Crisis averted, new design drawings, new crisis

We met with the architect again last Sunday and before we went I went over the estimates again highlighting all of the same items from the first estimate in one color and the different items in another color making sure that all of the extra costs were correct and necessary. But then I looked at the estimate the architect did after receiving the first estimate from TOTO and his estimate was even less than TOTO's even though there were more items on it, like basins outside the bathrooms, etc. So that is when I remembered he said they would give a retail estimate and the actual cost to us would be about half of that. Phew! Still within budget! I was able to confirm that with the architect on Sunday too, and he told me not to worry. We could afford all of the things we chose. Yippee!

Here are the new drawings:

First floor

Second floor

Loft

 These drawings are a little more detailed that the previous drawings. They have been to the architect who looks at them and decides where the weight-bearing walls and pillars need to go and he drew foundation drawings so we are steadily getting closer to the goal. There are still a few changes I want to make. First of all, behind the kitchen island I think are floor to ceiling shelves behind three sliding doors and next to them the refrigerator is walled off. I think I want the shelves covered by sliding doors up to waist height and then I want the shelves open with a window on the back wall and I don't want the refrigerator walled off because 1. we are going to buy a new refrigerator when we move (fingers crossed the one we have now holds up until we do move!) so don't know the measurements and 2. if we have to buy a new fridge 20 years in the future I don't want to be limited by the width of a pre-determined space.

The post it note on the first floor is a note confirming that we want the wood floors to be everywhere, even in front of the bath and sinks rather than linoleum or some other tile. The architect said some people worry about cleaning up spills on wood floors, but I'm fine with that. I absolutely do not want linoleum.

I'm wondering if we can get an electric outlet put in on the side of the island. There also seem to be a lot of windows that push out and open rather than slide open. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I always feel like the push open windows end up not allowing a lot breeze in. I need to ask.

Here is my biggest problem right now. Akinori wants tree trunks here and there throughout the first floor and I don't know where else. I was okay with one. It's been in the drawings from the beginning and it is in the genkan before guests step up into the living room. It goes all the way up into our bedroom and will have branches on it which can also be used to hang guests' coats and things and it's kind of cool. But the architect dropped two more into the drawing in "unobtrusive" places and Akinori says he still wants more!!! WTF! We do not need a forest in our house and I do not want valuable space taken up with tree trunks that are standing there for no good reason!

The tree trunks are marked with the arrows and I'm actually okay with both of the lower ones, but I do not want that tree trunk next to the island. I think it will be in the way. I think we should maybe do an open staircase and a tree trunk can act as a pillar holding up the staircase or something like that instead. Akinori said today he wanted to add more and I nearly strangled him. We'll see where this ends up, but I guarantee you it will NOT end up with MORE tree trunks in my living room!