So, if I understand correctly, you have HW, sticky stuff, carpet; and these are the options after taking off the carpet: 1. Put new carpet down 2. Scrape whatever it is off and refinish the old HW floor 3. Remove old HW floor and site install new HW What would be the impact and the cost for each option if it were asbestos/if it were not? For instance, 1. if you knew it were asbestos, would you put a carpet on top of it? Or would you want to remove the asbestos? 2. How much work would it be to remove the stuff, sand, refinish the old HW, even if it were not asbestos? If it were asbestos? 3. If it were asbestos, could the old HW floor be easily removed without disturbing the asbestos? If yes, I'd probably do that. Basically, if you don't mind living with asbestos but are worried about liability if it were asbestos and don't plan to remedy it, the way to go would be to just put new carpet on top and never remove it --- unless option 3 would work. I personally would do a test and then figure out what to do. In terms of logistics, the guys in our house did the whole 500 sqft in two days. I was amazed how little dust and smell there was. Here is a link that might be useful: asbestos test kit with lab fee

Have you chosen your stair railing yet? wood balusters? wrought iron? cables? stainless? What about the finish on the track hardware for the barn door - black or stainless? Those decisions may affect whether to lean toward traditional or contemporary for the chandelier. After choosing a stainless steel stair railing, I selected the Moooi Heracleum II LED fixture for my foyer and a Minka Aire pancake ceiling fan in brushed nickel for the living room. Here are some other fixtures I considered: The next two chandeliers have an industrial / contemporary look. The square shapes would match with your upper windows.

My last post on the counter tops in this thread. http://www.countrymouldings.com/butcher-block-and-plank-countertops/prefinished-plank-style-countertops/ Also, I wonder whether one can use tongue and groove floor boards. I once made a large platform bed out of tongue and groove floor boards (basically like a big drawer). Very easy with minimal tools.

NSM, very well. I painted it five years ago. It cost me $100 to do the entire thing. Beats the thousands pros charge! and it was easy, so long as you follow the instructions to the letter. I'll probably put another coat on in the fall or next year, if I feel like it. I changed the hardware, and the new hardware is a different sizes, so a bit of the old green is sticking out from the tap. And there are two teeny chips on the floor, nothing you really notice, but I want to keep it up since I rent my house out. If you do it, let it fully cure, and then some, before using it. It'll hold up very well if you do. I'll go take a pic of it, NSM.