The original design did not call for that weird angle of the walk popping out of the patio, it was rounded. But that's because the whole middle of the yard was going to be brick, with plant beds around it. The grass area in front of the garage was what I had to do to get it "finished" and under control to get ready to sell. I had posted about that part. I've tried to keep my landscape designer out of this discussion, but really she did not design a true phased plan that looks good at each phase, so when I had to scale back, there really wasn't anyplace to go with her plan. I wanted it in chunks of 5K, but her first phase ended up being 7K just for the hardscaping. At that point it was the middle of the summer and she had kept me waiting so long I went ahead with something cobbled instead of finding someone else to do another plan. My yard was all torn up because I had removed the deck thinking I was ready to go. All that had to happen was my LD had to get back to me with a revised, scaled-down plan. Well, six weeks later after numerous calls and e-mails, at which point I was actually searching for someone else to do my patio at the beginning of June, she got back to me with the same plan, same cost. Obviously a communication problem. I really don't want to get into that part because people are very sensitive about discssions about LDs. I am not dissing the profession or dissing my LD, it was just not a good "fit." But then I have also posted about the fact that there is a certain type of LD that is very difficult to find, small jobs, well phased, inexpensive, working with a lot of constraints instead of a "blank slate." I would say since folks like me in this working class town rarely have the money to hire LDs, LDs are not trained to design for row houses, rather they know how to design yards for new subdivisions. The really spectacularly talented folks here do not do small job$. We discussed that here. Some folks disagreed, but I think my generalization holds true. I'm not saying there wouldn't have been someone out there, I'm just saying it's not that easy to find them. I met the husband of a colleague at work who is a professional LD who only does big jobs and he offered to help me with some ideas for free but I didn't want to take advantage of him, based on the complaints I hear so often here. Looking back I should have taken him up on his offer. Here's and example of what I'm talking about, obviously the chainlink is not attractive, and in a small area, you notice every element. However, I only own one of the chainlinks there. So I could replace one side but not the other. Or I could put my other side of the fence in front of my neighbors fence, thus loosing scarce garden space. Also, to avoid the "bowling alley" look I would have had to invest in a really nice fence, which would have added to the cost even more. So priority wise, I opted to do the patio and shade elements first. Also, you can minimize the negative effects of chainlink by landscaping in front of it. Chainlink can somewhat "disappear" with vegetation in front of it. That's another solution. I've also seen some on these forums some ingenious ways of dressing up chainlink with plants, ornaments, beads, etc. I mean it's one thing to say, "That chainlink is ugly, that's your problem, get rid of it," and quite another to take a sow's ear and turn it into something maybe not resembling a silk purse but a really cool purse made out of a sow's ear so that you suddenly don't dis the idea of using a pig's ear for a purse, since that's what you have, pigs, not a silkworm farm. I don't know if they teach that kind of creativity in professional schools. Also, you're not necessarily going to be able to hire a contractor to give you that kind of creativity since that takes time for craftmanship. I think the best solutions for tiny working-class yards come from the creativity of the owners. Up the road from me there is a house with a stone wall built up against a chainlink. So from the inside of the yard you see a dry laid stone wall. A working class person cannot pay someone to do a dry laid stone wall in their back yard. And being myself extremely limited in the creativity and skill department, it was a challenge to "design" a good plan for my yard. Ironically, that's the kid of unique, creative solution that folks here could share. On the PA Gardening forum I saw someone's yard landscaped with broken concrete used like flagstone, who would have thunk it. And who was it who posted the picture of the wood patio and pergola her dad built--totally creative! I just don't have those abilities or access to them. Sorry I didn't keep track of my advisors, it is a very hectic time with a job change and move on the horizon. Without wanting to offend, and yet being perfectly honest about "what I learned," I have to say that the touchiness, concerns about "appropriate postings" and strong taste ideas on this forum inhibits some of the kind of creative discussion that a forum like this could foster. Seems to me that a free public forum is where non-professionals who are trying to pinch pennies can go to share and help each other out--for free and for the sheer fun of it. I'm a professional too, and I participate in these forums for the fun of sharing and creative community. This is not directed at anyone, most certainly not at the professionals who post here. I don't mind blunt and prickly or strong. It's the $$ issue that I wonder about. I've seen people shut down who attempt to discuss lower end options, and yet realistically that's why someone would want to post here. If they could afford high end they'd be sitting in an air-conditioned office with their LA. That's a huge issue for most of us, how to do something lower end but not tacky. I saw an adorable waterfront cottage the other day on a drive, then realized as I was leaving that it was a housetrailer with a screened in porch added, sided and roofed to match and landscaped all cottagey. Yes, it was a trailer and would never be mistaken for a high end beach cottage, but the owner had made the best of what they could afford, made something tasteful out of something inexpensive. That's true elegance in my book. I have learned that this type of creativity is very hard to come by and usually comes from the "idiot savants" of the masses! :-) On the flip side, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and call in a professional. This forum often helps people sort that out, when is it time to call in the guy with the backhoe.

Oh cr@p. I got it all ready and THEN went to the store for the caulk. Of course they are sold out of the colour I need. If your still out there Bill - they have the unsanded in the colour I need, but no sanded. The space is quite wide should I wait until the sanded is available? Do you use sanded caulk in the same way you use sanded grout - ie, for wider grout lines?

Thank you, Antss. I won't know for sure until I talk with the cabinet company tomorrow but I read the specs--and I think I might be okay (whew!). There is a backer panel that they insert into the framed trim (which is stainless). That panel is about 1/4 inch and can be "white." That backer panel is used to affix the "overlay" panels. Melissa I have a digital picture of the final "look" but I'm not sure how to post it. . .

Thank you so much nannymac! We did use a KD to design the kitchen (layout, cab/drawer locations, island/tabletop leg design), and he worked very closely with us to incorporate our "vision" for the space, which we (DH and I and our KD) tweaked along the way as needed or desired. The details were all chosen by us; e.g. the appliances, fixtures, granite, backsplash, cab hardware (even the cherry wood switchplates, which we ordered and then gave him to have the cab manuf stain to match the cabs). Those items (among others) we researched/found on our own. The bathrooms were "all us!" LOL. Of course, we were (and still are) extremely fortunate to have a great tile guy, and tile place(s), and plumber, to help and advise us when necessary, since we were our own GC's for the bathrooms (as well as the kitchen). Our bath/kitchen/hardware showroom salesperson was invaluable (literally) in helping us pick and choose fixtures, for function, price, quality, and style. He knew the look we were trying to create (and the price ranges of the different lines, and our budgetary constraints), and we bounced a lot of ideas off each other.