I know this thread is old but I really need to discuss this at the moment (forgive me of the following is long). I moved cross-country a year and a half ago leaving behind my two dogs. 1 is a senior dog who loves with my mother and I and the adjustment would be too much. The second is a 110 pound lab/Shepard that is really my brother's and it wouldn't have for in my new apartment anyway. I have always had a pet. Even in college I had a mouse. I have genetic depression and while I am perfectly normal thanks to my medication, I have found that having something to take care of helps me function above-average as well as keeps me emotionally positive. After settling down in my new home I decided it was a good time to adopt a new dog. I'm 25, financially independent, and able and wiling to care for a dog (I am also certified to groom dogs, know numerous training techniques and own two training books, I volunteer at two local shelters and am this able to recieve discounted training and vaccinations for any pets; I have clipped my own dog's nails for years; know the best toys for a stimulated mind; and have even been asked to show my dogs before at local competitions (I declined); I live a mile from work and I work with only two other people who are fine with me bringing in a pet). And yet, I have been unable to adopt a dog the last year and a half and yesterday was the 6th time I was "burned" by the shelter system. Time number 1: not so much a shelter system as a coworker's dog had a litter of puppies. One was promised to me, pictures were sent, promises and dates for exchanges were made. And then her sister took all the puppies to Portland and sold them for $300 each, including the one that was promised to me because one woman up there wanted a boy and a girl dog. I cried, this was a disapointment. But it was the easiest compared to the following year... Time number 2: a dog I regularly walked at the shelter and I hit it off. I stated formally that I would like to begin the paperwork. The woman who normally runs adoptions was out on vacation so a note was made and I was given the paperwork. Meanwhile, one of the admin workers at the shelter decided that her friend would like the dog. She contacted her friend that day (after my note was made) and discarded my note and set up an adoption on her own citing it as an "emergency exception". Time number 3: I found a dog on petfinder at a shelter in Northern California about four hours away. They have a policy (and this is the humane society) that potential adopters need to fill out an i Irish wave of paperwork, deliver it in person with app family members present. The family must undergo a personally evaluation and spend four separate hours with the dog under the supervision of a pet psychologist. Then a second set of paperwork is filed and the dog is sent home on a temporary basis while the shelter checks in 1-3 times before the dog is officially allowed to be registered and adopted. Obviously, living four hours away this was a bit much. But I contacted the head of the shelter to set up an expedited version. I would undergo my evaluations over video chat, and meet with the dog once for 2 hours before driving it home. I sent in the first paperwork (a lengthy list that asked my marital status, income, smoking and drinking habits, references, two essays, a quiz on my beliefs on various pet-related things, etc). I was told that no one else was in competition for the dog. Until two days later when I was notified that someone local wanted the dog and my paperwork was void. Time number 4: I was fostering a dog I fell in love with and she adored me. However, due to a genetic condition, she needed surgery on her legs and was unable to be adopted until after the 1st of the year. I told all the official channels that I wanted to adopt her. I was told this was great and not an issue. Her surgery was on December 20th. On December 21st the vet that performed her surgery took her home and adopted her. Time number 5: a friend of a friend had a dog he was giving up to the shelter. It was a puppy/Christmas present for his kids that went un-taken care of, unloved after December 25th and left outside 24/7. It was a long-hair chihuaha/Pomeranian. My friend contacted him and while we were fine for him to just give me the dog, his wife wanted is to go through the local shelter system as a way of keeping an official record. Big mistake. Someone got wind that the chi-Pom was coming in and offered to make a $500 donation to the shelter in exchange for the dog. When I went in to pick up the dog an hour after it was dropped off, I was told he was adopted. (I only learned the true story from a friend who volunteers at admin as well as through the shelter e-mails). Time number 6: last week I met with a shelter dog at it's foster home. I fell in love but wanted to make sure he and my roommate got along. I arranged that I would be able to have an overnight stay with the dog (I was also fostering a cat that the shelter wanted to see how it handled other pets). I contacted the shelter Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday to day that I Could pick the dog up on Friday (this just so happened to be the single busy work week I have). On Friday I contacted the foster parent of the dog who informed me that she decided to show the dog to a couple during the week. And that then it was between me and them and the shelter prefers people who don't work to adopt pets (yes, that is literally what they said) so I was not allowed to adopt the dog. (The dog also came from an a used situation like the dog I had at home and thusly I knew how to handle it but apparently that is a moot point when it comes to the fact that I work a 9-5 job). These were just the situations where I thought I had the dog before it was adopted from under me. There is also the shelter in Portland that had a requirement of a 4 hour driving radius. Southern Oregon is 5 hours away, this eliminating people in the shelter's own state. They was the shelter in north Cali that is 45 minutes away with a two hour driving radius who, upon finding out I live in Oregon told me they only adopt to residents of California. There is the shelter near Portland that has a minimum $900 adoption fees for male dogs and $1200 for females. There is the shelter that needs you to have a previous pet or a signed letter from a veterinarian (I believe this shelter is on the Oregon coast). There is the local shelter who turned me down for fostering because I work (again, I live 1 mile from work. I come home at lunch and I can bring the dog to work). And a few other shelter stories from friends that posted on my wall when they heard I was once again denied a dog: The friend who was 24 and had to get motorized permission from her parents to adopt a cat because they only adopt to people over 25. The professor who was denied because he was not married. The friend who brought in a start dog and was denied adopting said dog because she was the one who brought it in and was thus listed as the person who have the dog up. And finally, the family friend that was deemed too old to adopt. Do I think shelters are too strict? Yes. Do I think they drive potential adopters to go to a breeder instead? Absolutely. After being burned six times I realized my only option is to save my money and go to either an out-of-state breeder or an out-of-state pet store. Was this this my first, second or third choice? No. It's my seventh choice, but it is the only choice available to a woman that works.

