I hope this tape outline will make it eaiser to "see" what I'm trying to do. I so appreciate all the ideas and am considering all of them. ColorCrazy - the tables' manufacture (in the USA!) said the leaves must be stored flat. That was no problem in the old house. Here's it's been a major issue. CamLan - I'm making my first visit to an Ikea (in Minneapolis) this Saturday. It's a five-hour drive but I'm looking forward to it. Here's the south wall taped off to show the closet shelf placements and window seat area. The table is pulled out as though it's placed in front of the window seat. I have two small chairs to place at the table, too. The bookcase, of course, will go away; I've already begun emptying it.

Fill and sand any damaged or rough areas. Then give them a cleaning with ammonia and water. Then prime with Zinsser B-I-N. It looks like milk, goes on thin, dries very quickly, and makes the new paint adhere excellently. It will give you a smooth surface to paint to. You use ammonia to clean the brush after priming. I have also found that ammonia is great for cleaning latex paint from the brushes, etc. DP

If you want stunning Oils, check out FPE paints. I've used some...not on my home, but fortunate enough to have sampled some of their line. Used the Eurolux Interior Matte in my bathroom. It's some truly amazing stuff. Cheap...No. Your best choice...Yes. (If you want another 20yr. paint-job that is!) Faron

When they say don't "cheap out" LISTEN!! Take my advice, I learned the hard way. You can a) paint one coat of cheap-y paint, and then re-paint it year after year, and re-scrape, and get a sunburn and waste weeks on end, or.... b) pay the money up front, and do it right. Expensive lesson, especially when you are painting a huge garage. DON'T use those vinyl spackling buckets that cost 2.79. Get good exterior caulking, whichever one costs the MOST is probably the best one. Be patient, just let it dry all the way. Scrape off EVERY peel, no matter how long it takes. If it's REAL bad? Get the spray on stuff, and get every last bit off. That's what I wish I'd done. And I did scrape to bare wood, but used crummy spackle and crummy paint, and one coat. Saving $50 on paint and materials is now probably going to cost me 16 hours time, and over $150 to fix. If I could afford it, I would spend $2500 to side the thing and never do this again. Spend the money up front, take your time. A GOOD paint job will last 10-20 years. Mine lasted 16 months, and looks worse than when I started. And I had professional help. Who told me to buy the good stuff, and I ignored him, thinking how smart I was. And don't try to paint outside when it's 80 degrees. ACHHHHHGGG!