I'm probably not a good one to answer this, but I will. I don't see the logic in trying to pull wall colors from inspiration pieces to begin with. Light is boss and should be what guides wall color choices, not stuff like pillows or inspiration pieces. Does nothing for the visual layers and complexity of atmosphere. It's far better if the wall color does not have a very obvious, specific point of origination. With that said, I know the easier dogma is to pull wall colors from inspiration pieces because the paint store guys can just *match* it. Um, yeah. Pulling wall colors sounds good, may even work sometimes, but you can't count on that method to work 100% of the time for various reasons, a few I already mentioned and one you already experienced. What you experienced is normal. Haven't seen the commercials, but the size and quality of sample you need for the average color mixer person can be best described as a paint chip. After that, you are at the mercy of the skill and patience of the person trying to mix the color. I would suggest you don't get wrapped around the deco tip of matching your fabric. Just because you see that tip repeated over and over doesn't mean it's the only, or right way, to go about it. Instead, pull some chips that coordinate, work well with your fabric and take them home and see what they look like in your room. Narrow your choices down to a couple paint colors that work well in the light that you have and buy samples to paint boards. Don't paint on the walls. The paint color can match the fabric and inspiration piece to a "t" at first glance and on a small draw down, but there is absolutely no gurantee that it will end up a good wall color. Might be a pretty color for a piece of fabric, but that doesn't automatically make it a good wall color for the inherent light you have to work with.

Donna, Blaine is one of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities; we are directly west on Lake Minnetonka, as Kate guessed. It would be so much fun to have visitors, if you ever get up this way again. Kate, Lord Fletcher's is still very much a place to be on a hot summer evening, and, yes, they still have Sunday brunch. Can't wait to put our boat in. This week, weather willing.

Newhomeseeker, I think that the reason that Sylvia may be upset is that you've started numerous threads over the past few months that are mainly complaints about agents with whom you dealt and realtors in general. In addition to this thread, here are the titles of some of the others that you started: Why do some realtors lie when advertising a house? What is wrong with the realtors in my area? Does this sound like a scam? Can't get rid of realtor. Listing agent wants me to sign something before I look at house. Agent calls right after showing (in which you asked the question: "Is this just a slick realtor?") Now, I'm not taking sides in the spat between Sylvia and yourself, and in fact, every one of your posts may be warranted; I'm just trying to offer an explanation as for why she (and perhap other real estate agents reading this board) may be perturbed by your postings.

Hey someone who had the same thing happen to them as me. My SS went into the Marine's after living with us for about 3 months. I was so happy because this dumb kid had nothing going for him...at all...just like some of his other siblings. Well he went and sailed through the basic training. We went to the graduation. He got sent to another school for training and that's when he started to let my DH that "he" didn't like it and wanted out. Then he would call and say "he" was just joking. Then all of a sudden wouldn't ya know he's getting discharged!!!! It was something drug related ( and to this day I don't fully know, cause the dumb idiot won't tell us). Anyway he was coming to our house, but stopped off at his mom's on the way home for about 2 months to do every type of drug known to man. Finally the little boy got to our house. While we were waiting for Capt. Dumber then a box of rocks to get to our house. My hubby and I had a little talk. He was just gonna let him come home with NO rules. I said "not gonna happen". I made up the rules, he had to agree to them and then we presented to loser the "small BOOK of rules". His brother (who was visiting from the Army) at the time said that these were more strict then being in boot camp. I explained that I was going to be someone he wished he never knew... The wussy kid didn't last a month. We "per the rules" as a team explained to the future "I live under a bridge candidate" that he needed to vacate our house. He didn't do what was expected and that he signed on the dotted line saying that he would. I'm sorry I don't let people live in our house that are that dumb. My DH ex monster in law came and got him and yelled at us. She even put the ex wife on the phone with DH. Well while they were chatting (she was yelling, I could hear). I decided to get something straight with Grandma sitting in front of me. I told her that she is not to tell us what to do in our own home, she can let this thing come live with her, and let him do or not do in HER own home, but don't you ever come into MY home and tell me or him what WE are doing wrong with HIS son...got it. They left....3 years later my SS is still sponging off her for free...oh did I mention that he acquired a DUI too? ( he's done some other really bad things, but I can't and won't go into detail) while he's been with her. You know the moral of the story is he's not on our dime and Granny got what she wanted...someone who steal's from her.