Very nice doors.
Just checked receipt for Armstrong door system. It was 2,275 after discount before taxes. Sorry
Spent yesterday changing out all the door and window casing in main living area and masterbedroom because it was cheap looking. Went with solid 4" contemporary casing. Pics not coming out because llight coming through windows.
So all you have to do is track down a 60 year old permit, and the deck is back on?
Bring back the deck! Bring back the deck! 
No matter what I do, because of Brush Management and fire retardant requirements, the deck is going to cost close to $15,000 to expand out a portion of it to 10 ft. I just cannot justify the expense. I researched all the comparable sales and I don’t think I can recoup the investment.
Just to clarify… the large Anderson patio doors are for the family room downstairs to fill in the current large garage door opening.
Those doors will definitely transform that lower level. I think they’re a smart splurge.
Today is exciting. Starting to paint everything upstairs. This afternoon we are going to be doing some very important math analysis to lay out staircase. We need to start laying out staircase so we can start concrete cutting in slab downstairs to get ready to pour footing for outer wall of staircase.
Even though we have plans, all measurements for stair treads, length of run, tie in to existing floor joists, etc have to be done on site. Since this is our first staircase I have asked my experienced contractor friend to help with final design.
I had my regular shower door glass company come out to measure for the glass shower enclosure in the master bath. I asked them to measure and quote to put the heat tempered back painted glass up for kitchen back splash. Just got their quote - $5,150!! Uhhh, I don’t think so. The glass backsplash may be out of my dreams at this point!
We started pulling the cage off the front of the house and I immediately noticed some issues. The existing window is too small for the scale of the bedroom wall and there’s a bunch of ugly meters, pipes and wires on the end of the house. Boy are we going to have to get creative 
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Can you move the meter around the corner?
Cannot move meter without a ton of electrician costs because it is the main panel and a lot of wiring would have to be moved. Probably need a permit also since City will be snooping around. And then there would be stucco patching of the hole. Can of worms.
Cb, you can do this! The bunch of ugly meters on the side of our house is covered by strategically placed trellises and some interesting bushes/climbers.
hmm… could you do fake rectangular columns on either side of the window with the one covering the electrical meter hinged for access? Would the electric co allow this? It might add some visual interest to the front of the house.
As long as the “column” can be open, it would be fair game in my neck of the woods.
My sister had a similar problem. They ended up not being able to move the utilities. They built a short stucco wall with a top, sort of a box. On top they put a tall colorful planter. I think the backside is open to allow the meter to be read.
Adjusting properly for site-suitable plants (drought-resistant, etc.), perhaps you can install some tall plantings on this side of the house so that they’d hide the meter and wiring.
The electrical stuff is sufficiently close to the side of the house here that some tall, skinny plantings–maybe dwarf Italian cypress?–will go a ways towards hiding the meters and wires. Something spare but dense enough to hide things. They will also add some 3-D interest to the front of the house.
If you want to think outside the box, so to speak - what about incorporating a large decorative surfboard standing on edge into your front porch or yard design? It could draw the eye away from the meter/wiring along with partially blocking it. And it would seem completely natural in the area. Get it painted with the house number maybe. Or a subtle rendition of the Sea World tower.
Another idea is to use a shade sail across the front porch then take one down the corner, leaving access. That would certainly add dramatic curb appeal.
Or shoji screens on each end of the porch.
Heck, the meter has a cage around it right now, with a gate for meter access. Maybe I could paint it really nice or something. I was going to remove the porch decking also, so I’m not sure there will be a porch there.
I’ll see what the curb appeal landscape designer says. Hopefully he has some ideas.
Do they have wireless electric meters that can be read remotely so you do not have to provide easy access?