the wall space I want while leaving the area over by the balcony open for a nice love seat and table for some relaxing. I love, love, love the bonus room.  A place for the kids to watch movies, play games, have parties, and maybe even E can teach dance up there when she get's older.  It would be a great space to have.  I might have to steal a chunk of it for a walk in closet for E's room though.  That girl has a lot of stuff!

There are a couple versions of this house built and I love them both.  I think I would go with the attached garage though because I love that big bonus room accessible from the upstairs. I love the colors of both the versions of the house and it's going to be hard deciding what to go with.  Most likely green since that's my favorite color.

That's where I am right now.  I'm sure I'll look at others in the next year or so, but this one is definitely a contender.  I hope we'll be able to find the perfect lot to fit our perfect house where we can grow old and never move again.