lol... i often don't proofread/edit here... but, think i usually can get my point across! i don't worry about those who choose to 'grade' out of habit or for their own amusement!! we've all probably seen the forwarded emails that are written with the majority of the words misspelled and the email can still be easily read because our brains read it correctly anyway! it does usually surprise me when i find errors in books, newspapers, magazines, etc where people who are hired specifically to edit miss the errors- but we're all human i guess... and, we all have a certain price we're willing to pay- one of our local papers seems to have fairly regular errors-oh well! i still choose to subscribe!

chocolatebunny, I think that we can get caught up in the manias of the day, in our case, the photos in mags and online that show these terrifically exciting (and expensive?) tile backsplashes. If it's any consolation, tile in the middle class and working class kitchen between countertop and upper cupboards is a rather new phenonmenon, in the greater scheme of things; for example, my 1970s kitchen had washable faux natural linen vinyl wallpaper which was applied to all exposed walls and which I would gladly reuse if I could. Because of images in mags, etc. I considered a daring red 9-inch square tile 'way back then because it was an intriguing new idea, but I decided against it. Too much money to invest in such an intense commitment to a design style, even for use just behind the range. I was a young schoolteacher in a very ordinary tract house built 20 years earlier--aspiring middle class. Although I still look back with fondness at myself at that time and wax poetic about that red, I made a good decision. My point is that I agree with you. We are pushed about and given guilt for stupid reasons. What's wrong with a quiet, gentle place for us to unwind, cook, and finish our day? As our new kitchen backsplash, we will probably put the same (dealer garage sale) tile we put in our lobby area--I have come to realize that it is roughly the same color combos as our old wallpaper but in a different texture and configuration as the linen pattern. I spent an afternoon in the wallpaper shop and gave up--too expensive! My tile is 13 x 13 and not at all dramatic. Our most creative question is how to line up the tiles--staggered, diamond, big one in center with pieces above and below, or something else. I've looked and looked and lived in this kitchen in my imagination with various backsplash materials including a really dramatic faux red marble tile 2 x 3 with gold glitter in it, but I couldn't commit to them. This one pleases DH and will be very neutral and cozy. I love your phrase "I am looking for some peace in my kitchen." I also like the idea of using real artworks as a foil for the plain backgrounds of a room. Give yourself permission to haul in something dramatic that isn't permanently attached to the wall. You can look away to rest your eyes.

The soul of my kitchen is reflected in my kitchen and it would aptly be named the rainbow! My cabinets are red (rosewood stain), I have orange accents (amber colored lights, persimmon KA, antique orange plates hanging, copper jello molds), my everyday plates are yellow (think Tuscan), my walls are green, I only have a few blue pieces and only one purple, a hand blown glass vase I picked up at a local shop that sits on my windowsill behind my sink. My favorite color is green and I use it throughout my house, it is basically my "base" color and I use other colors to accent it. My homes overall color scheme is green, blue and brown with each room having a different main color, dining room bright turquoise, living room a light brown, front bath a dark blue, master bed a cream tone, master bath a deep bright green. I also must brag on some accomplishments. Despite this apparently being basically the worst 3 months in my family's health, I still have managed to replace the toilet in the front bath and finally get my new closet painted. Next up is to lay the flooring in the closet so I can start constructing my closet system and replacing the sink and counter in the front bath. I will probably paint or refinish the vanity when the counter is off too. It never ends does it?

Love this thread, Ingrid. I hope you are feeling better now. I've always thought your home was lovely (as you know, I think your kitchen is so special!). I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts and feelings. Seeing photos. Lovely homes. I didn't get any sleep last night, so I'm passing out. Now I can nap and have (home) sweet (home) dreams. **Edited to add after my short-lived nap: I feel like our homes have all had a soul of their own. Each house was different, so different souls. Like many of you, I buy things when traveling, love strolling through antique stores, and buy some vintage/antique things online. I've had pretty good luck not having seen things in person. *knock on wood* I am a very visual person, so I tend to decorate/design to please my eye. I don't do it for kudos from anyone (although they are nice!) but so we and our family or friends are comfortable when here. Ingrid, after a Houzz absence and being called out by several members, I recently started a thread in Decorating/Conversation with updates on our new home. If you're interested, click Update On Our Remodel. It's far from finished, but getting there feeds my soul! I have always, and will always, be a house person. Thanks again for starting another interesting thread.