My 18 x 36 rectangle is 3ft -6 ft, which is great for adults. In fact, because I don't have kids, if I did it over again I'd seriously consider a 4.5ft end-to-end since I mainly like to swim laps and float. I think these shallow pools are sometimes called sport pools. I had no desire for a diving board (noise+danger). But my friends' children always say they wish it was deeper so they could dive. Honestly, even if I had kids I'd prefer it shallowish bc. I can ban diving (which also discourages running) and if a rescue is needed it's much easier to haul out someone quickly. I don't care for pools that have a steep and sudden slope into the deep end...but your pool sounds large enough to avoid that. Kids would call me a party-pooper I suppose, but the safety of my guests definitely factored into my planning. good luck!

I do think the fluting is strange that it ends. But, it should be hidden by the mantel mostly. I'm not sure if I'm OK with that or not. That was one of the things I just sent to the cabinet maker, my concern about the dead stop in fluting. The panels would be a possible correction to that, but then as palimpsest says, they can't be even and don't directly tie into the book case so that might not be the best choice. I lik the idea of the scalloped edge along the book case bottom a lot and I really like the way that looks in the picture. I have emailed my cabinet maker to see if it is possible to do the footed bottom with scallops instead of the traditional toe kick. I do have remaining concerns about dog hair though. The blues- we have several wholly separate sets of blues within this house but not in areas that share a sight line. Do you think that is a problem. There was rationale behind the choices: In the kitchen, we have blue bahia granite for our center island, and there are cabinets that are blue, although the kitchen is predominantly white (the sink cabinet, stove hood and backs of the china cabinet are blue). We took a small piece of the granite to Sherwin Williams who color matched the blue bahia color exactly to create the paint. This paint color is the blue being used in the kitchen, as well as on these gathering room book cases (gathering room off of kitchen) as well as in the sun room adjacent to the gathering room to create the fireplace surround. Just to perhaps complicate matters before, there is a fire place in both the gathering room (this one being discussed above and in a adjacent sun room along the same wall- and the gathering room and sun room are separated by a glass wall. So, we essentially have two fireplaces in a row. Sort of. But you can only see both from certain vantage points (Did you follow that?) You can see it on the floor plan- that wall between those rooms is partially glass. (This is an old floor plan and doesn't show all the built-ins) Then, we have an entirely different blue on the cabinets in the conservatory, great room and dining room (the same in all 3 of those rooms though, of course) This blue is a stain, not a paint, and it was chosen to match a blue and yellow tile mural that is being inset into the hardwood floor in the front hall. These cabinets will actually be stained blue with yellow piping (picking up both colors of the tile mural) Our master bath also has blue tile. Different blue tile. And there's an upstairs bathroom with blue decos and tile. I haven't considered how any of these blues ties in with the outside blues or really thought they had to go with each other if they weren't in the same line of sight. Do you think that is a problem?

Hi all. Just an update from me on the final decision and after what seemed like an eternal research process today I signed the paperwork for Okna windows. 49 of them as a matter of fact which will include everything but the half-rounds and the 2 basements. They will be 700 series casements that include woodgrain, white, and stainable interiors and I'm very excited to be working with Homesealed Exteriors, LLC out of Milwaukee for the project. Thanks again for all of the opinions and I'll try to come back with some pictures of the finished product.

Seasol and the trim should do the trick. Is he in a pot now or in the ground? I have never grown Papa but have seen him different gardens, and thought what a great rose he is. I have a few roses I'm not happy with this year; will give them one more year,but have started a provisional list of possible replacements and PG is one of them, along with Snowflake and Mme Bravy. Your plan for the tea garden is very elegant... Appropriate for such charmers.