I had Tip Toes but had to shovel-prune it due to lack of vigor ownroot. I liked it so I gave it several years, but I haven't had much luck growing Brownell roses here in zone 4 as ownroots. They just never build up in size and struggle. I have a few left that are ownroot and a few grafted Brownells. However, some of the grafted ones had Rose Mosaic Virus and slowly declined. It didn't have the yellows that Helen Hayes had but it was pretty. Hopefully you will have better luck! Celeste

This is probably a matter of opinion but, since I'm an avid reader of design magazines and books, I can tell you that the current trend is to have drapes that are not too far off the wall color so that there is a blending effect rather than drapes hitting you in the eye. I broke this rule in my dining room where the walls are red and the drapes are a cream color, but I've found if the drapes are lighter than the walls that can work quite well while drapes that are darker, in order to match furniture, for instance, can sometimes seem jarring. You want the eye to stay in the room and not constantly go to the drapes. Mind you, this is just my take on the subject, and I'm sure you'll get many different opinions about this. In the final analysis you have to choose what you love. However, before deciding, you might want to look at decorating magazines and discover what looks the most appealing to you. Libraries have magazines and books about decorating, and that's a great source of free inspiration.

I would think that a large rectangular mirror with an ornate golden frame would look very well there. If you don't like the ornate look a simpler gold frame would be nice too. A large mirror would help to balance the heaviness of the side board on the other side by giving more visual weight. If there is room, some sconces on either side of the mirror would be very attractive.

Blfenton, good point about building in extra shelving or storage under the overhang. I will look into it. Technicolor, I am going back and forth on closing up the kitchen entry wall. I am waiting to hear whether a pillar hidden in that wall will be enough support to replace the rest of the wall. If that saves $$, then it will be the way to go. Then I would have space for the appliances too. Sena, good idea about the shallow cabinet. Will try it in the planner. The door swing can be changed but it could clash with the outside door. In the summer we use that door a lot and I can already envision a crash, bang sequence! Somebody had once suggested to take down the entire wall till the shoe closet and replace it with a railing. We liked that idea but it might not be a smart thing to do with regards to heating and cooling zones. Will investigate that angle further.. Thanks for all the suggestions! Please feel free to add more-I am still in the tweaking stage.