Tree decisions are really best done from a "felt" perspective on the site, not from a picture taken from outside (and looked at by people who have never been there). So with respect to removal, only do it now if you really want to, not because someone on the internet has said so, even if it is me :-) And I think you still haven't told us what kind of tree it is? It's still possible that it is something really wonderful with deep roots, and if the shade is in exactly the right place, ignoring me IS an option! For new tree placement, start with thinking about where and what time of day you want shade (I don't think you've told us yet which way the house faces). And then, from looking out the windows, which views do you want to block/enjoy? And then, what do you want arriving guests or the pizza delivery guy to be able to see? Imagine the canopy starting at about 8' high. Have once person stand inside and look out while the other goes outside holding something - an upside-down rake or an umbrella - to help imagine what it would look like from inside to have a tree in certain spots. Compare this to the existing tree. Looking out from the house, or from your side door, if you could wave a magic wand, where would you move its canopy to... right, the left, or lower? Sometimes we have certain ideas in our heads that we have to work through or see before we can let go of them, and I detect you have a certain adherence to plantings lining the walkway! The sidewalk does make a handy edge, and it is nice to have growing things to enjoy as you walk to the front door (although you more often use the other door, you say). And it gives you a place to start - it can be scary to let go of the edge and plunge a shovel somewhere in the middle of the yard. The downside of these edge plantings is that they are constraining. Hard to have a fridge delivered, or to bring Aunt Mabel in for Christmas dinner with her walker, or along the driveway, hard to open a car door and step out. I am showing below a doodled idea that expands the sidewalk a bit, but whether you plant along a sidewalk or driveway that is narrow or wide, going tall along it - with trees - is not a good idea. Constraining your feet with low plants is one thing, constraining your shoulders or head is another. Near my parents' place, some idiot planted a weeping birch right by the public sidewalk. Someone shorter than me prunes the canopy to a height that is comfortable for them :-) On a rainy night, this is... annoying! Karin L PS Bearing in mind that I am neither artist nor professional designer, here is one idea sketched onto your plan view. If you print out a few more copies of the blank that you posted, you can doodle your way to a design that suits you. This expands a bit on your sidewalk slab, and then plants adjacent to it, in a curve that mirrors the curved bed of shrubs you might put at the corner. You can place new trees into the shrubbery bed or in the central grass area however it best suits you. Whether you extend the beds along the straight parts or just have the curved parts depends on just how much planting area you want. On the outside of your semicircular shrub bed, something like carpet junipers might be the best thing - that way people won't walk over it but it will be both low and attractive.

I just went to an open house and I got a flyer from them....Here there example that you may want to use: 1st page: Should include address: #### address, city, state, zip code. Then a brief description of the house: EXAMPLE: Beautiful________ in truly " move in condition". This home is __ story w/hardwood, carpet etc... Formal living room and dining room w/ neutral painted walls throughout. Kitchen features include:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.The house has __ bedrooms and __ bathrooms. Master suite has spacious closet space.Finished basement is great for entertaining(or if you have a den or familyroom)Additional amenties include low maintaince lawn, 3 cable jacks,3 high spped internet jacks and a insulated garage. PRICE 2nd page : should have this info. GENERAL INFO: bedrooms:# Bathrooms:# subdivision or neighborhood: name if any PROPERTY INFO: approx. age: # style of house:-- square feet:-- lot dimension: # x # total acres: # INTERIOR INFO: attic: basement type: kitchen: fireplace if any: kitchen fixtures: total rooms: EXTERIOR INFO: porch or deck: UTILITY INFO: central a/c: what type of sewer: what type of heat: SCHOOL SYSTEM: elem. school name: middle name: high school: MISCELLANEOUS INFO: $500 FINDERS BONUS at closingfor a referral that leads...... I hope this help you in any way. Good luck and keep us posted. maria

Buehl, please do! I was just trying to save something of use. I'd been checking the GW all night, turned my back for 15 minutes to watch the Health Care vote, and whammo! all the posts were gone. I kept refreshing, thinking, "This can't be!"

I'm calling it a tie. ;-) You have the pantry labeled at 4 ft wide (although it seems to be drawn longer?), so with the oven a tiny bit over half of it, you have less than 24" left for a doorway, so I wouldn't take any of it up with a door frame and door, but leave it as large as possible. Truthfully, I think it needs to be longer so you can get yourself a little larger opening. If it was more like 5 ft, you could do a pocket door, like Bmore suggested and I drew in the plan above. I would want to flush out the cabinets and fridge with the pantry...but the island would need to be adjusted for adequate aisle width. If you bring the front of the fridge (not counting doors) out even with the front edge of the pantry, you don't need to have a cabinet in between...Or you could put the microwave in between, so you don't have 2 smallish cabinets? Do you have a need for the 15" tall cab? Do you have your microwave or have it chosen? Will it fit with the required clearance in a 24" cabinet? Mine wouldn't, because of the air space needed around it, so wanted to be sure you checked.