Damask IS linen....unless it's rayon! UHG! Soak the linens in a non ionized soap.....can't pull the name of it out of my head....used to wash quilts....maybe a place that sells antique quilts will be able to sell you some. Make sure you never lift a wet piece by an end or edge....get under to lift....don't pull it out of the water. Fold your piece and gat a big flat pan...fill it with distilled water and that de ionized soap....mix and lay your piece in there and soak for at least 2 days.....see if your stains are coming out.....if they are lighter....soak more. For stubborn stains you may want to use a little oxygen bleach....like oxy clean....or even dab on some hydrogen peroxide....never EVER clorine! If you are seeing progress but still have stains....carefully dump the stuff out and refill with more soap and distilled water and soak more.... Then rinse and rinse and rinse. If you have a very precious piece like a wedding dress or a christening gown....rinse in distilled water....and test with litmus paper until it tests neutral. Then lift out....squeeze gently and roll in a towel....repeat until it is no linger sopping....and spread out onto a pad of towels ( gently!....those old fibers that have been soaked for days are fragile!) and put fans on it and dry it as fast as possible. If it's just an old tablecloth ...I put it into the washer after soaking and when the stains are as gone as they will get, and spin out..... Let the washer fill....move it around with your hands....then spin out....never let the washer agitate or tumble! Then spread to dry....or almost dry. Linen should be ironed very wet!...I iron my napkins and cloths straight from the washer....never iron in a crease....but iron almost dry and spread to finish.....it will be very crisp!....then when it's dry fold. This is REALLY hard to do with a big cloth!!!! Linda C

Anyone who gets to Bruges should definitely visit the lace museum. It's got a really interesting display of old lace, but the most interesting part is the room where a bunch of the older women who still have this skill make lace and you can watch. Most of them are like the woman in the photo, very intent on their work, but there is this one amazing old lady who doesn't even have a pattern under her pins and just sits and chats while evidently just rolling the bobbins around aimlessly under her hands without looking. But griffins and flowers and all sorts of things are taking form. It's just incredible to see.

Thank you ALL for your kind comments!! waterpondgal, No, our island does not have a seam. Hmmm, that is a good question. The only seam we have inside is at our kitchen sink. Then our outdoor countertop is a long run with one seam. I don't mind it outside, but I'm not sure if I would want that inside...especially if there is no stovetop or sink to distract from the seam. Maybe you can post your question here on GW and see if anyone has/had the same experience? I know I have done a search of granite seams in the past here. Some of them looked fine, but it also depends on the type of granite you have (color, amount of movement, etc). Maybe you can ask your granite fabricator to show you pics of some seams that they have done? Good luck! desertdance, thanks so much! We had a similar issue. I could've put a wall up between the kitchen and the great room. That would've allowed me to either have more upper cabinets or have a stove with a mosaic backsplash. But in the end we chose to keep the open floorplan. It allows us to enjoy more views from the great room as well. I think you will be happy with your choice, I love looking at the views everyday! Just make the most of your cabinets, such as organizers, drawers instead of lower cabinets and/or pull out shelves in your lower cabinets. Good luck with your new kitchen, I'm sure it will be lovely! ppbenn, thank you so much! We use the pantry fridge like a fridge that people would have in their garage or basement...all the extras such as extra milk, drinks, meats, etc. OR anything that just doesn't fit in the main fridge. I love having the extra fridge right there without having to run down to the garage! I do think that I might still get an extra freezer for the garage one day :)

I absolutely LOVE your house and the direction you're going with your décor! I went from wanting my house to look like a little Mexican hacienda to wanting it to remind me of my holidays in England, and I've dealt with the rug issue myself. While tempting to select something very floral (or even kitsch), I would caution you to keep in mind that true English cottage style is more of a collected abundance of everyday items -- even if it's pared down. In other words, the individual elements shouldn't scream "Look at me! I'm English Country!" Think along the lines of a slightly faded Persian rug that looks like it must have been in the family for years. Too, I've seen sisal and other plain/natural rugs used in English cottages and that's a great look, especially when you desire an open airiness. Think timeworn pattern-upon-pattern, bring in a collection of throw pillows (there are some wonderful Union Jack pillows on Etsy), favorite framed prints on the wall - you know the look, I'm sure! Have fun creating your new space. And please share photos when you get things all done. I'd love to see how your adorable home turns out!