Just an update - The cabinet guy kept on pushing the date out and when we asked to get us a firm date, he said June 6. He then offered to refund our money because of all the delays. We went to see him at his showroom to collect our money, and he had the nerve to say that the money was going to be coming from the factory. We told him that he was the one who should be refunding the money to us ....anyhoo, one thing led to another and lots of words were exchanged and cops were called (mind you, this was a new experience for us). ....he told the cops that we should expect to get our money by Monday next week. Anyway, DH called the factory today and they told him that the KD never placed our order!!! Can you believe it? In fact, we were told that he owes them money and that he was on credit hold. They are in the process of sending a collection agency on him.... So, 6 weeks without a kitchen and a $9K loss....that is our story. We have contacted a lawyer who is going to try to help us recoup something. I am not confident that we will get much. Plus, who knows how many people he owes money to. I wish I paid with a credit card....a big lesson for us! Shame on him.....Karma is a b*tch!

The new sewing cabinets with the airlift mrchanism are very expensive. Have you priced them? They run anywhere from $600 to $2000. The cheaper ones are just a basic cabinet--no drawers. Most are built as many things are these days with pressed board and a thin veneer of wood. When I bought my new machine a couple of years ago, I looked on line at them all and decided to adapt my old cabinet. Most of the makers have on line sites and you could look through them and see

Did you get the bobbin case squared away? That's a class 15 bobbin and bobbin case. I think the "finger" position may be either an 11 O'Clock or 1 O'Clock. I believe I have an Ultra Stitch 12. It's a nice machine. Let me know if you need help. Happy stitching!

Dear Kiwi13, You have an architectural floor plan. Contact the architect or builder (if this was a spec home) and ask them which direction the ceiling framing runs in the Family Room and Living Room. In most cases the first floor ceiling framing will be run in the direction of the shortest span. In English your first floor ceiling framing probably runs from front to the back of your home.Meaning you should be able to remove either wall once you confirm the ceiling framing direction. If you are like the majority of home owners and not going to keep a formal living room, because you just never use it. You may want to consider reconfiguring that whole area of your new home. So you can get the family room and kitchen you truly want and expect, and that new, different, easier, better life you hope this new home will deliver for you. Tons of possibilities if you reconfigure the family room, kitchen/breakfast room, and living room area, you may not want to take out a wall as much as move one. Keep a family room and kitchen which you want. And add an informal dining room (breakfast area is a little tight), office, study, library whatever you need? The kitchen you have now I believe is just too small for the size of this home and awkward. Like it doesn't belong to this home. I can’t imagine that the realtors wouldn’t help you answer this simple question, especially if this is all it will take to sell this home. Hope this has been helpful. Joe Brandao Kitchen Design Company