Thanks Walkin'! I figure since I can't paint or do woodworking (though I can finish wood) or anything else, I can frost cakes. Best of all, if it doesn't turn out right, nobody really cares as long as it *tastes* good LOL! Happy Birthday to DS! Sweeby, i can't believe that was you first mosaic project! Couldn't start with something small and flat like a table, LOL? I would *never* attempt something like that - but it looks beautiful. Now you have to do another one to match, right?? I can't say what my favorite "project" in this thread is - everything is so creative and I can't see any flaws in execution either. A very talented bunch of people here! And such beautiful homes! Bonniee - I have to get some help from you when I finally put up my 95" long panels in my LR and DR - don't know if I can fold (unlined) thicker drapes over like you did? And the toile valance from JCP is on its way, will have to see how that is supposed to hang, and then how to modify it if I want to hang it on knobs or hooks to get your (bathroom pic) look. Been putting more poly on kitchen window today, skimmed another coat of compound in the FR corner I'm trying to build out, and poly'd the oak "sidesplashes" for my island (different type, water-based brush-on rather than oil-based wipeon used on window). Soon will be time to sand those and put on another coat, then finish filling the office window frame with spray foam insulation, then I'm done for today! Tomorrow will be the oak shoe I'm putting to hide gap b/t counter and wall - then my kitchen will pretty much be *done* (except for installing these, and finishing and installing the crown that my cousin started on Sunday, oh, and pulling up and resetting the loose tile, and putting in the little bit of baseboard and the toekick, and oh, cutting, finishing, and installing casings around the 5 doors/doorways - oh well, maybe it'll be a while before it's done. But the cabinets, countertops, and window will look good!). I have to get mulch down and cut off the dead daffodils b4 I take a pic of the stone wall.

Annie, In pic 77 (I think you're referring to the one with a tall red sculpture to the left) the tile on the fireplace is reflecting all the light from the doorway I was standing in. The red sculpture is sitting on a stand on the other side of the fireplace and that is a glass doorway to another room on the other side of a hallway. When I zoomed in on my pic I can see a person standing there reading the booklet. Many rooms had so much natural light it was difficult to take pics, yet many of the bathrooms were so dark I couldn't get a good shot with the flash. One other feature I forgot to mention..... most of the living rooms had a wall of folding glass doors that opened to a furnished deck or patio. All very lovely. Here's a closeup of the girls room. Those look to be rhinestone discs and they've also placed them in each tufting on the headboard. gscience, I loved most of the bathrooms but getting full shots of showers was very difficult, so I just focused on the tile work! :)

not necessarily in order: chrome purple - deep or pale green - perky or olive bright white trim and wts tile done in a pattern drawers in base cabs vintage/retro lighting vintage mirrors antiques, esp strays crystal high ceilings natural light (skylights, solatube, eyebrow window, etc..) family pictures nature photography functional but pretty items good closets/storage ceiling fans (as many as possible) landscaping that produces edible things our Roomba home cooked meals from scratch main level laundry room kids' artwork soft floors in kitchen

First we have to figure out which door. I think I don't like Pal's for this exercise because they have a less pronounced grain than most of the golden oak I've seen. I'm thinking along the lines of LWO's 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 or 11, or the one I posted. The grain is too fine on Pal's, the color isn't yellow/orange enough on LWO's 1, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 13. Twelve is so ratty it's impossible to believe anyone would keep them (maybe they could be painted). Speaking of which, is the rule going to be no painting? I think it should be. What about staining? I've been thinking of the exercise as how to work with the color as-is. What's the consensus?