@apple_pie_order We will likely do the laundry room/guest bathroom renovation before we do the blue bathroom for my mother. That way, when we do start working on Mom's bathroom, there will be one she can use. I need to clean up my room. It's got too much junk in the way for her to easily get to the bathroom. My brother using my bathroom is short-term, but I eventually want to add some shelves, possibly cabinets, etc for more storage. I want to have storage for toilet paper, wet wipes, tissues, etc. It's so nice to be able to take a shower whenever I want instead of having to drive over to my friend's house and hope no one is doing laundry or having people wanting to come in to use the bathroom while I'm showering (friend only has the one bathroom). I made a To Do list for the bathroom (in no particular order) Remove tools & junk-- find storage for them Clean up floor & counter Install robe hook Move or trim peg on board with pegs that interfere with door Fix cut joist under the tub Cut access panel under tub from closet Change out overflow & drain for tub Replace faucet & lavatory drain Replace S-trap with either in-wall vent stack or AAV Open up wall behind toilet to examine any pipes (possibly merge tub vent) Sand & paint vanity Install new hinges & pulls on vanity + magnets to help doors stay shut Sand & paint dresser Install new knobs on dresser Sand & paint door Put mirror on door Sand & paint rough wood trim all around room (door, window, ceiling, etc) Replace trim on vanity with pvc cove moulding Install beadboard, chair rail, and baseboards Replace triple toggle switch with new 20Amp triple rocker switch Replace old GFCI with new Add light switch next to GFCI for vanity light Install vanity light Install light over shower Install bracket to hold mop and broom Build new mirror frame & install new mirror above vanity Figure out some storage for bath slippers It seems like a long list, but hopefully it won't be so bad. I'm thinking shelves or cabinets over the laundry cart will help. I might make cabinets though. It can start as shelves and I can add wood to make them in to cabinets. I was going to raise the toilet up with a platform, but it seems to be ok for now. I might add a small grab bar later on to help me get up if I start to have problems.

Tally - good that you are making some headway. We went to Galveston this past week and this was our observations: It looked like 'big businesses' had bought out small businesses or residences to get into Galveston. We were a little saddened that mom and pop places might suffer. Guido's (our favorite) was wonderful, but only 1/2 of it is open. We saw what you meant about the west half getting the goods. We were surprised about the build-up on on the west end of the island, and equally surprised about the shape of some of the buildings/residences that sorely need restoring. I was wondering about the Flagship. Glad to hear something will be happening with it. We stayed at the (newly re-opened) Tremont, and walked along the Strand. Really enjoyed it. Also enjoyed Murdock's along the seawall. We realized just how important that seawall still is. I don't understand why New Orleans doesn't do something like this. It made a big impression on us how much of the city it saved after we went across to Boliver - total destruction. We drove all the way to High Island in amazement at how badly Boliver was hit. So sad. We talked to a few of the employees at the hotel and restaurants. Most seemed to have moved there recently. I'm sure the entire island got a lot of residential turnover. Tally - I'm glad you stayed and are rebuilding. Galveston is still a beautiful place to visit, and I'm sure to live. In time, I'm sure it will be restored to all its glory.

Surfer, I've lived in Tornado Alley most of my life. The bomb shelter is the first place everyone should go in a tornado. I remember growing up, I went to a very old school that was built in the early 1900's. The basement had been turned into a fall-out shelter in the '50's, and if there was ever threat of tornadoes, the entire school would end up in the basement. Underground is best, and like TS says, away from all glass. The main bathroom in my house wouldn't be a good choice, (even when there was a tub) because there's a window nearby. We do, however, have a very small bathroom in the middle of the house with no windows, and if I didn't have time to make it to the basement, that's where I would go. If you're at home, pick a closet on an interior wall, closest to the middle of your home. You want to be surrounded by walls and no windows, on a ground floor if there's no basement. My mom would always stuff that particular closet with her extra pillows and bedding for some extra cushion around her. She was horribly afraid of tornadoes, yet lived in a house without a basement. It certainly kept that closet clutter to a bare minimum! Can you prepare for a tornado? Not really, regarding supplies. The best thing you can do is prepare a place to go, or know where the basements are around you. If you need to head there, grab a cell phone and hunker down. I think you were extremely lucky to have survived being picked up in your car. F5 tornadoes like the one in Greensburg, KS are rare, but being prepared and going underground is the only thing that kept that town alive.

funky - I totally agree with the practicality of the extra sink, water by the cooktop, the baking area and as a beverage center for parties. Ranges, I don't like them much. The simple freestanding ones are out of the question, spills run down the side into the netherworld between cabinet and stove...yak, shudder! The slide-ins don't create that type of mess and cost less at the outset than built ins, but if either the cooktop or the oven stops working, both need to be replaced, not much of a savings there. We currently have a GE top of the line slide in range in which the oven racks keep falling off the guides as (can anyone even believe this?) the oven walls have started to bow out. So much for "American made" and "top of the line" in today's appliances. Also, we're aiming to achieve a minimalist scandinavian look, and ranges, even the slide-in ones just have so much bulk to them. As to occasionally bending down, it's probably good for us, and just doesn't bother me. I'd say the bending when filling and emptying the dishwasher is much more of an issue, as we do that repeatedly each day and often for a prolonged time. If my DW would butt up to tall cabinetry in my kitchen plan, I'd elevate the DW center to counter height, the way Europeans build theirs right into their cabs, now that would really make a nice difference. benje - I've seen that kitchen, it's very cool looking. An open galley like that is what my dream home would have, so practical and no corners. And yes, it would look and work fabulous in our family room. But, he problem is, the family room would not look good in the old kitchen space, for one the space is just too small. Secondly, the almost wall to wall and floor to ceiling window and sliding door in the current family room are what make sitting there and gazing into the backyard ideal. We also enjoy these views from our kitchen, as we can see through the family room into the backyard. The reverse would not be the case, the kitchen cabinetry would block the view from people who are sitting on low couches. In the current kitchen, the window sills are at ca. 37" and cannot be changed (beneath two of them sits our tall AC). anyway there is no view out the side yard, and we will not add a "picture window" to the front of our house. So, no, I don't think we would ever use this space as a family room. Nice try though benje - thank you.