sigh..I am a moron ! I was answering the question on Master bedroom and bath colors...posted it as a new thread . I apologized on her thread and then forgot to do the same on this one...I need to stay off the computer I guess. The colors are all from different sources: master bedroom upper and the foyer ( I thought the foyer was different but it isn't just the lighting makes it look different) is an American Tradition custom color and I could send you the formula. It is mixed in Base 2. The lower part of the wall is a Martin Senour paint: Tarragon in a deep base. The bathroom is also American Traditions Lancaster Peach and the ceiling is Honeysuckle. Sorry to be so confusing. If you are interested in swatches of the terra cotta colors ellen I would be glad to send them to you. c

My DH & I don't have any biological kids of our own, I have my kids (17, 18, & 21 next week) and his DD lives with us, she's 8. But, I relate to the different expectations because at times, it's hard for me to be as tough with my kids because I haven't always been tough with them. (Especially the oldest) I was probably the toughest on my youngest, mainly because I had them when I was (too) young & didn't fully understand the importance of consistency. So, my kids grew up with more relaxed rules and I should have been more consistent with the rules. Over the years, I've gotten better about it and that's why I think my youngest is the more responsible one of the group. Then, along comes my DH with his 8 year old (5 at the time) and he had a very rigid schedule for her. He was very consistent, to a fault. So, together he's relaxed a little but we both have higher expectations from his DD because it's easier to teach them right first, than try to change their bad habits. With my kids, I've also been more consistent and have gotten some results but I'm sure my DH can relate to how you feel. He gets very frustrated and wants me to be tougher on them. It can be hard because when they are small and you get used to doing things one way, it becomes a habit. and even if it's a bad habit, it's hard to change. With your child together, you have developed your own habits and ways of doing things with her, including higher expectations (that he may have from you being his partner, that he didn't have with his ex & the older kids). A little bit sounds like he might feel guilty toward the older kids and let them get away with more. (I know I've felt that way too) I'm not sure I'd let a 12-13 year old move my car. I don't know if I have "advice" to give. I think DH needs to see that he's not helping his kids grow into responsible adults if he doesn't teach them boundaries. If his kids live with you full time, there should be "house rules" (even if it's only weekends, but it's more effective with full time kids) My DH and I took a parenting class for step families and while it dealt with the dynamics of step families, it also talked a lot about behavior of our own children and it made it easier to see what we were doing wrong with our own kids (He was being to strict, I was being too lenient)

Are you literally doing the painting? Or would you be ordering cabinets in those colors? I ask because if you are painting them yourself, you can always wait till after the fact, right? And paint them once they are up and you have a complete "visual" of what everything looks like. I think your color idea sounds gorgeous... I'm just not sure about what happens at the corner of the "L" configuration, either. Is there some way you can do a Photoshop of it? It would hopefully at least give you a good idea? Or, low tech it by painting a piece of poster board in the pale blue-green color and taping it over the end cabinet that would be that color? I do stuff like that all the time and it really helps me get a visual. One other suggestion, maybe you could do your upper cabinets one color and your lower cabinets the other color? We KNOW that works! ;o) Can't wait to hear (and SEE!) what you decide! Lynn

I don't think there is anything wrong with fake dormers if it fits in a particular situation. To say that only attributes which are functional should be added to a house is absurd - and I doubt there is a single participant on these threads who doesn't have interior trim or other things which serve little to no functional purpose. Eh, thing is, the trend today seems to be, "A fancy house with lots of gee-gaws is a nicer, more impressive house -- no matter if they serve a purpose or not!" With that statement, I do not agree.