Excellent choice. This thing colors in the Fall like few others. It is outstanding.

Hi Greenhouse, I am answering for Dusty... I have alternated three different things on all of our plants this year: Bonnie Herb & Vegetable plant food (8-4-4), Heptune's Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer (2-3-1), and Great Big Plants Liquid Compost. I have also used an epsom salt solution a few times. I don't know if one is best or if the combo is working since this is our first year growing in containers. Feel free to check out the rest of our pictures and you be the judge. It is starting to become more of a challenge now that it is so hot and humid here. Good luck with yours. Ken Here is a link that might be useful: Our pool patio garden

We are just wrapping up our kitchen reno. Backsplash left to install and we are done. Well, I think so..Are we ever really done? The backsplash is ordered and hopefully will be installed next week. Pics will be posted then. Here's the background.....our house is a 1970's ranch which was built for us in the late 70's. Now I can say good grief...what does a couple in their 20's know about having a house built. Everything was builder's grade because that was what we could afford. Bare basics. Over the years, every room was remodeled, basement reno done (not basementy--all dry wall and carpeting, built ins etc) leaving the kitchen for last knowing it would be the most expensive. Going forward, we are empty nesters. We are both still working but soon to retire. We set our budget at $50,000 but did go over that by about $5-10,000 I think. I haven't counted the beans yet. Funding came from savings. We do not have a mortgage. There were things I would not compromise on...the GC was first and foremost. He was just the best..excellent work and super to work with. The cabinets were another area. I have solid maple cabinets with dovetail and soft touch drawers. Mostly drawers on the lowers. The cabinets with doors all have pullouts. The perimeters are white, the island is a stain with glaze. These priced out at around $13,000. Not top of the line but very nice and we are happy with them. Quartz and butcherblock countertops were around $4,500 Hardwood floor and installation for kitchen, dining, foyer, hallway and stairs to lower level-- $7,000 Electrician and plumber--I think around $9,000. There was relocating of water lines, extending and relocating heating/air ducts for addition, up the amps for the bigger range, some unexpecteds. Building materials around $8,000 Labor for GC around $9,000 Appliances around $5,000. All appliances were bought at Sears..DH is retired Sears employee with lifetime employee discount. I waited until there was the extra family and friends discount night + employee discount + discount for putting on sears credit card. They were also on sale when I bought them. I bought all upper end--Kenmore pro dual fuel range, large french door refrigerator, top dishwasher and Sharp microwave drawer. Incidentals I haven't even added up yet...lighting fixtures, faucets, cabinet hardware, window treatments etc. All part of the big picture. Keep in mind that this was a complete gut down to the studs and we did have a small addition to the dining area--about 8x10. The only DIY we did was taking out the cupboards, taking up the vinyl flooring, removing moldings and painting. DH travels a lot so DIY in the construction etc was not an option. My advice would be to expect the unexpected because it will happen. These things can bust a budget big time. Don't settle for what you really don't want but keep reality in check. It's exciting to find that great light fixture or cabinet hardware on ebay or the tile from someone on craigslist. A lot of the fun is in the hunt. I came upon GW when we were well into our reno and wished I had found it sooner. There I things I would change of course. There are great people here with a wealth of information and oh so willing to offer great advice and share all the ups and downs of planning and executing amazing kitchens. Oh yes--I just remembered. We still have to put stone on the front of the house where the addition is. More $ that wasn't budgeted for. And so it goes....... Good luck as the journey begins.

Feathers, I love her style, although it is so different from my own! We have neutral, light colors mostly in our home. I love her black fireplace - did you see it??? (ps go through her feed - maybe saved in her stories, but see how she did those nightstands!) I love real wood also - actually most anything wood in our home is antique, and I love that patina. HOWEVER, in our own bedroom I felt like we had too many wood pieces (besides a metal headboard), so the chests on either side of the bed are painted (off-white). I like the occasional piece of painted furniture added in. Too, although the wood pieces in our bedroom are not from a set - I hate "matchy-matchy" and felt we needed something to break it up. I think a painted bed could do the trick. And now that I keep seeing that bed, it's making me consider it again!