Stacy, sorry to hear our tile is hard to come by. Master Tile had a similar tile like ours called 'NOR LAT BOT 6' from the Latina Series. lala2874 used it with travertine and it was very pretty. Looks like wamaha is using Pearland Pools for their build. I don't expect they will have a problem. I referred them to a very good friend of mine as we made the mistake of not using them for our build. Their build has gone smoothly even though they are very busy. They are a very professional and a timely builder of beautiful pools.

It's such a pleasure to see you so excited about this project! So of course I have a bunch of thoughts. Three things... First, you can buy a version of the Floreat hanger at the home center, but unless it's the real thing, it will work but not as well. I've tried them all, and Floreat is far superior, in my experience. As to clearing your chair rail, if you attach a bit of lumber to the back of the top of the mirror frame to hold the top off the wall by the same dimension as the chair rail, and your hanging wire is long enough to allow for the extra space, it will hang straight. But do have somebody hold it up there to look at what sort of shadow it creates by standing proud of the wall, and see if that is a problem for you. Second...I was recommending bamboo shades, not matchstick. Matchstick blinds are great for some plans, but I think you are wanting something with a little more presence and elegance for this room...and they are completely transparent from the outside at night when your lights are on. Country Curtains used to have nice ones for a rational price, and I have found them at World Market as well. I'd choose a light natural finish, not the tortoise shell or stained versions. And third...I sense pattern and decoration creeping into your thinking! I would let your striped couch be the pattern, at least for now, and keep the chairs completely plain. Keep any prints you add very large, with clear, uncluttered images and lots of white space, both in the prints and in the mats. Take a look at the Redoute prints in the link to see what I mean about clean images and white space...then imagine them with 6 inch off-white matting and slender frames. I would choose very simple matching solid colored ceramic lamps with ivory (not yellowy-cream) silk or linen shades that let the light through. Pure, gleaming, pale color. The classic double gourd shape in cream or gray would be a good choice. But in any case, get your floor plan in place before you add anything purely decorative. And that's enough out of me for the day! Here is a link that might be useful: Redoute prints

Hudson--I'm usually up all hours of the night so I keep an eye.out-- but after a while you get to rely on the heater that you forget. I have a propane heater for backup My wife is terminal and this week she is in a lot of pain.so I get up to give her stuff. Just hope she can hang on till the first matters get here. She talks about home grown tomatoes.l used to grow Rutgers and she would go down the hill with two five gallon pals and carry them up and can or make juice--ain't nothing like home made tomato juice. Thanks antmary-- hope I can keep them going for awhile- expecting snow the first of next week so don't want to put them out just yet.

We had 4 inches of snow on friday. I feel your pain :(. However, I have learned to not jump the gun with planting potted roses & such until into may. I keep them in the garage at night & pull out in the day as long as the temps are good. I know bare roots are a completely different thing. It's so hard to have to wait. I buy roses & plants early so I have first dibs. My garden centres don't get a lot of any particular kind, so if you see it you have to get it then.