It's too bad that you cant go just a tad bit shorter than 2 to 3 feet, I had lots of suggestions for you that stays with the same one plant, but with color varations. One suggestions was to go with the Cosmic cosmos--all three colors red, orange and yellow which are totally stunning and vibrant mixed together. And incredibly easy to grow from seed! Another suggestion was Magellan zinnias, which will grow like dwarf hydrangea shrubs smothered with handsized blooms that last for months. I had blooms that did not need be removed for 4 months, I kid you not! And there is just about every color available, coral, ivory, yellow, pink, scarlet, cherry, orange, salmon. I am growing over 400 of these this year. Another suggestion was a mixture of Celosia 'Fresh Look' colors in red, orange,and yellow. Most people hate celosia because they have never had good luck with keeping them going, but the Fresh Looks are very stunning, lush, healthy plants that get just under 2 foot tall, if I remember correctly. Another suggestion was to do Gomphrena, in a mixture of colors. Gomphrena, if plants are kept together and properly spaced will grow to a 2 foot tall airy "shrub" that stands up to rain, drought, etc. I grow the "All Around Purple', 'Strawberry Fields', and other colors from Park Seed, including white, rose and bicolor rose. Dont underestimate those small colored balls! They can REALLY make a huge standout, if they are grown correctly. I second the idea of using Profusion zinnias. These are like the perfect daisy like flower! Also, the blooms did not need removed for 4 months, available in colors: cherry, white, orange, Fire (reddish orange) and Apricot (my favorite). Very easy to grow from seed. You may want to check into the Tidal wave Petunias. If you space them about 2 foot apart, they will spread out like you wouldnt believe and grow to about 2 foot tall. I have never seen a petunia grow like this before last year! Though, the silver would blend right into your house color, but they do make a purple, hot pink, and cherry color that I will be doing this year. Tidals have a massive branching system to them. Do a search on gardenweb and you will find lots of pictures and ideas for them.

From what I have seen of soil tests they depend on commercial fertilizers to balance so what use is that if a person wants to remain organic Just not true. Soil tests just describe chemical and structural properties of soil, they may have a reccomendation about what to do about deficiencies, and that reccomendation might involve chemical products (you of course could find an organic alternative) but it is always a good idea to do a soil test before applying any type of fertilzer even organic in my opinion. the 'need' to test it would arise if something wasnt doing well and you wanted to know exactly why. If your plants are doing fine then great there is not a reason to test your soil. But that doesnt invalidate testing. Some people may have an interest or need to be more precise. and if adding vegeatative matter has such a permanent effect then why reccomend doing it every year? Organic gardening is a good practice but this kind of blind ignorance is so tiresome.....It sounds like youve reached this simplistic reductionist conclusion and you just want everyone to agree with it.

I love your house! It is a gem! I don't think that I would use white tile with the white fireplace surround. Subway tile can come in lots of colors and finishes though. I don't think subway tile as a size/shape of tile would be too much, I just wouldn't use white. Also, square 4x4 tile was often used on fireplaces. I would look at colors like dark charcoal grey. I wonder if they make small sized soapstone tile? Maybe matte or crackle finishes. Neutral is not always white. Look at your house trim and roof, look at your kitchen cabs and counter. White fireplace with darker neutral tiles would fit right into the scheme, IMHO. Good luck and let us know what you do! -Kim

I had a pullout pantry next to the fridge in my last kitchen. I had the cabinet people put a pullout cutting board in between the upper and lower pantry pullout sections so I could off load. However, we also had an island counter there to put bags on, and I had not accounted for the actual height and width of the cutting board when I envisioned it....The result was more of a "handy cocktail landing" at slightly above elbow height that we never pulled out except for a laugh. Still, your pantry is wide enough if you keep the full width (believe me when I tell you that 12 inches won't do it!) that it might work as a landing. Looks like you are familiar with this issue in your current kitchen and it shouldn't be a much of a problem.