Hi Mike, Well done. I've been thinking of you and your clivias these past few months as we, kind of, challenged each other last year on the bloom for this year. You certainly won. I had a couple of stuck umbels and that was it.... I watch your "mark" on the forum as I'm in a similar weather zone that you're in (cold winters) and you have more experience. Took your and Al's advice. Got those clivias in the gritty mix early this year and I think I'll be better able to take the challenge next year! Gail

Hi everyone Will try to get some updated pictures posted tomorrow evening. Esp of the inside. Hopefully the natives were not too restless this weekend! I have been on all weekend leaving the lunatics in charge at the asylum! LOL red love- believe it or not, we already have a bell! It's still on it's post over near the new house but it works great. Have to decide where to put it and repaint. Grey ridge - as fair as entertaining..... this is a pretty big house. We have had several large parties so far and it has flowed pretty well. A couple of things that really help that flow - we removed the closets on either side of the front door and opened that area up. We moved the 1/2 bath over to where the music alcove is and made it a full bath. We then enlarged the doorways to both the living room and the country kitchen and made them symmetrical. The foyer is a fabulous place to place an hors' d'oerve (sp?) table etc. The dining room is large enough for our table extended which is probably 10-12 if you are doing a formal dinner. The foyer would also be a great place for the "kids" table for a really large family gathering. When we were building everyone assumed we would put a very large farm table in the kitchen. We actually had planned ( and did) to use that area for our family living space therefore leaving the living room for a more formal area. That will be evident in the pics. The other change from the plans - my MIL is living with us- we didn't finish the library as such for the present, it's her room - thus the full bath. We had a large KY Derby party soon after we moved in. It was informal with the food buffet style on the DR table. We used the "tool bench" area ( which we have done in laminate countertops with cabinets) of the clutter room as a bar- it was perfect- especially since we used the second fridge in the clutter room for all the chilled beverages. I don't know what climate you live in - but the porches are also a great entertaining feature. Because of the large number of doors, people can flow easily from the porches and through the house. As far as moving the stairs - I am sure you could move them "forward" and enlarge your dining room but they are dramatic and designed to be in the center of the house. I will try to get some good pics but they are a "bell tower" staircase - they are open from the top to the basement. You can stand in second floor hallway and see to the basement. They are finished all the way to the basement. I agree- lots to decide and lots of fun!! PD

Unbelievably beautiful job. Love the wall colors.

Sue, here are afew better pictures of the dinng space: Sue and pal, those leather stools are my favorite too. It's the Oly studio jonathan stool. I had the same concerns about too many tufted elements. Unfortunately, I dont think the stool comes without tufting. the small gray tufted accent chair does not have to stay. In fact, it's the desk chair for our guest room, I just put it out there for extra seating and I thought it went well with all the other elements. But honestly, no one ever sits there. I could always move one of the dining chair over if I needed the extra seating. How about a pair of these wisteria stools: I would reupholster them. When everyone says, they prefer the wood one, they mean the rustic one, and not the modern one right?