I always get a sense benches, such as those pictured, are really just another piece of "garden art". To be looked at - maybe to set down a flat of plants while digging holes; lean a spade against; to sit on briefly surveying one's little realm once the bird droppings are daubed off... but not for hunkering down with a good book and beverage of choice.

I am trying to convince my DH to try the drysink in the corner, but he is sure it is to large for the area. I even printed the photos shown and cut the drysink section and placed it behind the table (which would need to be turned) and it did not look right. The board can be taken out of the table since it is only the two of us, to give even more space. I will keep working on it. He is very tired of the small redo. We have been waiting for a wall unit to house the microwave, which will include a pantry and broom closet since before Christmas. He has painted the walls and baseboard twice, and he doesn't like to paint, but he does a great job. When I get home from work I will show you a valance I now have above the sink. It is a cutwork white that I really like. Does the kitchen window/sink area, and the dining are drapes/curtains need to be the same fabric? Thank you all. jejvtr - for the websites. I will check them out tonight. I am at work and just did a quick check on the HD Forum. We originally had it caddycornered in its current position, but neither of us liked it, but I liked it about as much as I like it now. sheilaaus - I agree that the greens/blues are a little off after living with them longer. I really like the first fabric, too - the cream, orange, rust etc. andee - if I can move the drysink, the wall now behind it would be a great place for the 'twins'. Otherwise I am out of wall space. Jane PS: One piece of advice I would seriously consider giving is to find drapes/curtains you fall in love with and then find the paint for the walls. Paint can be easily changed, but finding the right fabric/drapes has become a nightmare to match the color we chose.

My first reaction was #4 but then I read down most of the comments and no one had said 4 so I went back to the rugs and chose a different one. Then I read the last post and 4 was mentioned SO I really like #4 and my second choice would be #3. By the way you chose really pretty rugs!

Brutuses, I'll try to answer this as an interested consumer. I am by no means a scientist, and I can't vouch for the veracity of the tests/reports quoted in the articles I've read and linked to. If you google this, you can find a lot of alarmist type reports, which I tried to sort through and not include here. I am a fan of natural and organic, just because it makes sense. I don't want to unnecessarily alarm anyone with this info, and urge you all to do your own research on this topic. Basically, the chemical that kept stains from adhering which was used in Scotchguard in until several years ago was found to contaminate human blood and wildlife. Over 90% of the population in the late'90's had the chemical in their blood (also used in Teflon, etc). Testing revealed it to be lethal in high doses to animals, however Scotchguard, Teflon, etc used much smaller doses. The new formula does not contain those chemicals, though it has been criticized for not working as well. Furthermore, the company hadn't revealed the test results for the current chemicals, though they will say that these new chemicals do not stay in the body as long as the old ones and that the new chemicals are safe. There is some uproar over why these chemicals do not have to be proven safe before they are used and just who is responsible, if anyone, for monitoring companies like the makers of Scotchguard. The EPA concluded around 2000 (? not sure of date) the chemical was toxic and was linked to birth defects. It is no longer used in Scotchguard. These chemicals are in carpet, clothes, etc and have entered the food chain to the point of being found in baby eagle's blood (who have never left the nest, thereby leading researchers to conclude that the chemical has entered the food chain). They are not sure yet HOW these chemicals enter our bloodstreams (water, air, etc). Given this info, I'm not sure how much impact it has to choose to not use these items in our homes. Clearly, there is so much we do not have control over and therefore can't impact through our choices. But for me, it makes sense to opt out of stain/water/oil repellants whenever possible. links: http://www.enviroblog.org/2007/06/ask_ewg_why_is_there_teflon_in.htm http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/2005/02/toxictraces/ http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/02/22_edgerlym_3mscience/ http://www.ewg.org/reports/pfcworld/ http://www.protectingourhealth.org/press/2003/2003-0622-SJMN-scotchgard.htm Here is a link that might be useful: stain/water etc replellants