posted below as it wouldn’t let me reply
- You can use Ikea cabinets with customized fronts, that will save lots of money over custom cabinets. Several companies are doing this now and they’re high quality.
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Unless you have very tall sofas or a very short fireplace, having the television above the fireplace isn’t comfortable for viewing for very long.
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I have a pro range, be advised that also requires a LOT of ventilation. REQUIRES.
It is imperative that the hood be running anytime the range is lit, and unless you buy a quite expensive hood, the hood is going to be quite loud. So think about if you want to be able to carry on a conversation in the kitchen anytime the stove is on. I’m not exaggerating! If your ventilation is inadequate you will have problems. Furthermore, for adequate ventilation you’re also going to require air exchange at that high rate - that’s another expense. Plus, you’re going to need to consider what is around the stove (e.g. no, you will not have upper cabinets near it, and beware the radiating heat on either side of it).
I’d encourage your husband to look at the innovations in induction - I’ve cooked on two high end induction ranges this past year and they have been just as fast and responsive as my 25,000 BTU burners (for reference, most home stoves are around 7,000 BTUs). Between the more recent information on poor indoor air quality with natural gas stoves - and how high-performing the new induction ranges are - my next range is going to be induction.
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I don’t like TVs over fireplaces. Awkward viewing, unattractive add to beautiful feature.
Ways to save - DIY, where you can
use stock cabinets and semi custom counters in bathrooms.
shop, shop, online for lighting, towel bars, plumbing fixtures, like faucets, area rugs, cabinet knobs. Plug model numbers into google. Use something like Rakuten for cash back online, intro offers on websites, Menards 11% week, lowes credit card discounts. Costco has good prices on name brand window treatments sometimes, and also some things like faucets. We had some things built by Amish, great quality, not inexpensive but sometimes cost effective because you can often specify exact sizes and finishes.
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I hope anyone building or remodeling will reread your point #3 about ventilation.
Depending on which version of the building code is in effect in someone’s area, it may be necessary to provide dedicated makeup air for any vent hood rated for 400 CFM or greater. That could be just a duct to the outside with a damper, set in the wall or floor near the range/cooktop, that brings in fresh air. It would be good to talk with the local inspectors about what they require now and not rely on what a builder has always done.
While I do understand the need for makeup air, living in the humid south and having to bring saturated air into a home is a health concern. ERVs were once thought to be the answer for warm climates (like HRVs in cold climates.) Unfortunately, they also brought in more moisture laden air causing other problems. Now there are whole house ventilating dehumidifier systems. Santa Fe is one highly regarded brand. They have systems for houses up to 5,000 sq ft. or you can combine smaller units.
One potential problem with relying on the Santa Fe systems for fresh air is that they may not satisfy some building departments’ requirements for makeup air for those 400+ CFM vent hoods. Fortunately, we learned that early in our new house planning when I talked with the inspector responsible for our location.
I ended up specifying a 36" induction cooktop for our kitchen. Over the cooktop is a 42"W X 24"D custom vent hood that draws 390 CFM, so no dedicated makeup air was required. The width and depth of it should help capture more of the vapor (smoke, moisture, whatever) than the typical hood a builder would install. We don’t fry fish or sear steaks on a pan but do that sort of cooking outside. Since the cooktop is induction and not gas, there’s no concern about elevated carbon monoxide levels in the kitchen. It can be hard to find premade vent hoods <400 CFM that are large enough for a cooktop or range >30"; kitchen designers recommend installing a hood that’s 6" wider than the cooking surface. That’s one reason I ended up going with a custom hood. I didn’t put any upper cabinets on that wall, so the vent hood and the sconces flanking it (a safe distance away) are the stars of that wall.
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May I suggest another feature? An EV charger for the garage. Even if you don’t plan on having one soon, it looks like EVs are here to stay, and adding a 220V outlet in a new construction is cheaper than to retrofit.
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I just want to say this is my current favorite thread. It’s so soothing and fun to decorate/equip a lake house!!! Even when it’s not mine!!! 
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Interesting reading about all the regional building codes and restrictions!
