I use the mat as a weed barrier for my newly rooted outside cuttings. And last winter used 3 of the metal supports that are shaped like a U on each end, with one in the middle of a small raised bed to support plastic for tenting over new seedlings. I had to use some short pieces of rebar hammered into the ground to help hold it up and worked great. With the metal U's hollow they just slide right over the rebar. trudyjean

We live on a clay hill, and I had almost given up on planting anything until I got daylilies. I have one raised bed formed with landscape timbers 53' long, and the daylilies in that bed are doing great. You do have to water them more often in the hot summer months than if they are in the ground. I use soaker hoses (covered with mulch) in that bed. The bed is high enough so that I can sit on the edge and keep it weeded and groomed easily. I just poke my finger in the soil, and if it is dry, then I turn on the hoses. Not one of the plants has had rust, which is unusual for southeast Texas. Now that we are currently struggling with black gumbo soil to prepare a large bed for my dl seedlings, I am all for raised beds in the future. I read an interesting post in Accessible Gardens by "Anerobic" where beds were created by forming a cylinder of turkey wire (4' height), piled up with leaves, and topped with top soil. After it settles to 3', he cuts the wire off at the top, making it accessible for handicapped gardeners. It's a very interesting post, and I'm thinking seriously about doing something similar from now on. I'm not sure about the wire, but I have acres of leaves to rake every fall. I plan to pile them up along the fence, top them with soil, and when the bed settles, am going to plant some DLs there to see how they do. A word of caution: if you use landscape timbers, concrete blocks, or whatever, be sure you bury the first course lower than the grass. Otherwise, the grass will slip under the edge and grow up into the bed. I had to learn that the hard way! BTW, a daylily grower told me that Hi-Yield Grass Killer, combined with the spreader/sticker oil, is safe to use around and over daylilies to kill unwanted grass. It won't affect nut grass, however. (The Grass Killer is very pricey - about $40-$50 a pint!) We just sprayed it around our field bed this week for the first time, but have been too busy to evaluate the results yet. They also make Killzall (sp?) - but it is NOT safe around plants. We only used it for killing the grass in our new bed. Nancy

I like the kitchen -- you must love to cook! The ss appliances pics I assume are the ones going in the kitchen. Where is the stove and vent going? on the island or back wall. What is the island used for--eating? cooking (if stove is there), prepping? schoolwork (kids) will it have barstools? pot rack above it? just asking cuz the pendants you're hanging over the island are gorgeous and will be THE focus of the kitchen when looking into it at first glance. (LOVE them) so where is this other lamp going ?? like 10' back towards the family room (behind the picture taker? just my $.02---- in one long room like that, the light fixtures are a major focal point and you put different types/eras/etc sooooooo opposites.. YIKES. no one will notice anything in the rooms. Stay away from that glass bulb chandelier - clear glass = bright lights in eyes (plus it is a center point ) and the other chandelier --noooooooo so wrong era, will fight the kitchen ones.

Thanks @deegw, you hit the mark! I think the rug will provide balance but will not compromise the space of entry way. Also just for clarification, although on the photo the door looks like it will hit the mirror as it swings open, it doesn’t. Also the height of the door is 8ft, the light fixture is way off from the door . Thank you so much for all your great ideas, specially to deegw, your suggestion will ultimately solve my dilemma 🥰