I am planning resepticals and lighting for a new home and need info on suggested distances and placement. Can you help or suggest references?

 

"Suggested" or "required"? If you want the code requirements, I recommend Wiring Simplified, a $6 green paperback available in the eletrical aisle at Home Depot.

Suggestions are a whole different thing. One suggestion would be to put in more receptacles and lighting than the code requires. Specifically, put in receptacles and lighting where they are useful to your lifestyle. E.g., if you put up a lot of Christmas lighting, maybe you want receptacles in the eaves. If you do a lot of woodworking in your garage, you'll want more than the one receptacle that the code requires. If you have an entertainment center or computer center, you'll want more receptacles there. You might want wall sconces where you will do your reading. Code only requires either switched receptacles or switched lighting, and this is commonly fulfilled in living rooms with a switched receptacle, but you may want a ceiling light in addition. You might want to plan accent lighting for your artwork. You might want a floor receptacle where you plan a couch in the middle of a room. But these are all "extras" over and above the code requirements. And they are very personal--tailored specifically to your lifestyle.