The links above are excellent, but I'd also add: 1) Don't try to get away with cheap paint. Good quality paint is easier to apply and the colors are often more pleasing and subtle. Ditto, cheap brushes/roller pads, etc. 2) Remove stuff from the to-be-painted room, or at least remove everything you can while painting. 3) Buy and use good canvas drop clothes, properly cared-for they'll last you a lifetime. (And they have hundreds of other uses, too.) 4) Get good step ladders, and some lights on stands as being close to your surfaces, and being in a very well lit space make a big difference in knowing that your paint is being well-applied. 5) Think some about what colors attract you, for each type or room, and then think about why. Make a color picture file (either using printed pictures, or digitally). If you collect enough pics, then you'll see where the trend of your choices is leading you. 6) Think about those trends and the furniture, or carpeting, you already have or are likely to have right away. Think about the light coming into your house, and your geographic location (i.e. bright Miami Beach sun vs. cool, foggy, Seattle) 7) Don't expect any print or on-line rendering of any particular color to look exactly like it really is, even if the color number or name is known. Ditto, at least to some degree, even for many paint sample cards. Paints also change somewhat as they age on the wall, and the sample cards. 8) Once you've got some tentative choices, buy small cans of the fave options (some brands have sample sizes, a big plus, as the cost is much less than a quart) and then paint at least two coats on some large foam-core "poster" boards (at least 2 X 2.5 feet) - purchase boards at craft outlets or stationery stores. Hang the boards up on walls around the room and see how you like the colors. (Use folded over loops of blue painter's tape stuck on the back to hang the boards.) If you strike out on the first round(s?) of paint colors, you can just keep repainting the boards. 9) Don't use the wall as your sample site since it can create difficulties painting over a patch of rejected color, and you can't move the painted part of the wall around to look at it on different walls, and in different lights. 10) Keep in mind, it is only paint, so it's definitely not the end of the world if you find yourself in a pickle, even after you've got it on the wall. The biggest part of painting is the prep work, which does not need to be re-done if the color you choose turns out to be unappealing on the wall. At worst, you'll need to lay down an extra coat of primer to cover a really deep shade with a lighter one, but usually not even that needs to be done when repainting right away before your walls have been dinged by wear and tear. 11) Most of the trouble of painting is doing the trim work, so unless you're super confident in your color choice, stick with classic off-white for the trim. Bright white is rarely a good choice for trim as it sets up a very harsh contrast with subtler tones of almost every other color. Nor do I think bright white is good for ceilings, either, for the same reason. 12) The only thing tricky about off-whites is whether to choose one that is on the warm or cool side. Hold off on the trim/ceiling shade decisions until you've identified the main colors in your house. Then you'll have more of an idea of where you're headed. If you must pick trim before you've worked out a whole color scheme (i.e., if you must complete one room ASAP), then try to stick with a more balanced off-white. 13) Don't set yourself up for trouble with self-imposed deadlines (i.e. "got to have the whole place painted by when Mom and Dad come for Thanksgiving", or whenever) You'll make poorer decisions on colors, and predispose yourself for application issues when you're under time pressure, especially if you've never done much painting before. If you absolutely must get something on the walls (say, to cover over gang tags, or the PO's erotic drawings in the now-children's rooms), simply prep and prime with an off white. Then down tools and take your time on the next round of decisions. A clean off-white is always a good color to have on the walls when choosing among colored sample boards as you get less interference between the existing color and what you're contemplating. 14) Unless your DH is unusual, he probably won't be too interested in, or preoccupied with, the quest for just the perfect tint of a color. Ask around among your girl friends to find someone who likes these things and will happily ruminate with you over all the choices. My DH is only happy when the choices are narrowed ("do you prefer this one or that one"), but even then, be sure to only offer a choice if you're really going to be happy either way. I find it's better to offer him the choice at any earlier stage, as in "I'm thinking of painting the DR green, how does that sound"? If I ask my DH to choose which shade of green (among several), then I won't get anywhere useful, as I usually do have some hierachy of preferences and he invariably chooses the one I like least among the finalists! Paint color choice is the fun part of decorating.

