Here's another one, but I think would I like the first one I posted. PRETZEL- TOFFEE CHIP BROWNIES www.RecipeGirl.com ½ cup butter (1 stick) Two 1oz. squares unsweetened chocolate 1 cup granulated sugar ¾ cup flour 2 large egg, well beaten 8 ounce bag toffee chips 11.5 ounce bag Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips 1 cup broken up stick pretzels 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line half-sheet pan (or square pan) with foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray. 2. Melt butter and chocolate in a small saucepan. Transfer to a bowl. Add sugar, flour, and eggs and whisk together. Add chocolate chips, toffee bits, and pretzels. 3. Pour mixture into prepared pan and spread evenly (batter will be thick and chunky). Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until brownies appear firm and done. Yield: 2 dozen brownies Recipe Source: Adapted from San Diego County Fair 2007 Cookbook Cooking Tips *A half-sheet pan will give you thinner brownies. A square pan will result in a taller brownie.

Okay, I've been ruminating and have sort of decided to do a combination of things you've suggested. Once the brown has cured, I'm going to try to repaint the light stripes the darker off-white of the living room. Then (if it still needs tweaking) add the extra stripes dlm2000 suggested to make it look more modern. I'm just going to do this on the one long wall. As pesky says above, it really does look good on this wall, it just seems to fight with the architecture on the other walls. Going to paint the door wall solid in the dark brown. Will probably do the window/mirror wall solid in the lighter colour. A wash may still done, but I really have faux related prejudices and may not be able to work thru those - even for a better result ;-) Probably won't get done for a bit, but I will post as it progresses.

@ Lizzie; I appreciate you mentioned tax rates. We are in the lowest rate area... in our area anyway (we are a nest of several cities called Hampton Roads). Anyway, it does make more money sense from that standpoint to stay here. So many factors are going into it. I decided on several things which I'll mention in a moment. Hope you like where you moved! @ Helena; SOOOO sorry this happened to you! Timing is everything in real estate for sure. A lot of people got swept up into that market time because they were continually talking about now is the time to buy, they were building more and more and stocks were all around and it was on the financial channels to invest.... and then BOOM. It literally was overnight it all collapsed. We were fortunate to have bought our home just at the beginning of it all, literally on the edge. A couple months later, prices rose and kept rising.. You lost a LOT and I feel sad for you. I hope you are recovering. We did lose half our retirement at that time because they told everyone invest in tech and stock funds in your 401k; yeah right.... To save money on this addition, I am going to do some painting (not all but some), seal the concrete in the storage room, supply the cabinet hardware (have a ton of new ones left over from the kitchen and love them), I'll supply the sconces, bathroom vanities, door hardware, I'm trying to get them to reuse windows (but one contractor said can't do that cause of code); I am directing them where to buy the French doors (I want the ones at Lowes not the expensive ones they want), and I'll be making the closet organizers and buying stock cabinets for the laundry room (they'll be soft closing and wood, but I've worked out the dimensions to get all common sizes-custom is just sizing). I'm also thinking about making my own mudroom coat rack/bench. I'll be making an ironing board hanger thingy and I'll be making robe hook bar for the bathroom. I'm pretty crafty. I'm a REALLY great shopper too. If there is a bargain out there, I will find it. I bought a 700 dollar sink for 320,,,,I will call across the country to see if they have one of something left if I have to. I got a 400 dollar faucet for 120 (yes, everything new in box)! I look daily and stockpile things if I have to. I had glassware, a toaster, can opener, towels and coffee pot stuffed under the beds till my kitchen was done. LOL I heard Lumber Liqudators is moving here and nearest one will be 90 miles away then, so I'm gonna go down and get my 12' counter probably soon and just put it in the garage conversion room we did for a few months! It will save me about 267 dollars doing that in shipping alone. More if they have stuff in store before they move (sale!). Certain things I'll spend a ton on. Towels, bedding etc. I love comfort and quality. But I refuse to buy something for a name. ;) I hope this thread is still here when this is done. i'll learn how to post photos.

If you want them to appear to really be structural, the spacing should be something in the order of 6'-8' on center. Placing one in each corner of the exterior of the house is a dead give away that they are fake. If it was my house I'd make the corbels match the other trim.