If you have an Ikea near you they have very affordable ones in many lengths and colors. If you use the grommet type they will be easy to open and close as needed. Use drapes with grommet headings as high on the wall as you can. You can use a complimentary color for drapes which can be hung on your sliders only if those are the ones you need to cover. Have we totally confused you? I think if you go with the area rugs as suggested as a beginning, you will have a better feel for what is next. Get your designer to provide parking, walks, plants and sitting areas out in front (for your reading pleasure). You don't even view your house from that walkway, you are looking at the neighbor's house.

That is the service area where the contractors park and have their lunch, and not your way to open your arms to your guests. A final note on your initial renderings by your architect: Nix on his idea that the front walk leads to the garage doors. If you sit out there with a good book or performing your work on your computer, it might covey a message to your neighbors that you are open to their dropping by. It tells your guests they are welcome and to relax and enjoy their visit. However it is a very pleasant area that is shown. Back in the front, I like the River Oaks Residence up at the beginning, offered by MarleneM, but no open water in front where you cannot monitor it. Be sure to position the pool area well, so you can view the sand box and swing, as well as the areas of open water from the kitchen and office where you can monitor the activity, and have a speaker system there to convey your timely instructions. Perhaps sandbox and swings now and basketball later, but there are a ton of sports where all you need is a decent lawn, which you have in front, and I hope in the rear as well. Review these wish lists with your site planner or garden designer to develop some preliminary plans for the family review and revision. Let your inlaws make lists as well, as regular visitors. Have everyone in the family make a list of what they want to have or to do on your site, their forever home, where they will grow and mature and make forever friends.

Enjoy what you have and make the two acres enjoyable for your family activities and entertaining your guests, make your neighbors envious of your family and your outdoor spaces, where their kids will always want to come and join your kids in their outdoor activities. They will be expensive, but they will not disturb your household like building contractors will, just to improve the looks, bah. My reaction is that you might take the advice above and get some large trees, say 4'-6' in caliper, strategically placed to screen what you don't like and control and enhance the views to the areas you love. and family, what a turnout on your behalf.

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