It's almost 12 noon here. The satellite images show that we may be getting the very early edges of the outer bands of Hanna. There is more light breeze, a few sprinkles and clouds. But at the rate she's moving, I don't look for much more for about 24-36 hours. These things are known for surprises. Let's hope she doesn't pull off a big one. Yes, she is a ho-hum storm so far. But the local TV weathernerds are still all worked up into a tissy about her. If Ike were to come this way, they would probably swoon away with excitement. I wish they would learn the difference between "might", "slight chance", "possibility" and "Run for the hills, we are going to be swept out to sea." I know that it's better to be safe than sorry, but after a while, human nature takes over and people stop listening.

Thank you for uploading the Gardner plan. This is the first time I actually used the upload function and I was unsure about actually uploading more than one photo. But, in any case I like the crazy roof line of the Architectural Designs plan and dislike the repetitive peaky lines of the Birchwood. The windows could be changed. The AD house windows have what looks like lines going around the perimeter. The Birchwood is just rectangular grids. There are a couple of front elevations shown in photos of the Birchwood and I did see some discussion on this website about the Birchwood from a couple of years ago, but no one has posted photos of their project. I would love to see how someone has recently personalized this plan.

I pick most of my roses at Edwards Greenhouse here locally. They offer 100s of roses, and I did pick my Memorial Day out early just like fragrancenutter. Because our winter is going on when the roses first become available, we pick and pay ahead of time and receive a 10% discount if we do this before March 31. Then Edward's pampers your roses in a special greenhouse until the time you choose to take them home. Only the "chosen" roses are in this greenhouse. The head of roses and perennials will order special roses for you, too, which I have done several times. This woman is a force of nature, growing hundreds of peonies and clematis at her home for Edwards, as well as running a massive perennial and rose department. I am lucky, I guess. And rose prices, especially for the five gallon Austin's, are quite reasonable. I still managed to pick a dud Memorial Day! Or maybe I am a dud grower of Memorial Day. I think how that rose turned out was a combination of factors. I certainly don't blame Edward's. I have had duds from Palatine and other rose sellers, too. It's all sort of a gamble. It's interesting, though, that a number of my "duds" never lasted long in commerce, either. Anyone remember Kordes' Party Dress? Diane

Love all the feedback! So again, thanks all and if you're so inclined, keep it coming. These suggestions really help me hone in on the direction to take. Ingrid, I do like the coffee tables in those pictures and am wondering if a glass and metal or an acrylic with wood is the way to go. Certainly addresses the issue of too much visual weight bunched together. But then I also wonder if once we better utilize the space and buy the right AND right size rug, maybe a substantial coffee table will work. There are no walls separating rooms in the front of our home (living room, dining room and kitchen) and the LR/DR is about 40" long and 18" wide but one of the two sofas will stay positioned for TV viewing. However, I can certainly see adding a great modern chair and moving the sofa down to enlarge the room. I'm envisioning either a large rectangular abstract behind the sofa or the two large papyrus pieces I referenced in the link above. I agree, I don't see a white rug in this room and really appreciate the input about dimensions of rug border to wood floor. If you're able, I'd love to see some examples of warm transitional rugs you feel would work. And thanks again for all your time and thoughtful remarks! Kendra, Yes, my husband does like to the look I'm going for and he's always been extremely pleased with the finished product of my decorating efforts but I think, like many men, when they enter a store, they feel compelled to make a purchase - not just look. He was drawn to this coffee table immediately and I broke my own rule by reluctantly saying okay on the spot - which is so not my M.O. I typically take time to assess whether we need the piece and whether the piece will work in our space as well as to consider alternative pieces - and this is especially so on high ticket items.H Interestingly, you and Hollybar both had the presence of mind to ask why he liked the coffee table and now I know exactly what he liked about this piece... while he likes the distressed, reclaimed wood and the heft, the large turned legs are what really attracted him. Ladies, your question made me realize that years ago he pushed for a sofa table with the same large turned legs and quasi-country styling. I'd completely forgotten about that until prompted by you Kendra and Hollybar. So thanks for your thought-provoking remarks and questions! In the future I'll be wary of turned leg furniture! That said, if there's a way to make this coffee table work - I'd be open to it but feel this is something I'd rather leave to a good interior design pro because on my own, I just can't see it. AND BIG THANKS for the tips about online resources for coffee tables - those are 3 I wasn't familiar with and they have some really interesting pieces! I'm also giving serious thought to making the room more architecturally interesting and resurfacing the fireplace is definitely among considerations. Again, want to run these by a pro but adding some modern glam would be a welcome relief. And as you say, Hollywood glam/glitz is not what I'm pursuing. My desired look is not quite eclectic but rather what I'd call edgy transitional. And YES MJLB, working with gray really threw me for a loop - in a way I'd never expected. If our sofas were in taupe or camel brown or something in that color wave that looks so pretty with warm off-whites, I'd be so much more at ease. But then of course, the art makes me crazy as do the lack of architectural detail and minimal natural light - and probably especially so since because our last place - that I am so obviously still mourning -- was a loft with walls of floor to to 14" ceiling windows, exposed ducts and beams. So yes, adding some architectural texture will probably make me very happy. While the coffee table in the 2nd photo is gorgeous, I think it could look matchy-matchy with the two gold tree trunk side tables I have at the outside arms of each sofa. The 3rd one appears to have some red in it and I just don't see red in this room. But as I mentioned earlier, that first room - Oo-La-La! So interesting and chic, yet looks comfy and welcoming. Havingfun- Thanks for the tip about 1/3 books, space and sculptural objects. That's really helpful! I'll try to add more photos of my space at different angles. The right side of the room is a sliding glass door that leads to a balcony and a tall, narrow rectangular window. In the corner my husband put a 4' statuary marble column (on it's way elsewhere) but, it really needs to simply be a white space. There's a French gilt demilune console table at the other side and then next to that the fireplace... too much visual noise to add anything else. Not crazy about the rugs or pillow tho' - just not my aesthetic and for me, I think the browns are to dark for the sofas. But can't say enough about how much I appreciate all the options you've presented. It helps me narrow down what direction I want to go.