This is looking from our backyard, there will be french type doors from the master and the eat in kitchen onto the patio. One of the things that took so long in framing out our house was the amount of windows we had. The blocks had to be fitted around and then framed out before they could fill in with cement. 
Our house is being built with a product called Fox Blocks, this is what they look like in a cross section--they are then filled with cement, making the house very energy efficient!
one of our major splurges was putting in in floor heat throughout the whole house. But after a winter of below 0 temps for a month or so, it is worth it. This is the view from the front door of the tubing being laid in--then cement over the whole thing and then they can start the roof and interior!
This is a view looking at our master, a french door, a large window, and then windows flanking and above the bed. And Elle proudly carrying a fox block around.
This shows most of the back patio(and Kevin's shadow), the retaining wall we plan to make into some sort of seating bench type thing for when we entertain. We put it close to the house instead of further back to define that space, then we have a ton of area for grass and possibly a gazebo type set up.We have also chosen and ordered windows--again emphasis on the energy efficiency! They have a Sun Smart coating and in some we got a prairie style grid installed. The bathrooms will have frosted obscure windows. 14 windows in all. And we want to get some solar tubes in the laundry room and guest 1/2 bath where there is no windows.
I am still pinning like crazy and collecting paint chip after paint chip...