I wouldn't paint all the same color, I usually go one or two shades lighter. Even if the wall color is so light than lighening it even more makes it look white to you, it still has the same base colors as the walls but there isn't the same stark contrast you'd normally see between a darker wall color and "white". And, don't forget, lighter ceilings supposedly make them recede to the eye. In regards to the moulding, even though the room doesn't have much height, I think using a thin molding will add some interest. Even though the ceilings are 8 ft, we used a 2-3 inch coved moulding in our guest room and it looks great.

Thanks Everyone....think I have found the color...had to choose something that would go in both kitchen and den... Now to get the primer on...ceiling painted and then the walls in both rooms. We are Hoping to get cabinets in by middle or later part of the week....then the granite fella comes to do the template...Somewhere in here the microwave vent is put thru the roof and the ORM put up. Then the floating floors installed hopefully end of week or first of next..depending on when cabinets go in.... Following week...Light fixtures go up..rest of electrical switches, plugs, dimmers etc..... Plus hoping to get under cabinet lights and corner glass cabinets lights in....But first I have to decide What I am going to be able to do concerning those...and what and where to purchase.? I am still clueless and on a strict budget with these. Then the Crown molding will have to be painted and put up in the Den and Hardwood floors installed, also hoping that granite guy gets back either the end of that week or first of next to install granite...I will be so glad when that part of this remodel is over....started out thinking I was going to get one of the newer Formica counter tops and was so pleased when I discovered I was able to fit the Granite into the Budget!! By the way When does the sink install fit into all of this? The the faucets /filtered water faucet, filter, and soap dispenser installed. Also hoping the guy that is doing most of the work along with installing the cabinets can do a little tweaking on one or two of them. I would really like to have the over the Ref cabinet back panel taken out and made to go back to the wall by adding more wood to the base and sides....this will give me so much more room than the shallow cabinet that comes with stock cabinets. OK...I am sure I have missed numerous things that will have to be done...but this schedule is what I am hoping will happen....Do I really think it will?.....No ...But still hoping. I have several other things that I plan to do...like painting the woodwork in not only the kitchen and den but also a hall into the utility room as well as the walls in both. Also once the kitchen and den is back in order which I am sure will take another couple of weeks ...because I have so much that I want to discard and lots of things I boxed up that will have to be gone thru...time consuming for sure. Then will have to paint the glassed in porch/ front entry that will look into the kitchen thru the open window and goes directly into the den.....along with several other things that will be needed to be done out there. So looks like I have a long fall and winter ahead of me...just hoping to get the most of it done before the Holidays...But by the looks of everything in the stores...Christmas is right around the corner!

It IS gorgeous! I looked up questions on the inspiration kitchen and found this about the tile, below. Look at the sink in your inspiration photo, and your overhang looks just like it. Also look at the white sink and compare it to the tiles, and you'll see it's not pure white. January 2, 2016 karebear_0 wrote: Love the backsplash - [Can you tell me where the neutral-toned subway tile backsplash is from? It's beautiful! [(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/love-the-backsplash-dsvw-vd~3588264) Christine Donner Kitchen Design Inc. It's a very beautiful glazed hand-made tile, but no longer manufactured. I would look at a line like Quemere, made in Port Chester NY. Or contact Ken Mason in California. Both these hand made lines have lovely glazes. Good luck.