Proudmama: Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for in a light maple. Puppy farms? Egads, just another category of purchases to feel guilty about.... I can't buy anything from China without a twinge of guilt either.... Ellen: Thanks for the insight into Amish business practices. I'm glad they've found a way to survive and still hold their belief system together. I admire those people for their lifestyle and discipline. Thanks again for all of the replies!

If that chair was in my Maine CL, I'd have already picked it up! But I would NOT paint it white. Think of it as the color of sand in your beach room. Not everything needs to be painted. That's a vintage chair and should be admired just as it is.

sus I didn't read the above responses - so pardon in advance if this is redundant. If you are definitely going to be there for 7yrs, you decide how you would like your home to be during that time. Do pros/cons of relocating - then move on. If you leave laundry there - think vertical! Yes, look into stacking units make sure you have all the space & clearances necessary to do so - ck and double check, it's not just the dimensions of the machines but the duct work for dryer, hook ups for washer - & enough height in the area I would consider making or purchasing a nice panel drapery there that can easily be pulled aside to do laundry - **Do I see pocket doors? closed up when complete. Also, vertical on shelves storage - creative ways of making that little space more efficient - how often do you iron? do you have another spot to dash the board. I would only have what is absolutely daily use in that area. If you leave the laundry there - I don't think you really have space for mud area - other than putting in some hooks to hang a jacket or 2 - scroll down look at tiny laundry room transformation http://realsouthernliving.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html http://www.remodelaholic.com/2010/08/laundry-room-design-with-craft-room-all.html Link below to images Here is a link that might be useful: laundry areas

Who wouldn't want a shiny sparkly "move-in-ready" house in a great neighborhood? But you stated the problem -- finding it at the right price. If money were no object, we could all find the perfect house for us that didn't need modifications, or just have it built for us. For the average person, that's not reality, we have to settle for what's available within our price range and often have to make compromises. Should we buy the house with the poopy kitchen and outdated bathrooms in the upscale neighborhood that we can afford, buy the house with the gorgeous updated kitchen and shiny sparkly everything else that's too expensive but who cares we'll figure it out when we're one paycheck away from bankruptcy, or buy the decent functional moderately-priced smaller starter home that will do in the meantime as we save for our financial future and we'll someday make it to the chi-chi neighborhood and go all-out with that house? We each have to make our own decisions. I am one who can (and did) live with an ugly kitchen but won't compromise on other things.