My interior used to be 'casual farmhouse' style, but since the 2 yo grandson came to stay, it might best be described as 'baby clutter'. It's slowly evolving to 'toddler clutter' which I'm sure will eventually descend into 'little boy camp style' followed by 'teenager'. Just as when my own children were still at home, my life revolves around the child in the house and that childs needs, this little guy is the cream in my coffee. The garden style used to be 'tidy farmhouse cottage' but in the past 9 months it has become 'benign neglect.' It still has many beautiful flowers and good structure as a result of 10 years of hard work and careful tending to beds and walkways. But the walkways are still full of last years leaves, the spring bulbs are pushing up through last years dead foliage and ground covers are leaping over edgings and scampering across pathways with joyful abandon. DH and I do very well sharing responsibilities in caring for the little darling-and he is definitely a high-maintenance little dude. I think he could disassemble the lawn mower or climb up onto the roof if we didn't watch him every minute. But that extra duty has cut all of our outdoor time in half. The one sanctuary that I have is my little greenhouse. It's 10'x12' of quiet solitude for me and I actually get to go out there about 4-5 times a week. I can only go out there after DH gets home cause if I take the little darling he wants to swim in the galvanized tub that's currently full of slime and goldfish. The fish will be going back out to their pond this weekend and I will be able to use the slimey water to nourish my plants. then I'll just have to find a tall and strong enough barrier to keep the LD out of the pond. When my three daughters were small I could tell them one time to not do something and they wouldn't do it. Not this guy, telling him not to do something is all the inspiration he needs to set his mind to do it. But hey, he's two, he's a handful, he's delightful and wonderful. I wouldn't want him any other way. Cheryl

Monochromatic would bore me to tears, but very talented...love the ones with color- the still life, and the victorian lady SG are nice...and that's such a neat screen! Would love to have something like that on my (non-existent) porch, but too much wind. Thanks for this morning's inspiration!

Cook1, you've put so much into this, and I really don't want to mess you up further, but my goodness, why do you envisage an important room like the family room as empty before long? Aren't you going to use it as a couple? Why not? Too big? Too far from the street? You just love the living room in the middle too much to sit anywhere else?? You've been cramming everything up front, trying to deal with a fairly tight space, and coming up with actually a nice kitchen within your current space, even though it meant not expanding the entry. And yet, maybe I'm taking it wrong, but it sounds like you have tons of space in a room you apparently expect to go to waste, except for holidays or something, before long. It's spacious. Windows on two sides looking into the rear yard. Access to the patio and outside. Prize real estate. Can you put this valuable square footage to use for you guys or maybe just plan on moving somewhere more suitable eventually? Off the wall as it sounds, have you played with the idea of putting the kitchen back in part of that room? Maybe right by the living room and opening to a sunroom at the back? A door from the back of the garage would lead right to it. BTW, although I agree with your contractor generally speaking about the desirability of getting opening the front up a bit, I like the plan you decided on a lot better. :)

Nancy, I am sorry about your Gentle Shepherd. I have had that one forever and always think how "sweet" it looks when it blooms. Hopefully you can revive yours. Orange Velvet is also an oldie but has always been so reliable and a bloom machine. And yes, Maryl, I too blame Debra for tempting us with A Little Fire Scarecrow!! Celeste, I have often wondered how Yazoo Elsie Hintson performs in northern gardens. Adding one I meant to add but forgot. This is Easter Holiday. Late blooming. Blooms are larger than registered (for me, anyway). Petals are off due to heavy wind we got from the tropical depression. But it is tall and pretty!! At least, for those of us who like the yellows!! KateYou can tell it needs dividing-not as many scapes as usual, although there are two others lying on the ground on the ground on the other side-still way down from last year.