The Toyota and Honda are the only ones most people need to look at. Toyota offers 4WD models that double as a light-duty SUV. They also have some way-cool Limited luxury vans that could easily pass for a Lexus. Loaded with useful toys - power folding 3rd-row seats, rear-view camera, driver seat and mirror settings memory, remote power open-and-closing rear and side doors, navigation system, 12v and 120v outlets, HID/xenon headlamps, Bluetooth wireless phone connections with nav integration, roll-up sunshades for all the side windows, laser-guided cruise control, power fold-in mirrors with puddle, side marker, and backup lights, parking assist, loads more. The Honda Odyssey Touring has most of this except for the AWD availibility, and has a more powerful engine and some underfloor storage. The DaimlerChrysler vans (Dodge, Chrysler) have nifty 2nd-row seats that fold into recesses to fold flat into the floor; when the 2nd row seats are in place, a huge underfloor cargo hold is available. But the rest of the van is a generation behind the Toyota and Honda minivans, such as available safety equipment, ergonomics, and a missing gear in the transmission. General Motors are selling four nearly-identical minivans through different brands (Saturn Relay, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana, Buick Terraza). The four put together are being outsold by the Toyota alone though. Not hard to see why; this is an old 1997 design updated last year with a longer hood and a revised dashboard. The behind the 3rd row cargo space is tiny in these, because it lacks the deep storage well all the other manufacturers use now. So they actually had to build the floor *up* so the 3rd-row seatback could fold forward (not tumble back) and line up with the rearmost floor section. The whole thing is nearly a foot above the floor in the front half of the van, where the 2nd row seats begin. Likewise, the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey are revamps of the previous Ford Windstar, also at least Ford ponied up for a new floorpan with a proper fold-rearward-into-the-well 3rd-row seat. Price (after steep rebates and incentives) drive most sales of these. The Nissan Quest is worth a look for its stylish, comfortable interior, which offers some elegant color choices and a neat aircraft-style 5-skylight and overhead console package that looks like it was pulled from a Learjet. The dash is a bit funky for some tastes (glovebox where the speedometer usually is), the 3rd row must be raised or dropped in one piece, and its reliability has been iffy. The 2nd row seats fold almost flat into the floor Kia has a redesigned Sedona van that is low-priced, and unlike the previous one, is reasonably conpetitive with the Honda and Toyota. Rich people can now buy a Mercedes minivan, the R-Class which is the only one with an available V8 (6 cylinder is standard). AWD is optional, RWD standard. Rear side doors open like a sedan's rather than being sliders, but they are just as wide as sliding doors, making them more difficult to open in parking lots than SUV or wagon rear doors would be. Configured alot like 10 year old Mazda MPVs. Competes with the Odyssey Touring and Sienna Limited, as well as the Chrysler Pacifica. The Mazda MPV is a standout for being smaller and shorter than most other vans. An again design, it still manages good design, a hint of sportiness, and lots of interior space in a small package. As for buying "American brands", be careful concerning recent changes in the automotive market. Dodge and Chrysler are now German-owned (DaimlerChrysler AG), and their vans are built in Canada, with 75% North American parts. Toyota is a Japanese-headquartered company, but they designed the Sienna in California, and build it in two U.S. plants with 91% North American parts. So despite the more foreign-sounding name, the Toyota is more an "American" vehicle than the Dodge is.

Just a note. The 2005 Odyssey will be a long awaited redesign so you may want to wait until Sept. (I think) to see what it is all about. There is an Odyssey forum at the link below, and everyone there is guessing what new features it will have. Rear windows that actually go up and down, power gate, stow and go third row seating, better fuel economy, power antenna????? I bought the 2004 Odyssey, despite that the Sienna was slightly larger and slightly better equipped, because it came in the color I wanted (yeah, cuz that will make me "cool"). Anyway, I love the Odyssey but wish it had a power rear-gate. I'm a little short and it's a little heavy for me to get it down easily. I have the seven-seat configuration with the access row on the side because I have three car-seats and that was the best configuration. People go on and on about the seats that fold flat in the floor. My third row does, but you really need to think about how often you would need a completely flat long bed, before going with a van with second row fold flat. Here is a link that might be useful: 2005 Odyssey Forum

This is a crude sketch but maybe this would be a better layout if I steal a bit from the closet area for the toilet and split up the sinks? It would make for a much bigger shower and no issues cleaning the tub, and would be easy to enclose the toilet with a pocket door. And yes, a bathroom specialist might be helpful, I am already working with an interior designer/architect on the design, I was just looking for input from some people who haven't been rearranging this thing for months already

@funcolors Curious why you don't trust the colors the designer specified? That's a good question, one that my husband is asking me as well. I told her I wanted a light airy kitchen that wasn't stark white but had the overall appearance and feel of a white kitchen. She went to the stone yard and looked at my exact slabs, had all my inspiration pics, house layout, pictures etc - probably 2 dozen in all. She said the color was selected because it 1) coordinated and 2) had the warmth and depth to handle a large room with a northern exposure. Also I mentioned I didn't like the vast contrast between a gray counter top and stark white cabinets. She selected a blue based on my inspiration photos and knowing I wanted a dark island. Aesthetic White on three different sample boards in the partially done home reads pink to me. I think it's just too dark. Perhaps needs to be a bit lighter? But then again, too light gives too much contrast between cabinets and counters which with grayish counters can make them look dingy and dirty. After playing with sample boards I felt the color choice was not right so I did inquire on Friday about another alternative to Aesthetic White and I haven't heard back yet. Foggy Day was a surprise to me, because it is so light. I inquired of something darker and threw out Grays Harbor since it was next down on the paint strip and she said it had too much gray and wouldn't be balanced. Her second choice for the island was Grizzle Gray. I do like that color, but it reads like cement, but perhaps it will warm up with the northern exposure? I told her I wanted a relaxing spa feel in the master bathroom and she chose SW Misty. That color is pretty, but seems more appropriate for a child's room. And I don't see how it plays nice with Aesthetic White trim and doors. Seems to clash. At least to my eye. I hope that answers your questions. I am not good at color which is why I sought paid help. She is closer than what I have done on my own. It's just doesn't speak to me and when I look at it all together I don't sit back with a smile and get excited. I want to be excited about my choices.