Yikes, Jamie, that must have been the original model way back when! It sure does look shabby and old! Mine doesn't have the added feature of the ironing board, which I'm sure, turned out to be something no one used. Being oak, like mine, though, I'm sure it's one VERY heavy dust-catcher ;^D Terriks, I'm glad that you added that pic here, too. I love your idea and I LOVE that it was a DIY project. I'm really hoping to find ideas that DH & I (and anybody else here) can do ourselves. Bumblebeez, what kind of containers do you keep your shoes and purses in? Yesiyesi: sorry, but I'm afraid to click on your link. I have a strong feeling that it's SPAM (which is not allowed here) and that's where a person can pick up all sorts of nasty trojans, etc. Torsade: I'm excited for you, too. Please keep us posted on your closet changes and I'm anxious to see the final outcome. It sounds like a great idea. You might even consider adding a shelf above your new seating area to take advantage of any extra space. Oofasis: I, for one, am not laughing . . . that's a good question. But again, only speaking for myself, I'm so desperate for a good, reasonably priced solution for my many shoes that I'd happily deal with any dust them . . . but that's just me ;^D KSWL: all great ideas, thank you!!! I agree that someplace to sit is so handy. We keep our convertible chair/step stool in the chair position for that reason (and because it's too heavy for anything else!). I've been wondering about those telescoping rods you mentioned and am glad to hear that they are a good investment. I'm now going to try and incorporate a couple into our closet reno. Sasha'sM: You know, ever since I posted that one pic from the ClosetFactory's website, I've been trying to locate that kind of super-susan made for clothes. So far, this is one of the only places that seem to carry something similar: "Ovis Cabinet Organizers" I don't know if one would work in our closet, but it seems to be a good, practical idea for some people. You definitely can get one if Closet Factory does your closet, though. Bharensi: Your closet sounds wonderful! I know that I speak for many of us when I say that we'd LOVE to see pics of it if you ever want to share them with us. Good idea about using a dehumidifier. Here in New Mexico, we don't have a humidity problem, but for areas where it's a problem, that's a good, practical idea! I also like that yours is a DIY project. Using the GW dresser and all of your other ideas are good, reasonably-priced solutions that we all can use. TFS! Lynn

I think the "proper" way to do the stairs would be (would have been) to shift the stairwell over to the other side of the gargantuan beam. Then it would come down a half flight into the hallway with the bedroom and bathroom, and continue on down into the basement at the end of the hall (where the current short flight of stairs is). I don't know that you can change it at this point, as it depends on what's upstairs on the other side of the beam, but that seems to me to be the right way to do this. You could certainly cut through that beam and create a doorway out the side. Anything's possible with some structural engineering. And it looks like the perpendicular beam that's resting on the gargantuan one would be the other side of said doorway. However, you'd need to create a landing there, and that would extend the run of the stairs on down into the basement, which would reduce your head room. So I don't think that's the best solution. So what's there, quirky as it may be, is perhaps the lesser of the evils.

From my experience replacing four bedroom fixtures: 1) "UL approved" doesn't mean a d... thing. Any Chinese manufacturer will print that on a box, and practically all lights are made in China now, even expensive ones. Examine the wires carefully - watch out for aluminum. Your lighting department clerk may tell you that copper is legally required and the silver color is because the copper wires have been dipped in solder. No, they haven't been, unless the silvery part is limited to a little unstranded cap at the end. Silvery strands = aluminum wire = fire hazard when connected to copper house wire. Examine all the fixtures - one out of three otherwise identical fixtures from HD had the aluminum wires. We removed a light fixture that had aluminum wires - some nasty charring going on there. 2) A fixture open at the top collects more insects, unless it is open at the bottom too. 3) Children will stand on the bed with a baseball bat/ ninja stick in hand so that they can see themselves in the mirror, and they will leap off to see themselves flying with the stick held high...get fixtures with standard measurement replaceable shades. 4) If you use compact fluorescent bulbs, be aware that the "brighter" bulbs are longer (longer twist for more light, but not more intense light) and that the longer bulbs may not fit in your shade.

Since I am Catholic, I have a large rosary that my parents brought back from Rome and an old crucifix that is was used for the sick. and a picture of the Blessed v Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart. I also have my in-laws marriage certificate from 1947. Her First Holy Communion certificate from 1936. I also have his baptismal certificate from 1924. The last two are in German. His says Taufshein on it. I didn't know if it was his baptismal or birth certificate. I always thought it said Caufshein because of the lettering I couldn't tell. I had to look it up to see which one it was. I didn't know the Lutherans baptized their babies that young. He turned Catholic before they got married. They have beautiful pictures on them so I think they are art all on their own.