The upstairs will be very similar to the old house except for no walls around the '3rd bedroom,' (keeping it open for light into the hallway upstairs while still providing extra sleeping space and a reading nook, thank you Sara for suggestion), and the bathroom will have a true dormer to not be so squeezed into the space. I have added lots of closets along the two window-less walls for storage and for guests to use, and figured the bedrooms do not have to be huge to be useful (but may have overdone it). I need suggestions for the most aesthetically pleasing and safe way to 'rail in' the stairs above (without that wall there). I don't especially like the idea of stair balusters lining the side (and it would have to be high enough for kids to not lean over the top)...but if there are especially cool ones or attractive ones or design-appropriate ones I'd like to see them.
The downstairs (already shown in earlier post except the mudroom entry here has been moved to the back (east) side of the house and the two high windows in the mudroom/laundry has been replaced by one conventional window. Still pondering the porch/deck. I am with Sara...porches can darken rooms and I don't want dark rooms. But having the protection of a roof from sun or rain could be nice and cozy out there. Either way, I definitely want at least a deck for enjoying that view.
Humm, wish I had suggestions for a railing.
Maybe instead of a roof over the porch you could have a retractable awning,