That's an awful lot of different questions in one post. Some, such as landscaping a privacy fence belong in a different post in a different forum. You "want low maintenance, weedwacker free edges". Use roundup to kill weeds or else don't plant grass on the edges. For "design rules" go to the library and get some books on stone, they have many with useful photos for inspiration and how to. One of my favorites is: Art & Craft of Stonework by David Reed. good luck

Thanks... the Loxon's only been on since this week and I'll be top-coating tomorrow if I can make a choice on the paint! I read some bad reviews of SW Resilience on line, so I guess I'm now choosing between BM Aura and BM Regal Select... It's a $200 difference. Client will pay the difference but it's my reputation and I'll need to convince them its worth it. They're both mixed on the Gennix system, but I guess the Aura has a better technology in the base that makes it stand up to repeated power washings, etc better. Which sounds good if its true... but is it worth it?

The lonnnnnng wait for your table is a little bit of a deal breaker-- but not completely. I am still all over the place with the pieces I like-- some have french lines (but the more simple french style) and well-- I love the samurai line too. How funny is that-- going with asian style from a french company??? I also love the secretary desk but I suspect it is going to be so far out of budget that I will have to wait. Yes, the chest that didn't fit upstairs is the one I am going to test the waters on returning. I do love it but it just doesn't work for me on the first floor. I could move it to the dining room but it will be the same there-- too big and not functional. It was $1400 so that's like a whole chair in the budget. I can definitely fill in and find other stuff at furniture store #1. They don't carry bad manufacturers-- just not the ones that are wowing me. They carry Bernhardt, Hickory White, Leathercraft (and a couple of other mid to high range leather companies), Lexington, Hammary. I have found some occasional tables and even some artwork I like there. I still may end up getting the HW buffet-- because of the credit. If I must, I don't think it would be horrible. It is very nice also and I'd select a custom finish. Funny, last night I had one of my inspiration photos up-- and it was so comforting to me. The chairs are so much less expensive than I have been looking at and I keep wondering if I shouldn't go that direction and dump my money into really nice casegoods. Wouldn't that be funny though, PB rattan chairs with a leather sofa and pricey buffets and secretaries. But that's me-- I am currently wearing a tshirt and $800 bracelet. hahah just seems to suit me. Wow.. I typed a whole bunch. Sorry to drag you down my rabbit hole of decor chaos... but you really inspired me and brought back my spark with the FH. Tonight is my niece's birthday-- we were going to show Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (in advance of the new one coming out next week) but she changed her mind and we'll watch Martian Child. She said "Aunt Beth, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie and I want everyone else to see it so that they don't always think of themselves." awww ha.. this is pretty funny coming from a little princess with a fairly priviledged life but I love the outlook on life that she is developing. It's a John Cusack film. If you haven't seen it, it is quirky but very sweet. In two weeks we'll do Nim's Island another movie she loved. It will be our big end of the summer party with light up leis and tiki glasses filled with mocktails and fruit kabobs. Last year we did a dress up Grease party with burgers and fries and ice cream sodas. The backyard theater was really a great splurge-- the kids LOVE it and it gives them something to do that is relatively inexpensive and entertains the young kids and the teens (not to mention the adults). I have a blow up 9 x 12 screen and a projector-- and of course the professional popcorn popper. That's pretty much all you need. OK.. I am sitting here chatting away and I need to get shopping, wrapping, cleaning and baking. (Showered and dressed would be good too ha!) Thanks for indulging me if you made it this far ;)

Murpharoo, I feel your pain! Just went through a similar experience. The patch to correct method made our problem worse. We had a new hardwood floor installed in the kitchen and had the rest of the floors sanded and stained. The quality was poor. The floor guy agreed and tried to resolve the issue by sanding a few of the boards then rebuffing and putting a coat of water based poly over oil based. He said it was a top of the line water based poly and could be done. It ended up looking bad & could see slight peeling. In retrospect we should have had him resand it all the first time. Good luck.