I believe in supporting local economy, but doesn't big box stores in a way also contribute to the local economy??? Don't they pay taxes to the town and state and aren't they a major source of some locals for employment? I have been to almost all local nurseries here in central Jersey, and I have had some good and bad experiences with them. Unless it's a huge major nursery, usually it's a pleasant experience, you find what you want at a reasonable price with a very knowledgeable staff. I have gotten 2-gallon sized echinaceas (magnus, white swan) for just $12.99 and half-gallon for 8.99 (double decker, knee high, coconut lime). Most of the local nurseries don't offer guarantees on their plants. A few of the big ones will work it out with you or give you an exchange or a credit. But most don't. There's a local nursery literally a walking distance the same street where I live. I don't go there for the following reasons: 1. They're too expensive. Even when they have a "sale", their prices are still twice the amount you would have paid at Lowe's regular price. Just ridiculous pricing. I checked out their verbenas late spring and they were all literally dried-up and wilting probably because of lack of - 2. Manpower - to water the plants. And they still want $3.99 for a quart-size dying plants obviously due to lack of watering. A week later I got the same plants from Lowe's for a clearance price of 79 cents. 3. Not knowledgeable - couple of people that work there don't have a clue when you ask them something. Heck, even the owner argued with me insisting that NJ is in Zone 9 when in fact we are in Zone 6B/7. 4. They don't have guarantees - the only way they offer guarantees is if they design your garden and plant the plants themselves. Then they charge you outrageous amount to design your garden. No thank you! I enjoy designing my own garden. 5. Plants coming all the way from California - yep, they get their plants all the way from Monrovia nursery in California. That's really a great way to support local economy. As far as big box stores, Lowe's always carry a wide assortment and varieties at cheap prices. I have gotten gallon-sized echinacea Meringue, Pink Double Delight, and Coconut Lime at $10.98. Meantime my local Home Depot, since early spring to now, only carries about 6 kinds of perennials and it's always the same kind. No assortment at all. Only to find out later that they hire an outside contractor to manage their garden center. What were they thinking??!! Lowe's is just 10 minutes drive from them. In my own opinion, I think either you buy from big box stores or local nurseries, you are contributing to the local economy. You just have to be wise and use better judgment as to where you should spend your money. If you want a specific plant, buy it where it's available or a lot cheaper. Why would I spend $19.99 for a half-gallon Sunset echinacea in one of the local nurseries when BJ's Wholesale Club are selling the same plant and size at $5.99. If you can't find any at your local nurseries or big box stores, check out these sites below. They offer a wide assortment of echinaceas including the new ones for 2009-2010. They are reputable mail order sites - among the Garden Watchdog Top 30: http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Perennials/E_files/E.htm http://www.gardencrossings.com Oh by the way, I mentioned Sunset echinacea OR anything else with the BIG SKY SERIES on their name. Beware of those echinaceas. There's something wrong with their genetics and how they breed those varieties. The plants usually become mutants or the flowers deformed. So buy them at your own risk.

Just wanted to give an update on what has transpired over the weekend. We found a set of dressers + nightstands that would work in our room. Broyhill Bryson. While probably not everybody's classification of "forever" furniture, if our Ikea stuff lasted 15+ years of hard use, I'm sure these will last us at least double that. We found them at Value City during their 1/2 off sale, but I was leary about getting anything from there after hearing and reading some horror stories. I went to a local furniture store who sells Broyhill (among other brands) and he gladly matched the price and was very appreciative for the opportunity to do so. I will also be looking for furniture for my den in the next year or so, so it was nice to know a local place where I could go and get this kind of deal, while helping the local guy out. Delivery will be 2-4 weeks and hopefully this will go as well. I fell in love with a Flexsteel sectional...so that's on my list for the den if all goes well with this purchase. And while I'm sure some of you have no problems buying used furniture, I am one that can go either way...depending on the use and the age of the piece. I have many antique oak pieces (I'm talking over 100 years old, some of which are dressers) in my home, but they are not used to store clothing. I couldn't see myself putting clothing in them, just with the textures of the drawers, etc. I use them for my living room for storage. I have had the experience of buying a used dresser for my son's room and having everything inside the dresser smell like the previous owners items. I tried everything, and in the end wound up using it in the basement because I couldn't stand it. I know you can sand (we did), clean (we did), paint (didn't go that far). Anyway, than you so much for all the suggestions. I've posted a link of the items we got. We were able to find 2 nightstands that were tall enough (30 x 30 x 18), a large door dresser, a chest, and even a bench that has drawers to go under my window, all for $2115 plus free delivery. I like that this set is a light wood, and it has some distressing (so I don't have to cry when I put the first ding in it). I most likely will be recovering the bench though, not crazy about the neutral burlap looking upholstry. And even though I do not like matchy matchy stuff, I would have splurged for the bed in a heartbeat if it would have fit in my room without covering a portion of my window. Those drawers underneath make me drool at the extra storage...LOL Now, on to window treatments. No clue but I definitely like white (my room is now yellow as opposed to the pic above). I have to post more recent pics to see if any of you have ideas. Here is a link that might be useful: Broyhill Bryson

I thought Homesurplus in NJ was pretty good. I didn't get wrecked by Sandy thankfully, but am doing a home reno. Handles were between $16 and $22. They have a few locations or you can have it delivered. I got 4 prehung pine doors, two bathroom vanities with granite/marble tops including back and sidesplashes, sinks, door hardware, and I think a few other things for about $1600. The only thing I was displeased with is that the doors did not take stain evenly in certain areas. It looked like some kind of oil had been flecked onto them. Sanding those areas down and restaining them fixed it, though. Here is a link that might be useful: Home Surplus door hardware

I would not be happy with those vanities because the drawer fronts are probably only 12" wide, giving you about 9" interior per drawer. While you can utilize that in a top drawer for brushes and toothpaste, what would you do with twelve of them? If you use a 72" vanity, you'd probably want a linen closet in that corner, but now you are getting into more cabinetry and additional expense. It looks like you have a closet planned next to the toilet though. So you could do a make-up table between the two vanities. 34" is ideal. If you really want to do two furniture-style vanities, I think you'd need 36" vanities because 8" is not enough space. You really don't want to place a furniture style vanity right against a wall either. With 36" vanities with left and right facing drawers, you can allow 12" between the wall and vanity and 2" or more inches between the left vanity and the window frame. You'd have about 16" between vanities. Yes, the drawers are the same 12" width in a 36" vanity but you'd only have four drawers total. With two deep drawers as is standard with a 36" vanity, you'll need medicine cabinets for small items. To maximize counter space, use an oval sink. You can look at a semi-custom line like Kraftmaid to achieve this.