I underestimated storage too, especially in the kitchen. Thought I’d planned for every gadget, but somehow there’s never enough space for the random stuff—holiday platters, bulk paper towels, you name it. Built-ins help, but I wish I’d added more deep drawers instead of lower cabinets. On the ceiling height thing, I get the appeal of tall ceilings, but honestly, I’d trade a bit of drama for lower heating bills any day. Curious—has anyone tried radiant floor heating in those big open rooms? Wondering if that actually helps balance out the heat loss.
- Deep drawers are a game changer—I swapped out two lower cabinets for drawers last year and can’t believe I waited so long. Way easier to access everything, especially those awkward mixing bowls and baking pans.
- Tall ceilings look great, but yeah, the heating bills are no joke. We have radiant floor heat in our main living area (about 18’ ceilings), and it definitely helps keep things comfortable. The floors stay warm, but the air up high is still cooler than I’d like in winter.
- If I did it again, I’d insulate the heck out of those exterior walls and maybe even consider a zoned heating system for the open space.
Curious—has anyone found a clever way to store those giant platters or roasting pans that never fit anywhere?
