Thank you for all the compliments! The idea of placing the driftwood by the falls was my youngest daughter's (12 years old) idea so I'll pass on the credit for that to her. She thought of "grandma's" cottage and the dam near there and how the logs get jammed on top, come down the stream, and are scattered around the base perimeter of the pond. And actually all the driftwood we used is driftwood we collected out of the same lake, so it also has sentimental value to us.

The chairs are entirely different story. I bought them off some antique dealers site on ebay from New York. Got all them for like $125 but it cost me a total of almost $600 by the time shipping factored in. Still a deal in "chair world". They had some hideous old gold brocade fabric on them. I refinished and recoverd them myself. They are two arm chairs too. DH was so worried that they wouldn't go with the table. "How can you know" he asked? And I told him... " I just know they'll be perfect... trust me". When they delivered them it was funny. they came at night when my husband 60's style band was practicing at night at my home. These boys have been together for over 40 years... since they were kids. Anyways, the delivery man was a Jamaican man who was not familiar with the music. So I told him to stay and have some dinner. (Had made baked ziti for the boys). "what's baked ziti" he asked. Well I sat that young man down to a big plate with home made bread.He devoured it and kept asking... "this is called baked ziti"... "seconds please"... He got up and sang some wiht the guys and was dancing. I gave a big fat tip and he left a happy kid. DH will no longer question me on my choices at all. He'll say, I never would have picked those colors/whatever... but it looks tremendous.

Knockdown is a combination of cement, sand, and acrylic plastics applied over existing concrete. It comes in a standard finish called Lace and can be done into patterns like herringbone brick, flagstone, and many others. The most popular Mfg is Sundek, try putting it into Google search. It'll be the most affordable upgrade to your existing concrete. Stamped, colored, and sealed patterned concrete overlay is beautiful. I'm not really a fan of it around pools because it beads water and can be slick. Kids with wet feet always run around pools in spite of a no running rule. In your application it would be awesome. Figure on double the price of Acrylic for it. On natural flagstone figure on 3 to 4 times the price. I'm curious, how large of an area are you planning on? See ya, Kelly

Gray! Gray! Gray!!! No white walls, though! Light gray cabs with darker gray walls works. Or pale yellow walls. This will keep it bright and it works with your accent colors (My favorite colors are actually aqua and chartreuse). Use a GOOD quality paint on those cabinets though! Fine Paints of Europe or BM, not Home Depot stuff (Behr's, Martha Stewart) - find a color and get it matched, preferably in oil. I don't have pics, but my bedroom colors are Behr's Melted Butter walls (might be a bit too dark in kitchen - it is a very warm yellow), Behr's Flint Smoke trim and built-ins (medium gray), and Amphibian (charcoal) accent wall. Pale blue-gray ceiling (Misty Surf, I think - bought Sparkling Spring to match other grays, but was too light). For the cabs the color "River Rock" might work - lighter than Flint Smoke, darker than Sparkling Spring. Maybe "Whisper Yellow" walls - a shade lighter than mine. Again, Behr, but BM or FPE can color match. In my bedroom these colors appear a true gray - but you really have to try them (or any paint, for that matter) in your own space - the same paint can look totally different from one room to the next depending on lighting and sheen. Buy some sample sizes first. I also see this with a warm white trim around doors and windows. Our white trim is Behr's Pot of Cream, but seriously, it takes 3-4 coats (on top of primer) to cover well - not worth the "savings."