Update on the smellyness (smelliness?): The smell from the bin really reduced once I shifted over to using a shredded leaves/shredded paper towel combo. I think it was the cardboard. However, when digging through the bin the other day, I went all the way to the bottom, just to see what was happening down there. A STRONG stinky smell began to permeate my garage, and I noticed water flowing INTO the inner bin from the outer bin. (I have an OSCR JR setup). "That's curious" I think. I pick up the inner bin and am overwhelmed with the stink of (I suppose) anaerobic bacteria working away in the base of my bin. I quickly replace the inner bin to block the stench, and flee from the garage, fearing for my olfactory senses. I later drilled a (small) hole in the base of the outer bin, and a stream of leachate SHOT out of the bin. The stream continued at a healthy clip for about 5 minutes, and eventually slowed to a dribble. I have now stuck an aquarium hose through the hole, pumping air into the base. Although only a small amount of leachate continues to seep through the hole, the smell is horrendous. I have learned several things from this. First, leachate smells REALLY, REALLY bad. Second, the OSCR Jr design needs to be modified with the Wal-Mart bins I am using. Third, I need to check the outer bin more often.

Lindy...I LOVE when your house photos get bumped. They're some of my favorites! I feel like I'm trying to build the lower income version of your home!!! I've given up my pedastal tub and a couple of other things just to have Brazilian Teak floors...and your travertine bath is gorgeous! Granted, I did love those things before I saw your home...but seeing them in such a beautiful setting made me NEED them even more! What did you use for your shower in the gorgeous travertine bathroom? I ordered a bunch of walnut travertine in a versailles pattern and I'm wondering if it can be used on the shower walls? I can't picture it--or picture what to use in it's place that would flow with the travertine on the floor.

Wow, thanks for sharing your experience, guys. It sounds like you've both had good experiences doing things in pretty different ways. Thanks for the detailed suggestions, pressurepros. I've gone to your site and read up on the RAD system. It sounds impressive, and I'm thinkin about using it. The cedar is already bought and paid for, so I may be stuck with the non-kiln-dried variety from the big-box store. I've made some calls, though, and may be able to trade for KD stuff if it will make a difference. It sounds like gorillabuilder doesn't think it will. What's the advantage you see in it? Thanks for the pointer to the forestry guide, gorrillabuilder. Actually, I love hearing about the science behind what I'm doing. Today I read most of chapter 15 on finishes. You pros probably know most of this stuff already, but it was educational for me. If any other novices are reading this with similar questions, you can find the guide online at http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/fplgtr113.htm Some of the stuff I took away from the guide was, You want a finish that is going to repel water, but also allow vapor to pass in and out because, (a) water vapor is going to get in, it's just a question of how quickly, and (b) when water does get in (either as vapor or liquid), you want it to leave; you don't want your coating to hold it in the wood. A finish that puts a thick film on your deck (eg. paint) will keep out vapor the best. If you cover all surfaces. And only until it cracks. Then, it's going to cause the most water to be retained in the wood. These sort of supported what I think pressurepros has been saying here for awhile - you don't want to finish the wood in a way that's going to trap water inside. However, the guide also said "The paint film inhibits drying, as shown. This retardation of drying can have a drastic effect on the durability of painted wood fully exposed to the weather. The moisture content of the wood can approach the range where decay fungi can become active. This type of wood paint failure usually occurs on painted fences and porch railings that are fully exposed to the weather (Fig. 1510). Applying a water-repellent preservative or priming the end grain of wood used in these applications inhibits the absorption of water at the end grain and thus works in concert with the coating to keep the wood dry. For a coating to be effective in minimizing moisture content changes in the wood, it must be applied to all surfaces, particularly the end grain. The end grain of wood absorbs moisture much faster than does the face grain, and finishes generally fail in the end grain first (Fig. 1511). Coatings with good moisture-excluding effectiveness that are applied to only one side of the wood will cause unequal sorption of moisture, increasing the likelihood that the wood will cup (warp). When finishing siding, it is important to allow the back side of the wood to dry, particularly if it is finished with paint with high moisture-excluding effectiveness. Applying a water-repellent preservative or primer to the end grain and back of siding (see section on back-priming) prior to installing the siding improves resistance to water yet allows the siding to dry. Cupping can be minimized by using vertical-grain lumber and by minimizing the aspect ratio." What I take away from this chapter is that applying a vapor barrier (eg. paint) to all 6 sides will do exactly what pressurepro is warning against. However, since a water-repellent preservative is not a vapor barrier, applying it to all 6 sides shouldn't have that affect, but should in fact be beneficial. At worst, it sounds like a waste of preservative. If we're all still around in a few years, I'll report back and let everyone know how it worked out. Gorillabuilder, how do you apply the sealer to your deck? Did you brush and flip, or dip the boards? I'm taking to heart the suggestions you guys made to weather the wood a little onsite before installing it. I'm a little nervous, though, because I've had one unfinished board sitting at the site for a few weeks (I had used it as a sample to get a feel for spacing), and it is now *really* warped. If I lay the new boards flat across the joists, though, and don't leave them out in the elements for weeks, maybe they'll hold up better. No one seemed keen on the deck clips, so it looks like I'm stuck with deck screws through the surface. That may have saved me a couple hundred bucks, but it'll expose my imperfectly-aligned and spaced joists. So, my revised plan would be, 1. Bring the wood to the site, lay it across the joists 2. clean it right away w/the RAD system or Cabots cleaner/brightener (no sanding!) 3. Let it weather for 3 days 4. Stain all 6 sides with a "paraffinic oil based, trans oxide pigmented, semi transparent penetrating sealer" 5. Let the stained wood dry for 2 days (again, across the joists) 6. Install it (the old fashioned way, not with clips) Thanks for sharing your time and experience, guys. David

Personally, I find that extra oven space is more important than extra burners. It took a while to learn this skill, but I now use my ovens much more frequently and it saves a lot of work. I rarely if ever run out of burners, and we only have four of them. I do use all three ovens for big meals, though. So, that's my answer for whether you need a six burner range. As for the griddle, I'm torn. I sometimes cook in a kitchen that has an overlay griddle. It's really fun to use, but cleanup is a little more work. Also, a 12" griddle is really small and doesn't do as much as you need. On the other hand, we have GrillGrates™ for our outdoor gas BBQ, and let me tell you, it's amazing. Best money I have spent in a while. They flip over and become a giant flat top, and that's so nice to work on. Also, cleanup is much easier than for an indoor kitchen. I know I didn't really answer your question. But maybe this is some food for thought on what you can do to optimize your kitchen for your needs.