You'll have to dig into your camera manual about focusing, and find out how many modes it has, then choose theone you need. Does you shutter button have a two step detent. e.g., press part way down to the first step, then farther to click the shutter? If so, the first step activates the focus feature. To use it in this mode, press the shutter button to the first detent, and then allow the camera to focus before pressing the rest of the way to take the exposure. Often, this camera have two focus modes: the one I just described and the second one of continuous focus. In the continuous mode, the focus mechanismis active all the time and should give you the least time to focus. However, the continous focus mode uses much more battery power since the focus mechansim is trying to bring into focus what the camera is pointing at, and when the camera is moved about, this little servo-mechanism is continously busy. For this reason, I use the other mode. The second problem with auto-focus is that it may fail in a variety of situations. The failure depends on what technique the camera maker is using to decide on where to focus. I has an older Nikon and it had trouble focusing for close-ups on thistle blossoms. Why? The way it worked was to look for hard edges, like a stick or building details. It ignored soft fuzzy edges and therefore could not focus on thistle and dandeloin blossoms. If presented with a broadside of show car, it might get confused unless it found a door handle or trim strip. When confused, it defaulted to infinity. It also had trouble focusing on clouds in the sky, but since it was defaulting to infinity, that was the correct setting for many scenes. A face backlit by the sky could give grief unless the face filled most of the frame. Another focus feature came into play here and that is how the camera was 'weighitng' the scene. Popular weighting are: average the entire frame and favor the sharpest edge; focus only on the central portion of the frame and ignore the remainder; etc. Again, the best guide is to dig into the camera manual and set the focus mode to what you need. Another item: Many cameras require you to tell it when you are taking a closeup, i.e., press the closeup button. Often, this setting lasts for only one shot, then it reverts back to the afore setting; You may have to press the closeup function for every closeup shot. Again, there are as many operating modes as there are camera makers. If you believe that you are doing all the right steps and the camera still fails, you may have a faulty camera. Remember that closeups usually burn out with flash. Objects nearer than a few feet often over expose.

Lukki, I love wainscoting, and the photos you've shared are just wonderful. (Adore the colors in the second one!) I'll give this some thought, although since I have so much artwork hung on the walls, I'd have to edit what I'm displaying. (And that's hard for me to do! ;-)) Right now, I keep mulling over the thought of a soft, light green throughout the house. I love, love, love the color in my bathroom - BM Hancock Green - although I'm not sure that's the "one" for taking throughout the rest of the house. I was talking to my dad yesterday (he understands decor better than any man I've ever known), and told him that at this point, I'm almost ready to throw my hands up and just slap a 'safe' ivory on all of the walls. His comment: "You know you won't be happy doing that." And he's right. My folks have friends who live in a renovated bungalow that's filled with wonderful southwest art, and they want me to see how it's painted. They've used greens and apparently it's just gorgeous. So I may wait and continue to mull things over. (Or I may just forge ahead at some point like I'm known to do. We shall see.)

We did go with Ikea, the expedit. I LOVE them! I keep bugging DH to go back and get a couple more for our basement. I think they are great storage. I did think about using some of my DR furniture for storage and keeping it, but I just didn't think it would work for me. There are doors they make for the Expedits and some people paint them. There are amazing pics all over pinterest. I saved some to my playroom board and have it linked below, but there are so many good ideas. Here is a link that might be useful: Playroom pics

Remodel-Mama - I really like your choices. You have lovely taste and should trust your instincts. I know that feeling - you could stick with the simple and know it would look nice or take a risk and have your place look...wow. I LOVE what circus peanut posted. I don't know where you get stuff like that, but Jeffery Court carries some hand painted tiles that are interesting. http://www.jeffreycourt.com/chpt4_handpainted_tiles.asp Another route is something in the same color family but a little softer. Both Pratt and Larson (makes a "watercolor" glaze that I could not find on the website) and Winchester make a soft handmade glaze that has a little variability/interest but could be a softer treatment in the same color family that would compliment the walls and give a little punch without overwhelming. Here is a link to Winchester "Mars" - http://www.winchestertiles.com/range.php?c=28&r=35# The tile you posted looks strong with a flat color - with your antiqued island I would be looking for something with a little more variability and character like a watercolor finish or a crackle. Or even a real terracotta tile :) Looking forward to seeing your choice. The kitchen looks beautiful so far.