Not just the dollar store. Last week, in 97*, I stopped by a nationally-known dept store. I just wanted a couple more lightweight short-sleeved shirts since we will likely have 90* for most of another 6 weeks. I found sweaters, turtleneck pullovers, long-sleeve flannel shirts, and so on. No, no, nononononono! This has gone beyond ridiculous to bizarre, ludicrous, and contemptible. I think I will get the sewing machine out. And if there are any catalog advertising bosses lurking, let me tell you that all those recently sent catalogs full of corduroy, flannel, and quilted apparel are presently feeding the worms. I didn't even bother to look past the first page. You are not gaining customers by sending photos of winter apparel to someone in the midst of a heat wave.

I haven't read every response, but I too like the lamps - I just think other items in the room are too small... I definitely think a larger lamp on the sofa console will really help balance the lamps, but I would look for thicker as well as taller on that lamp (thicker than what you posted above)... I do think you need some more height in other areas as well - maybe next to the chaise by the window and maybe even something taller and more dramatic over the fireplace as it does seem like the ceiling height and height of the windows are taking over some of the furniture... but I know this is a work in progress (which I have going on in my house!) so it may be easier said than done. Good luck!

This question really challenged me to think. My active and passionate affair with interior design has followed an arc that is on its downward side now. Part of that is the natural progression of age, and the attendant changes in the urge to nest, to build, and to accumulate that go with it. I'm not physically as strong as I used to be, and I have fairly significant arthritis in my hands, so I can't do the things involving hand work, either great dexterity or strength, that I used to do. No more serious gardening, no furniture refinishing, or schlepping little tables and bolts of fabric and sample books all over the place, and very little hand sewing. So most of my project energy goes into cooking these days, although I still give advice to friends and acquaintances who ask. One reason I enjoy participating in this forum so much is that, since I'm not in the trade any more, I miss the conversations and the problem solving. And if what I have learned, and whatever native ability I have, can still be of use, I want to exercise it. Because design for living is, at its heart, a problem-solving discipline. And as many of you have said in lots of other posts (and Bumblebeez said here), good problem solving begins with accurate problem identification. If you don't know what's broken...well, you understand. And loving to get your teeth in a problem that you actually can understand is a virus that never goes away.

To those saying 18" is too deep or that 12" is enough -- I'm guessing you are either very short of have very short legs. The minimum recommendation of 15" is for average people. If you have a tall family (or long legs), even 15" isn't enough. We have 15" and I wish we had 18". Yes, we are a tall family. At 5'10" I find the 15" just barely deep enough (my knees brush the backs of the cabinets). My 6'0" daughter is OK with it, but she has to either sit a bit farther from the counter than is comfortable for any length of time or slightly "straddle" the cabinets if she wants to sit closer. My 6'5" husband and 6'7" son never sit at the counter b/c the overhang is too shallow. (They prefer the table b/c there's more room under it -- it's 42" deep). Regarding your question for stone overhangs (taken from the FAQ): Countertop Support: If your granite is 2 cm thick, then there can be no more then 6" of of unsupported span with a 5/8" subtop If your granite is 3 cm thick, then there can be no more then 10" of unsupported span - no subtop required If you need support, to determine your corbel dimensions: Thickness of Stone - Dimension of Unsupported Span = Corbel Dimension i.e., an 18" total overhang in 2 cm would require a 12" corbel; the same overhang in 3 cm would require an 8" corbel https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2558824/stone-information-and-advice-checklists