Are you sure that lady doesnt have a twin over here in Brooklyn, lol. Tell Pat to move. Really, a bigger apt unit is better. Anytime there is a little apt in a big house you have to deal with this kind of stuff. The lady is probably bored and has nothing to do but pick things apt. Telling someone what temp to wash clothes in is ridiculous. I think I would have had to laugh at that. But, living like that is not good, your friend should not have to endure complaints everyday. Oh, can I tell you stories about bored old women.......but my problem has passed away a few years ago....... She will have to be assertive but not mean, you dont wanna cause hard feelings. But start saving and get out.

Is it too late to rip up my floor and put in checkerboard? Maybe I should forward this link to my DH. While I agree that stark black & white might be a problem to clean, some of these tiles look much easier to care for than hardwood. I love my new wood floors, but honestly, if I'd seen Rhome's floor first . . well let's not even go there. Thanks for taking the time to share your opinions and images. I think SIL was thinking blue & something else for her checkerboard. I love the checkerboards in the less common color combos. Don't know if I would of thought of using two colors like grey & white, or tan & brown. I remember a kitchen on this site that had a B&W checkerboard floor. It was a very vintage kitchen and the floor just added to its charm. I was hoping that kitchen might pop-up here. I don't think it's in the finished kitchen gallery. Emphasizing the downside of B&W floors is helping our argument here, so I'm gonna need more ammunition on this one. Anyone else got a floor to share????

Oh boy! I feel for Gramma! LOLOL I am sending my best thoughts and many prayers for sweet babies in the future for your sister!

You are a GOOD person. TOO good!!! Let your sister know you love her kids, but YOU haven't invited them to come and stay with you. Seems to me that if your niece doesn't want to stay at the ranch with Grandpa maybe she would prefer to stay home? I'm wondering just where this little 'vacation' idea came from in the first place. Are you sure it was Grandma's idea? Maybe her son's? Or your sister's?