I think they mean 5 rooms, not 5 bedrooms.....one master bedroom and 2 bedrooms for children with twin beds or bunk beds in each. I lived in a 1,300 sq ft house for 2 yrs with my husband and 2 sons. My suggestion would be to have an open floor plan for the kitchen, dining area and family room in one large room. Add a bar in the kitchen for casual dining. Be sure to include storage in family room for toys, games, etc. Add a built in desk in eiher the kitchen or family room areas . The master bedroom and bath should be large enough to accomodate a queen size bed and if possible a sitting area (maybe a bay window large enough for for a small loveseat or a couple of comfortable chairs). I would recommend a large walkin shower but no tub for the master bath. Instead have a nice size tub/ shower combo in the hall bath. Too make your house feel larger, use neutral camel, beige, gold or grey paint and carpet through out the kitchen, dining area, family, hallways and hallbath. If you want to add color, limit it to 3 bedrooms. Hanging all your window treatments at ceiling height will make your rooms feel larger and taller.

I strongly second One Plan's idea about looking for another architect. If this one is not motivated, all the fame in the world is not going to help. An alternative approach to finding an architect is to find some good contractors who have built things you like. Ask them for architects' names. Make sure they work in your price range. In the meantime, you can find out from your local building department what the set back and height restrictions are. Are you required to build parking areas or garage space, what kind of airspace restrictions do you have for neighbors' views and sunlight, that kind of thing. Often this stuff is on city websites or handouts at the office.

I think a comfortable distance between the island and the counter is around 42". It seems that you have only 30" between your cook top and the counter. I might be a little too tight. The wall between the entrance and the kitchen could be 4' long instead of 6', you would then be able to move the island a foot which would give you more room between the cook top and the island. Could you switch the location of the toilet and vanity in your dad's bathroom so your enter facing a vanity instead of a toilet which is a lot nicer.

OK... but the wire wont be lower as it is fixed now. The wire in the pics below is the wall facing each other. They were leveled on equal height but the beam on one wall makes it seem a little above. But i think you guys are absolutely right that up and down lights wont look good there. I think you are right about down lights lessismoore. Would it look good if i go with two different lights on opposite walls??? it would look odd right.