The best price I could find for mine is $205, with $3.95 shipping at YHS, so it is not crazy over budget. If this is a permanent choice, I'd try to make it the best I could. I know $100 seems like a lot (am strapped right now too), but it is one fixture and you should have it for many years. I look back at some of my choices and wish I had a re-do button. If we had to do it again, I'd definitely choose our fans. We started using 1 before the reno in our master and it still looks the same as the new ones. We get actual compliments, which as you can see by this thread, is a big deal since ceiling fans are not very "in" right now. I happen to love a well designed one and yet am not thrilled with the cheap looking ones. I think this one looks upscale without breaking the bank. It makes it look like something you want and not something you are trying to hide.... http://www.yourhomesupply.com/p-453-48-hunter-white-ceiling-fan-retro-25751.aspx

I know you've decided to settle with the palm, and I don't blame you, and I don't want you to feel you have to patiently and politely respond to me - ignore me, I thought I'd post for any lurkers or people who just want to think about this problem as an academic design exercise! I actually think the plant looks pretty good and I'm just exercising my brain here. I too would take away the night stand, and put in a long low dresser that functions as a night stand and also fills most of that wall - a nice 6 or 9 drawer unit would be my choice with a lamp by the bed, a plant or something else in view from the hall. One reason I wouldn't make it a table is that there are getting to be too many legs in sight as you look down the hall. I would also like it to be evident that you're looking into a bedroom and not just a bend in the hall. And just a vertical accent just adds more linearity to the view; my brain wants to add something horizontal. Notwithstanding that, I love the knight - the idea, and the real life interpretation :-) KarinL

jejvtr: I like the first link you showed, but the second one did not work. You are right the columns look similar. Perhaps you should leave them afterall, they are growing on me. It has a certain delicacy with the arched roof and you may change you mind also once the trim is painted different than the house color. Which is probably another reason my vote is for a non-white base color--to accentuate your lovely trimwork. I'm glad you are looking at other homes similar to yours for inspiration. When we were remodeling last year, I always kept a digital camera in my car and I would snap pics of features/colors/etc of houses I liked--usually while picking up or dropping off my kids from school or sports practices. I would try to drive a bit in the residential areas. Then when we were finalizing paint, I had my paint swatches with me and I would go up to houses which I liked and compare paint swatches. Once you and your DH find an inspiration pic I think this is helpful to narrow down to an actual color. You will always see things we don't, like lighting and how it works from various angles. What does DH think? Still white/red?

It is hard to beat the French ranges for aesthetics. They are beautiful. I think for some they are very functional as well. If you cook with cast iron I would consider something with a star shaped burner. While I love cast iron for its nonstick properties and that you can get it hot, it is a poor conductor of heat and the star burners would spread the heat out more. BlueStar and the American performer both have this type of burner. I tend to cook with really big pans and when I have to go to 14", I have heavy gauge aluminum to make the heat even. The depth of the range top is important if you cook with big pans. Some pro style ranges are deeper than others. Some have little lips that stick up on the back that limit the size on the back burners. We have frequent gatherings for 20-60 so I also need a big oven. I have a 36" range and wall oven but if I were buying now I would consider a range top and two wall ovens. This way you can pick each part based on what is best for you. The wall oven can be placed at eye level and can be replaced if it goes bad before the burners do. As to griddles. Built ins can be more stable but the are add ons that are fitted and stable. You can have more heat with an add on. Most built ins are limited to 15-18K BTUs vs 2x the BTUs on your two burners so even with 2 15K burners you have 30K if you need it. A big consideration to me is the metal that makes up the griddle. Steel and cast iron griddles whether built in or add on tend to have zones of heat. Many users like this because you can have an area to park cooked food and keep it warm. I like to be able to use my aluminum griddle at times because it heats very evenly and allows a much bigger area for cooking. Mine from Royal industries is 15x23 so 345 square inches vs something that is 11x23- 253 square inches and the cooking area may be less if it has cooler areas being made of steel or cast iron. Aluminum griddles are most often coated with a non stick coating but Royal makes theirs both ways. The aluminum griddle is also lighter weight than steel. It is still thick to allow good conduction if heat. I believe the chef king steel and royal industries are both 7 gauge. The bare aluminum will season over time but steel seasons much faster. Steel or cast iron take a long time to heat and a long time to turn up or down. Aluminum heats quickly and changes quickly. A built in griddle might have a thicker layer of steel but check the specs from the manufacturer. Built ins may have a thermostat to control the heat so you can more easily reproduce ascertain amount of heat.