Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

Mohammad. I understand your program. You may be lost in the details at the moment. Please do follow and trust the advice given here by all these people. You are about to embark on a reasonably expensive journey. Get professional help with someone who you can sit down at a table and brainstorm with them your ideas and intentions. There are Architects and there are professional building designers who are members of the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) who are well versed in projects such as yours. I personally love a design challenge. After 38 years designing homes and special use buildings I enjoy this type of challenge the most. I am in Ohio and may not be close to where you are but I am sure with a little investigation you will find the best design professional for you.

Dear Mr. Maverick, Hope you are doing great. Seeing at your post its very clear that you are a passionate person and taking your designing process seriously. Also you are accepting that you are not a designer yourself which is a good gesture against those clients who think themselves superior when it comes to design choices but knows nothing in real. I agree with above replies to share some information about your house starting with the floor plans as without these no one would be able to help you in any way. Also you need to understand that designing is a subjective and time consuming process and doesn't happen in an instant. If its just about getting ideas then you can find millions on google search. But being on Houzz platform is a great thing as its full of many talented professionals contributing to the solutions best way possible. I hereby offer my services and request you to go thru my profile and works and see if it interests you. I can show more interesting works if you insist. Let me know for further more as i am offering my services remotely as well including couple projects in Ireland. Best Regards, - Ar. Ravi Prakash Email- ar.ravi2013@gmail.com

@Rock Doc: Are you addressing this to me? I haven't actually bought these tiles yet - when I do, I will definitely be going for the handmade ones. They're a work of art and irreplaceable in my opinion. However, there are also screen-printed tiles available in the market in more or less the same patterns; the workmanship is of course different, but you get them cheaper, and they're also more easily available. You could give that a shot. I'd recommend Aakaar Flooring Solutions - they're here on Houzz and are able to provide both the above-mentioned types.