[Captain Ahab Jr]

Architect!

Talk to a few, talk through your project and go with the one that is on the same wave length as you and your wife

I'm doubling the size of my house and managed to include a 4 car parking garage into a 2 car garage foot print.

The first guy I talked to was quite negative about what I wanted to do, the 2nd guy seemed very into it and we worked together very well to come up with exactly what we were after.

If your architect can't see your vision and wants to do his own thing, fire him and find one that will add/compliment your vision.

Be flexible to the architects ideas/suggestions as you may get far more than you originally imagined.