cathey123 - It's usually better to start a new thread to get good answers to your question instead of adding on to another - less confusing since the photos don't relate to your variety. Do Dianthus bloom spring through summer? It depends since Dianthus is a somewhat varied genus. My D. Greystone blooms just in spring, but has nice gray-green foliage that is tidy and decorative much of the rest of the year. D. barbatus, AKA sweet William blooms in the summer here, and is a biennial or short-lived perennial. I haven't grown D. Firewitch, but several folks above say that it repeats, and I know some of the small carnation-shaped Dianthus bloom through at least part of the summer.

Thank-you lazygardens. I bought the table a few years ago from a 60 year old man who said it was his grandmothers so the era would fit. I couldn't pin a style to it. I found some Art Deco pieces with the rounded corners, but I knew it wasn't a true Deco style.

Linelle, here is a review of Method Wood for Good furniture polish. It does not work on all finishes, but if you are using furniture wax or other polish, you can switch to this. It is not as shiny as the Old English Oil, but it does not leave a sticky or oily residue that attracts dirt. It gives the wood a sort of matte finish, which I am happy with. I used teak oil on my outdoor teak dining table, and this gave it a very shiny finish, but it requires a lot of upkeep, takes a long time to dry, and smells horrible. I would only use it outdoors. I did put teak oil on a small butcher block table that is in my kitchen, but I have to take it outside to add the finish. Lars

Being a big fan of old houses, particularly Colonials, I understand your desire to stay classic and not trendy. If that is your wish, any fixture with a drum shade will not be appropriate. Likewise, the possible chandeliers and flush mounts you picked are very au courant. While I love old fixtures, some of them look pretty dowdy and I wouldn't want them no matter how "classic" they are. What are your furnishings? Keep your fixtures in sync with them. I have lots of antiques and I have very traditional lighting fixtures. My close friend, also in an old house, has an eclectic mix of furnitures and accessories, likewise, a mix of lighting styles. It is awesome! Just my thoughts... (And I love several of your selections!)