Beth.......... You have my greatest sympathies. Gardening on multiple levels has felt totally impossible from the beginning. When I am working on one level, the weeds are thriving on the other levels. Argggggggh. Hauling mulch up from the street level to the gardening levels is hard labor, too. I thought it was my time management that was the problem. The problem is that it is incredibly difficult for one person to manage all of that work. Then add the heat we both experience and it just gets overwhelming. I did check with the lady who runs our local garden center and she did say that Preen will not harm the roses. I may not like using chemicals to control weeds, but I have had to give up and use some. You have so many beautiful roses, I know this must be very distressing for you. All you can do is keep at it one day at a time. Smiles, Lyn

Annette, I have a satellite dish and can pick up shows across Canada. I've PVR'd that show because I haven't seen it before. Yes I've watched Recreating Eden too which is interesting. I think I've seen all the reruns I could of that show. I also watch Chef A Field on PBS, P. Allen Smith. No longer Victory Garden (they've done so much damage to this show). the odd thing is, on PBS there are so many other shows I have not seen shown here. Too bad. I'm fascinated though with using natural shaped pieces of wood to make a garden sculpture. I've seen designs of using twigs stacked in such a way it resembles a whirlwind. If I had access to the forest, I would be foraging for materials to make such things.

Thanks all...and justgotabeme, I hope you got yours straightened up! :-) I ran out and bought a new rug, my "reward" (and something I've wanted for ages because the floor down there is so cold!). Here are my "after" photos: And closed up for the night: Now, to answer questions/comments: The drain for the basement is right under the sink, so no storage there. And since I was actually *down there* while the washer was running today, I noticed that the drain is blocked...it drains, but slowly, so we actually get water all over underneath the sink on the extra-large load I was doing! Since I normally just start a load and head back upstairs to make dinner, I never knew that until now. So I'll have to get some drain cleaner, and hope that works, since the metal drain cover is cemented in. There are a couple changes to the infrustructure that I'd like, and will mention to my hubby since he likes to be "helpful" by putting stuff up for me (I have to remind myself not to just do it all myself!). ;-) I'd like a shelf behind and just above the dryer where I could put the laundry soap jug, so the spout sits over closer to the washer (can't put it over the washer, since I wouldn't be able to open the lid then). And I'd like a towel rack to hang on the wall to the left of the sink for towels and a washcloth (for wiping down the washer/dryer). I'm going to use a tub to wash my bras down there (instead of in the bathroom, but the sink is kind of "painty" from hubby washing brushes out, and the sides aren't smooth anymore), and I'll need a towel to dry my hands on, and the tub after I'm done. The rod is great, actually. The reason there were clothes still down there is because hubby used to shower down there, and did his own laundry, so it was easier to leave them there for dressing in the morning. Now the basment shower leaks (haven't had the $$ to fix it - that bathroom actually needs lots of plumbing work), so we share the upstairs bathroom (and I do all the laundry now - it's just easier for me to make sure it gets "all the way done" that way). But his closet upstairs was completely full, so no room to move those clothes up! When he cleaned out his closet, that eliminated the problem - I always hang the clothes as they come out of the dryer, and then take them upstairs with me right away (and put them away immediately). I have that ironing board you can see to the side of the dryer (it was around the corner in the first pics). I don't iron though, and neither does my husband, so it's mostly for "decoration". *laughs* I give 'em a good "snap" when I take them out of the dryer (pretty much right away), and call it good. Stuff that needs to hang dry (like that pullover, which I moved to the other side for the second picture, and my bras) will just hang on hangers over the sink. I plan to keep empty hangers over the washer (since the top lifts up, so clothes would be in the way), and hang clothes over the dryer as they come out (before I couldn't reach over the dryer for all the "stuff" on the floor in my way, so I fought with clothes and the washer lid). As for hangers, I have all satin padded hangers coming for *my* clothes - even some with clips for my dress pants/skirts (should be here any day). My "treat" for cleaning my closet out. I'm going to buy hubby all wooden hangers for his closet, since that's what he prefers, so we'll have two types, but nice looking ones, anyways. We've both just been using the hangers we've had since we lived at home, so it's about time we got new ones! All the plastic mixed with wire drives me nuts, both downstairs and in the closet. A good day's work, to be sure, and it will be so much nicer to do my "daily load of laundry" now (a recent, and very helpful habit). :-)

Its great to hear that the project is moving forward! Just a few thoughts.......... I think putting the retail shelf by the workstation crowds things too much and does not give the client time to browse. Put the display in the seating area. I would not put a shelf up by the seating area to display retail items. They might get pilfered by clients who think they are "samples". Plus they could get knocked over all the time with clients bumping the shelves. They would get dusty on a shelf too. You want the products to looks fresh. I would put them in a small curio cabinet. One that is wide and not too deep, and has lots of glass, preferably on three sides, with minimal framing so as not to block the view of products. You can pick them up for a song on CL. Paint it black or a color to go with your wall color. Get it in a moderate size so as not to crowd the space with the two chairs. Angle chairs. I would use floating shelves by the work station. The brackets crowd the area. The chandy you chose looks great but maybe a bit heavy for the space being wrought iron or what ever metal it is. Maybe add a few more crystals? You can buy them at craft stores. If you Google 'mini chandelier' or 'kids room chandelier' you can see inexpensive ones that are lightweight in feel and a bit more sparkley. Maybe there is something else out there? Target? I would not do a mirror on the wall behind the workstation next to the bathroom door. Having two mirrors reflect into each other would give it that 'Cream of Wheat' effect. It would be too cluttery and give a tunnel look to the area. I know that mirrors are important to a salon but I have never seen a salon where this is done with mirrors. I would not use wicker baskets. Too Country. Metal would be noisy and plastic looks cheap. How about faux leather baskets? They come in many colors. Or ones covered in fabric that they sell? I've picked them up real cheap for my use at both Ikea and Homegoods. You can use them with or without the lids. Picture it without the newspaper. It comes in white, pink, other colors: I know I had said upholstery is probably out due to hair and dust and you agreed but what about slipcovered chairs? Upholstered chairs would be more comfortable and wouldn't be noisy like metal ones. You can get those dining room parsons chairs for a song on CL and a slipcover for $14.99. They even have 'shortie' ones that show some of the chair leg. You could change them out with the seasons and they can be washed anytime for freshening. Here is a link that might be useful: Slipcovers for Chairs