Thank you everyone to your input... I was cracking up about the feet of the claw tub! I don't like them either, but it was the only pic I could find that showed a tub with the black on the outside...LOL! I think you are correct in that the granite top that I love is too busy for the other...so I do need to pick one. Monica, I like your glass tile of blue and green and I have even thought about doing that. I put together the story board to give me an idea of how my ideas look together...I am now rethinking the ZEN look...I really do lean towards black vs beige..and I do like the stark contrast of white and black...so perhaps ZEN isn't the look I should go for. I didn't think about this, but someone mentioned about all the grout lines that would be needed to clean with the pebble rock, so I am really thinking about that now...I hate cleaning, and am afraid that they wouldn't get the amount of cleaning needed...Anyone have any experiance with this? I will keep updates, but I am now leaning towards white subway tile (because I really like them)or white tile of some sort with some glass tile in as accents...for the tub alcove and shower..perhaps I will do the pebble rock on the floor. Seems lots of people use it on just the floor but not sure why. Any ideas on a black/white bathroom with blue accents to make it cozy and not cold I am open to ideas and don't mind getting them! I am trying to prevent mistakes:) Its better to figure out what will or will not work now, vs after it is bought and installed.

Georgeous, and if you can afford them you don't have to worry about cooking LOL - you dine out. I have a frosted glass table in my kitchen for over 11 years that I sometimes do prep work on and I have no problems so I would think it would be fine as a countertop material. If you use cutting boards and set hot pans down on trivets, what is the difference? The cost is, well astronomical. Sky

Sorry everyone - didn't explain myself very well. The opening we are talking about is a former window to the outside that has been enclosed when a former porch was enclosed and our office was added to that exterior space. So the only real option is to re-open that old window above what will likely be over the sink in our relocated kitchen. That potential opening looks directly into our home office where I regularly work from home, so I do not want it to be a real opening or an opening that provides for a clear view. Maybe the best option is to just put in a high transom where some light gets in but no one can see through. Any other ideas?

Hey painterman~ you can sneak in wherever you want. ha Sorry, I've kinda been MIA cause of a bunch of family stuff I've got going on on top of my usual busy schedule. I haven't been painting as long or as much as you have so everything I've done except some earlier things I painted and gave away as gifts is over on the Gallery section. If you go down to the bottom of the gallery page there are about 9 pages of pics. Luvs and I kept ourselves busy taking pics of our old stuff when the board was almost dead. She may have a few surprises she's held out, but that's the extent of my painting so far. I know, pathetic. But if you have a comment on anything you can go ahead and post and it will just bump it up to the top and we'll be happy to rehash the old stuff with you and maybe get a new view of things. ha You should try to show DDad how to spice things up this Christmas since you are there with him. If you pop over to the Holiday forum you are sure to find pics of houses decorated up for the season for ideas. We decorate our whole house with garland and lights. It's so festive and I love to sit at night in the glow of the twinkly lights. It's such a warm feeling especially since it's usually nothing but the cold white stuff outside at that time. I try to come up with a new ornament to add to the tree decorations every year. I'm always baking during the holidays too so always something good to nibble on put on a few extra pounds with so I always have to double my exercise resolutions come January! I'm a little nervous about the glass light thing just because I'm basically a shy person and HATE to be the center of attention. So having to teach the class is not my thing, but I'll get thru it somehow I hope. When you are part of a group, even a church group, you are usually expected to participate so it's just my turn I guess. As long as they don't expect me to do it a bunch. ha Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm off to check out Steves new pics. ~Anj