Quit listening to your Mother and MIL :) My mother thinks what I do is goofy quite often, but she's sweet enough to say she likes it anyhoo. But she and I often do not agree about decor stuff and if it's my house, I get my way, her house, her way. I value her input, but it's just input and fits the way she lives, but not always the way I live. I do put mirrors by doors, but not all doors (I have nine LOL so I have different things at each). For the ones the family uses when going out I do have mirrors. For the others, art typically. In my townhouse I have trim in self contained rooms that does not match the room next to it, but when I do this I make sure that there is something else that unifies the rooms, be it wall color (subtle differences but same tone) or window trim etc. In that house the kitchen has crown and toe molding that matches the cabinets because it blends in better than a change of molding, but the window frames are painted to match the other windows in the house. The same for my son's bathroom and my master bath, which have crown that matches the cabinets and windows that match the rest of the house. In those rooms the baseboards are stone. Sounds like a lot of different stuff but it all flows quite well. It's kind of builder basic to have it all exactly the same (IMO). If you look at good decor mags, notice that the trims in one room are often different than the others. I personally prefer to paint trim when it makes sense (especially newer stuff that isn't high quality wood) and also leave the gorgeous stuff stained if that makes sense. I will come back and post a pic later, but I have one room with white trim and a dark door (wild cherry 100 years old so it's pretty dark) and it looks terrible together so think about that when considering painting doors. On the other hand, a light wood door as someone mentioned above would flow really well with white trim. In that room I'm going to be lazy and paint the trim navy blue so that it's dark against the dark doors and when DS is older I'll strip the wood because it is great wood. I just don't want to do it now while he's a small child (fumes) and it's the quicker fix. This is historic wood so it's worth making it all wood again. You see that in many historic places by the way. The wood on the main floor is often quite nice quality and then on the family floors and servants floors you'll see it painted because they spent their money on the floors for "show". As to that cabinet. In my case, the cabinet in my dining room flows into the wood wainscoting so I'd not paint it and leave the wood unpainted or visa versa. But in some places it's a good option. Honestly if you post a pic here you'll get a few opinions, maybe something you haven't even though about :) I'm a confident decorator, but I absolutely love to post a room and pick the brains of the wonderful people here. They often come up with something I wouldn't have thought of or they'll agree with my idea or disagree, but they're always honest and give a range of opinions which helps me think about a direction to go. So post away :) We love to play in other people's houses LOL By the way, I'd consider not doing stark white for your trim if you want to leave the doors...a lighter cream like ralph lauren's startched apron or writers parchment, will flow better with your unpainted trim. (Both read white, one has a slightly pink tone and the other slightly yellow tone so you would use the one that makes sense with your carpets etc).

