[fizzbyn]

We chose East for the lanai. It was the only orientation that guarantees no West sun ever. Plus the master bedroom is on that side and we like a cool MB in the afternoon. If you choose a North or South lanai, most of them have a East/West exposure on the sides which means the sun comes in both in the mornings and afternoons. We've had all kinds of orientation for garages in the past, and besides North, we found West works pretty good. The garage is cool in the mornings and doesn't heat up until late afternoon. If you have an East facing garage, it heats up in the morning and stays hot all day. Our kitchen nook is West, but we'll mostly use it for morning coffee and breakfast, so it will be shaded at that time. Also think about your side windows, if you have any. We didn't want a West facing dining room and kitchen window, or bathroom window either for that matter. So we picked a lot where our house would have those windows facing North. These are the things we considered when picking out a lot. I think it is an important decision.