DD this is for you, and it's a ridiculous pep talk but please take it in the spirit of love that it was meant. OK DaisyD, I gotta chime in here. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself having never married or been in very many relationships, but lately when I get in one of those moods I think about how awful it would be to have been in a relationship for all these years and have it end tragically, through divorce or being widowed. About the only thing positive I can see about this singleness of mine is that I'm fairly good at it. Ya get kinda hard, but that doesn't mean you loose your soft center. I don't know how old you are, if you're retired or working or what, but from experience I can tell you that if you're going to be happy as a single person, you really have to develop a thick skin and get out there and live your life. We have to play the cards we've been dealt. From these forums I know you are such a beautiful person with so much love to offer. The world is full of people who need your gifts, they are just too damaged to let on, like most of us. Girl, you've got to buck up and get out and find people to share your life with, whether it's community service, a singles group, a book club, a fundraiser, etc. Whatever it is, you have to reach out. I know you're not a hermit, but you have to increase your efforts! I invited some friend over for that virtual french dinner, (which was a real PITA BTW) and it was not a whole lot of "fun" doing it, but everyone enjoyed themselves and have been remarking about it, and I had fun in the end, etc. And before the dinner I just dreaded the thought of having people over that I didn't know that well. But hey, No pain, no gain! Believe me I know from singlehood, I've got over 25 years experience forcing myself to "get out more." For every 10 awful experiences I can tell you a truly wonderful one. Realistically, that's about the best you can expect with anything in life. So get out there and spread a little love. I mean it!

Looks like a fun project! None of what you're contemplating is too difficult. If you have the time and patience to be your own GC, you can tackle this easily. I'm going to outline how I'd proceed, but others may have better suggestions. My first step, after looking at your space would be the FP wall. Once you cover up the bricks and lighten the floors, your home will no longer feel dark, with or without windows. I can't tell what the grids are in the eating area, but would you want to replace them with art and maybe a mirror to brighten up that space? If you decide to add windows, this could be done as part of this project or much later. Whether you have stucco, brick or wood, adding the windows won't be hard, but the installer just needs to know what he/she is doing to properly frame and flash to prevent future water infiltration. So, to get started you'll need to come up with a realistic budget that you feel comfortable spending. Knowing that the economy will remain very fragile for several years and you won't necessarily get a return if you need to sell, decide what you're willing to invest. A good handyman can get you through much of this if you coordinate this yourself. The only thing you'll likely need a permit for are the windows and that might be able to be done without, depending on your location. If you have a home owners' association, take their restrictions into account as well. You'll need to know what kind of code compliance you'd be subject to, and can find out by calling the local building dept. If you're in a more rural area you'll likely have far fewer restrictions than in a highly populated city, but codes vary throughout the country as does the difficulty in working with the permit issuing department. The first project I'd take on is figuring out what I wanted for the FP as that will make a dramatic change, even more so than the kitchen. Then I'd do the floors. I may forego until a later date adding the windows. I'd then update the kitchen. (I see you stamping your feet!) If money is no object, you can gut and start fresh, but I could be happy with the existing footprint since sinking a lot of money into a declining investment is something I'd have to carefully weigh. I love having a nice home, but if funding a full reno meant that I'd have to worry about covering other expenses in the future, whether travel, cultural events or medical emergencies, then having the most gorgeous home becomes a burden rather than source of joy. Only you can assess your situation. After the FP, floors, on to the kitchen. I'd probably just do new appliances, doors with soft close Blum hardwares and new drawer fronts. If you have to replace the glides, then I'd opt for the soft close glides as well. Whenever it is appropriate to deal with the windows, if code would allow and budget permits, I'd go with operable transoms to provide light, ventilation and privacy. If not, clerestory with storage below if you'd make use of it. Operable double-hung would be great, if you're not on a zero lot line. If there's room to plant crape myrtles or some other small specimen tree outside of each window that could be lovely, offer some protection from summer sun and provide a bit of privacy though you'd still need WTs. Call some flooring installers for quotes so you can get an idea of what you can afford to do. You can get an estimate from a window company also to work up your budget. If you have a friend who is a realtor, perhaps you can get reasonable referrals as most realtors know who to turn to when their clients have to complete inspection repairs in short order and on budget. Look on line at Sherr's and call a local custom company for the kitchen quote. Once you have an idea of what you're up against, you can prioritize and proceed. Yes, I'd consider using the same stone for the FP and counters, but not necessarily. If you wanted, for example, a dramatic volga blue granite on your countertops you could easily do a lighter, neutral cream marble on the FP. But if you don't want anything too dark or dramatic in the kitchen, then doing them both in the same stone might be nice. I could see both in the RFG if that still appealed. A less expensive approach for the FP is to use floor tiles instead of slab, though you might find slab remnants that could work. HTH! .

Yikes! Assuming the first two fridges were also GE Profile?- is there anyway you can get a different model? Though it sounds like you may have the odds in your favour- if you have gone through three lemons already! I haven't added the ice maker to my fairly basic fridge, cuz I have an 'irrational' fear of the same thing happening. My fridge backs onto the wall separating kitchen from living room, so I can picture water seeping into hardwood everywhere. Definitely stay on top of GE until you get satisfaction. I have been dealing with Panasonic about an OTR MW that I bought last December- and I am still waiting for the mounting brackets which are on back order- I have a file on which I started writing dates- NAMES- work order #'s and short notes of conversations (long story- missing brackets just the latest...) I am also of the school- catch more flies with honey than vinegar- but remain firm. Good luck!