Why Uniforms should be banned Why? Why should we the children of Calderstone (or any other school) endure this torment! For doing nothing but just practicing our constitutional rights as a citizen or our independence as people. Is our error that we wish to communicate our selves through our outfits? If uniforms are going to be placed then you are removing our free will of expression. I demand a stop I will give three logical justifications on why we shouldnt have uniforms. The foremost reason concentration within the classroom, the second reason the cost of placing this/purchasing this "so-called helpful rule", to finish I would want to state the behavior inside the school as well as outside. Firstly I would want to clearly state my first reason which is concentration within the classrooms. How does concentration increase due to wearing a school uniform compared to a normal outfit? There is no research testifying in favor of higher levels of concentration but there was a research conducted by David.L from the University of Alabama which was a experiment of concretion and the relationship of clothing the result of the experiment was a fail that uniform didnt raise concentration or raise academic levels. Research aside many Principles of schools assume wearing a uniform increase concentration because a child doesnt have to worry what to wear etc. This is bunch of rubbish, children focus better in a comfortable environment and also a comfortable outfit which they will have a decision too. In addition concentration is a choice of a person its a persons own will to concentrate and focus clothes dont make decision people do. It is already hard to for a child to keep his concentration does wearing uniform have a special power that makes kids in to obedient robot? Lastly I would want to say uniforms will only make a child more aggravated and really getting them mad to due the fact of wearing the same thing every day. Secondly I would like to discuss about the money wasted on something so useless. From a finical point of view the argument in favor of having school uniform doesnt make sense either. Believe it or not to make a custom made uniforms cost a lot of money due to the fact that they are produce in limited numbers and that they are made by polycotton and not by cotton. Also many parents are saying that because their childs school has uniform they dont need to buy as much clothes. Well they are wrong because not only does the parent have to purchase the school uniform for winter, summer, and sports but has to buy other clothes for social gathering and going to the mall etc. So you are spending more money rather than saving it! Plus school also tries to make a profit out of the sale it creates. So therefore from a consumers point of view it a huge loss. Lastly I would want to state that the behavior issue with some people say has been resolved with uniforms. Many teachers as well parents say that bulling issues have been solved well they are wrong like I stated in my first paragraph clothes do not control what a person does it is the person own will to decide what to do. In addition many school have uniform to stop kid from showing gang colors or any other misconduct well I would like to say again they are fully wrong it is proven that kid are more often to join a gang due to represent a school, or a city they are from. Furthermore to my argument kids will try to rebel against this act and will try rebel until they get it their way. I can agree if a stranger were to come in the school you can easily tell if he was a stranger because he isnt wearing a uniform. But with all the staff and janitors in the school dont they need to wear a uniform too. It really seems unfair that the staff doesnt have a uniform and we do. I would like to conclude that have a school with uniform would have huge disadvantages. If you want all kids to have the same clothes why dont you make our hair color the same to. They way I would descirbe a school uniform is a disciplinary fashion. Thank you for you time on reading my essay im only 13 and i strongly disagree on uniforms.

I am definitely in favour of school uniforms for the following reasons: 1) It creates a sense of belonging for the school pupils 2) The poor children will blend in with the rich children, instead of standing out and being mercilessly teased and bullied. Those who has expressed such concern about the child's individuality are obviously talking from the view point of those who can afford it. The poster who thought it was great that a child had the freedom to choose to wear black all year probably doesn't know what it is like for the poor child who might only have one outfit to wear all year. That child may be one of those mercilessly bullied. In my home country, public (government) have uniforms and the private schools might not have uniforms. This makes far more sense than the North American approach of public schools not having uniforms but private schools having uniforms. Public schools are more likely to have a greater mix of children from different socio-economic groups, than private schools. We were normally able to buy second-hand uniforms, either through the school or by checking in the local newspaper. The newspaper/s would have a special section especially for uniforms where people could list which school's uniforms they had available. We were also not allowed to plaster our faces with make up, nor wear jewelery. I don't agree with young girls plastering their faces with make up, just to go to school. Those who are so concerned about expressing their individuality have plenty of opportunity to do so in their after school clothes. Typically the friends children hang out with after school will be of a similar socio-economic group. So the rich girls can hang out at the malls or where ever, free to express their individuality there. The poorer children that hang out together will understand that their friends can't afford the latest fashions etc.

I work for a consulting firm. The "home office" in DC is very business-like, and I wear pants suits when I have to visit. But, our office is a smaller satellite. My usual "outfit" is a silk knit (Jones New York) t-shirt (in a variety of colors), slacks (black, brown, grey, navy, or khaki), and a long (below the hip length) sweater, usually Eileen Fisher (there is an outlet in our state) or a similar style. Everyone once in awhile I'll find a patterned top that looks nice. Shoes are usually low lace ups (I have an arthritic knee) in black or brown. Ecco and Munro have some nice models. I just wore a pair of Ecco oxfords for a week on vacation in Europe, very comfortable. The Cobb Hill brand (from New Balance) also has very comfortable flats (Mary Janes, ballet, fisherman, etc.).