We ran into trouble with our building codes with our exhaust hood too. I have a high output gas professional range and the hood is 1200 CFM. That dictated the location of where the range could be placed in the kitchen because it needs to be vented to the outdoors. The kitchen design originally wanted the range on an interior wall which would have caused big problems for the ducting. Shouldn’t be an issue with a new build but definitely be sure your builder is aware it isn’t a standard vent hood for a professional gas range.
So fun designing a new house but so many decisions to be made!
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I’m glad you are having fun with this thread!! I need lots of suggestions. Our last couple home have been new spec homes…so builder made all the choices. It can be a bit overwhelming trying to envision and make all the choices. We need to meet with the builder sometime to see how much help they will be. I appreciate everyone’s opinions.
BB 220v in garage is an excellent suggestion! We currently do not have that type of vehicle but I see where you are going with that. I do plan to get a security system and sound system and I know that is easier to install originally than as an add on.
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Opinions on white v wood trim? Originally I thought a north woods lake home screamed stained wood trim and H leans that direction…but now I’m thinking I might like the white. I’d stick with stained cabinets in a medium color for kitchen/bathrooms. I’ve had white in a previous home and have stained wood now. The stained is cozy but I like how the white feels fresh.
My personal taste is white trim and pulling in the coziness of stained wood in cabinets, ceiling beams and other architectural accents. @AustenNut provided some great photos upthread.
I agree with others who are finding this an enjoyable thread! Thank you for taking us on your journey.
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I also prefer white trim and wood beams and floors. That said, I think a lake house works with wood trim as well.
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I like wood trim when it goes in a more Frank Lloyd Wright or Craftsman style direction. Not so much when its more traditional.
or
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@DramaMama2021 and @Boilermom I am now leaning toward the white trim on windows/baseboards/interior doors and doing a stained wood with v cabinets but will see how H feels about it. It helps to hear opinions on this thread. Obviously not everyone will agree with what we decide to do but I like hearing what others like and things to consider that I might not have thought of. When I mentioned white trim interior with stained wood cabinets in a north woods setting I was waiting to hear if that seemed ok to others or if there would be a resounding NOoooo! What are you thinking?
This thread is helping me get my thoughts together (and giving some confidence in choices) before we meet with the builder.
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Ok, now this is gorgeous!!!
I’m keeping photos from the internet and this thread on the note feature in my iPhone to show the H/builder and just keep my thought together.
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We have wood trim on the ground floor which has more of a cabin-ish vibe and white trim on the upper floor. A hodgepodge perhaps, but it works for us because the upper floor is not visible from the ground floor.
The builder of our House1 said that stained trim was more expensive because it required real wood. The majority of white trim is done in wood looking composite material and then painted in place. Not sure if this is still the case.
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There’s a long tradition in American houses of using less expensive materials on the upper floors. (Pine floors and simpler trim being the most common.)
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We opted for white doors and trim upstairs because my husband thinks white says “bedroom” while wood says “living room”
(we replaced wood doors and trim with white here, but House1 had white trim all over except the wood railing on the stairs).
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Here are a few images that might give you some ideas of how different possibilities might look:
This house has white trim on the windows and chair rail, but wood counters, door, and beams.
White trim everywhere, but wood mantel and counters.
Wood trim, windows, and beams:
White trim, wood beams & floors.
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If it were me designing a house with a nice budget - I’d definitely invest in a designer whose work I loved. The one I had for my parents’ house gave me great ideas, and I would also text her random questions. The ultimate end product was entirely my vision but filtered through a beautiful lens of someone who knew how to make it work in a very fresh and cohesive way.
Had the same experience when consulting w/a designer for living room/dining room of my own house. She did a litle watercolor for us of the outcome - but met with us first to get our vibe, interests, style preferences, etc. She’d give us three choices (say fabric of curtains, pattern of rug) based on our interests and we’d pick.
In the design area - I feel like (at least for me - maybe not others!) “I don’t know what I don’t know.” That’s where the expert can help. Maybe it’s not necessary for 1Lotus, though and this thread has had amazing design ideas and tips!!! I’m taking many lol.
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I am hoping to get some designer advice and agree I don’t know what I don’t know. Your word “ cohesive” is exactly what I’m thinking I need once I get all the ideas together.
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