1. Open an account on a free picture hosting site such as Photobucket, Webshots, or Flickr 2. Make your album "public" so others can see your pictures ....If you are using Photobucket: .......got to Account Options .......then, click on Edit Album Settings .......Where it says "My album is", be sure it says "Public". If it says "Private", change it to "Public" 3. Using camera software that came with your camera or other software like Microsoft Picture Manager, resize the pic so it's less than 600 pixels in both directions. [The best way is to reduce the size is by a percentage so it gets smaller in both directions at the same rate...say 15% or 20% of the original size] 4. Upload the picture to your account (see #1) 5. If you use Photobucket, when you see your pic on the site, copy the link from the box labeled "HTML Code" (I don't know where the link is in Webshots Flicker, etc.--I use Photobucket) .....[You can also resize your pic on the Photobucket site] 6. Simply paste the link in your message...you're done! When you preview your message you will see the picture. HTH!

I have a matte black laminate counter top in our second kitchen/potting room/junk room/butlers pantry. LOL! It really has turned out to be a catch all room because it's the first room coming in from the carport area. Thank goodness we have a front entry for guest. I have to warn you that the black laminate will show EVERYTHING from scratches, dust and rings from drinking glasses. I really don't care for it. I am constantly wiping and cleaning this countertop even if it's clean. I'm so glad I didn't put it in the main kitchen. Waaay too much upkeep IMO. Instead of replacing it I'm going to sponge paint this countertop like equest17 on the home decorating forum did to her Before And After-Avocado Bathroom Update. Amazing transformation! See link below. Here is a link that might be useful: Painted Laminate

They should have larger sample sizes, so that you can at least put them by a large counter sample, large cabinet door sample, etc. If you can, take them around to different lighting in store or even outside in natural daylight. Careful carrying those quartz or granite samples around though, they are heavy suckers! The lighting in our design centre was pretty bad - made everything look very, very warm, so it was good to move around. LVP certainly is a good option if you are concerned about water. Laminate is okay with small amounts of water as long as you clean it up right away (leaks from dishwashers are another thing, etc), but I can understand with kids and dogs you can't guarantee this! If you go LVP do make sure you get a higher wear layer though with that kind of traffic and wear. 20 mil even at least (40 mil is the highest so far, I think, but it can go all the way down to 4 mil or something which will not last long at all). It is not terrible not to know what your style is, but it would be worth spending some time today and tonight with your partner looking for inspiration photos of what you are attracted to and what not, or even going to some parade homes tonight together (even if from other builders!). We had some general ideas of what we liked before we went in (and some "absolutely not's"), but nothing as specific as showing up with a photo in hand saying "we want THIS kitchen!". This came from looking at various parade homes, spec homes, browsing here, and elsewhere on the internet. For example, we knew we wanted white cabinets and a cleaner more minimalist look for our small kitchen, but wanted an overall "warm" feel to things, picking up from a Scandinavian influence of white combined with warmer wood tones. The interior designer was good at helping us narrow things down from our preferences. For our kitchen for example we ended up with a white cabinet as desired (Alabaster shakers), a warmer white/gray quartz that has brown flecks in it (Caesarstone Bianco Drift), white paint (SW Heron Plume), and a warm blond laminate flooring (Kraus Crossroads Journey) to bring in that warm wood element. I picked out some pendants with a third party lighting store that have a Scandinavian influence. I have yet to see it altogether, but I think ultimately we made good choices. The end result is not going to be what really what I think of as Scandinavian kitchen, but it has the elements we wanted in there and plan to add more of the warmer wood with furniture, cutting boards, etc. I also ended up with more gray than I expected (in counter and backsplash) but it was what appealed to me most in combination with other choices, like the cabinets and flooring. I find I need contrast! We will have complimentary tile in our entry/baths/laundry, and the treads on stairs as well as second floor will be carpet. I just can't seem to break away from the coziness of carpet in bedrooms and such (and I appreciate it in our climate too). You will have so many decisions to make tomorrow (like grout colour) so just take your time :)

This would be in the kitchen/living/dining area. Bathrooms will be greyish tile and bedrooms will be grey carpet