asquithoatley... I'm not sure that those type of houses are really any more expensive than their "regular" counterparts. I'm attaching a link that gives listings for some dome homes and the pricing seems to be in keeping with the square footage and acreage prices for that area. Some of the houses look quite interesting. http://www.naturalspacesdomes.com/domes_for_sale.htm#Arizona

I personally like a hand-shower with a long lead ( with overhead shower combo) but that might be because I have two dogs. :) Previously we had one of those big square overheads, and I'd definitely have one again. Although ours was a cheap LED-lit one we bought off eBay (don't do this - the LED's do not last, as we learnt twice) it was good for getting you drenched (for soaping or unsoaping) - the water didn't shoot out, it was just a rainfall across it's square-footage. Our current one is just your standard, basic, shower-head on a marginally adjustable arm. It's not the same.

This wasn't your question, but looking at a possible boxed out window in the open plan kitchen dining living it shows just how limited you space is. The following 3D overview shows a boxed out window seat. I have run the kitchen along the same wall as the new window, The Island is 2m x 900 with 1m between the wall base cabinets and the island and 1m between the Island and the wall where your plan shows cabinets. If you have/had cabinets along the other wall as shown on your floor plan they will be 600 deep this would make the island 1400 x 900 which is small. Has your kitchen been renovated and were you considering that, if not. Looking at the overall size of your open plan area I would be considering 1 or 2 large stacker doors to open up to the rear alfresco, that's what I would do but you need to choose what will work for you PS I think that the boxed out window at the front of the house is a lovely idea but possibly not right when it faces West.

You might find this interesting How many candles does it take to replace a lightbulb? Answer: 61 That's to replace a 60-watt bulb. How is that? A 60-watt bulb gives off 800 lumens of light. A single candle produces 13 lumens. Simple math dictates 600 divided by 13 = 61. Throw in LED lighting and dimming and it's a different result. For instance, LED lights generate far more lumens with much less wattage. With winter closing in, indoor lighting is becoming more important. As you may have noticed with the candle question above, there are lighting units of measurement. The two main ways to measure lighting: Lumen (lm): Measures the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source. It indicates the brightness or light output from the source itself, regardless of where the light is going. Lux (lx): Measures illuminance, which is the amount of light that falls on a surface. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter. It's used to assess how much light is actually reaching and illuminating a specific area. Foot-Candle (fc): Another measure of illuminance, similar to lux. One foot-candle is equal to one lumen per square foot. It's more commonly used in the United States, whereas lux is used in most other countries. Short version: Lumen is about the total light emitted. Lux and Foot-Candle are about the amount of that light that actually lands on a surface, with lux using square meters and foot-candles using square feet as their respective units of area. Which begs the question... which is a better measurement for figuring out how much lighting is needed for a room? The better measurement is lux or foot-candle because that's how much light falls on a surface. That said, lumens is used for quick and dirty lighting needs. When choosing lighting, you can check out the lumens it gives off. For instance, the average-sized living room needs 1,000 to 2,000 lumens. If a shaded lamp gives off only 250 lumens (shades will impact lumens emitted), you can roughly calculate how many you need to properly light the space. That's quick and dirty. If you have a reading spot, you'll want to measure the foot-candle or lux where the book surface will be. In case you're wondering, 50 foot-candles is good for reading. Which means you'll want to purchase a reading lamp for the spot that delivers at least 50 foot-candles to the reading area (most reading lamps do this but it's worth checking). Keep in mind that you would not want to illuminate a living room at an intensity of 50 foot-candles throughout. The non-reading area of a living room is good at 10 to 20 foot-candles. How do you figure out how many lumens (roughly) to achieve a specific foot-candle In other words, once you know your living room's square footage, and you know that you want it illuminated at 15 foot-candles throughout, how do you figure out how many lumens you need? The formula is as follows: Lumens = Foot-Candles × Square footage For Lux it's as follows: Lumens = Foot-Candles x Square meters If your living room is 250 sq ft and you want 15 foot-candles throughout, you need lighting that gives off 3,750 lumens. Keep in mind that lighting sources usually emit light in all directions so it might be more than that. How do you measure foot-candles / lux? That's easy. You can buy digital light measuring meters on Amazon for $30 to $50. If you're renovating or aren't happy with your current lighting, it's a handy tool to have. Should you change up lighting when adding candles to a space? No, not necessary. A candle gives off 13 lumens which isn't much. Unless you put 50 candles in the room, candlelight will add ambiance but won't over-light the space. Besides, most rooms now have dim lighting. Adjust as needed. Does lighting matter? Yeah, big time. The above lighting information is merely the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more when it comes to planning lighting in a space. IMO, it's one aspect of interior design that many people undermine. TIP: If you're in the process of hiring an interior designer, ask about lighting. If they don't get technical like this, they may not be the designer to hire. It's a good way to vet the good from the bad.