Don't ask him on the phone have him come out and look. If all the parts are gone from the installation maybe he needs to take the faucet out to inspect what is there and if the gasket isn't there the company should be able to send you a new one. I have had this problem with my plumber who is a local guy, a great guy, a competent guy in so many ways. But he assumes he knows how to install all things, and doesn't. I don't think he likes to read to be honest. I live in a very small community and relationships are important within this context. So I hover and read the instructions for him. When he didn't put the silicone (at my protest) in the drain and overflow as directed by the Kohler instructions, he was back in a few days putting the silcone in, as the overflow was leaking like a sive after I did a test run of the tub. The lucky thing was that it was over the crawl space and it made no difference to the leak as it is a dirt floor and will dry. I learned. I did put my foot down when he wanted to trim up my handgrohe rough-in, to take the long plastic "plaster guards" off. I read the instructions and said "they stay...yes, they stay... yes but, they stay". He followed the instructions. I am very happy with so many aspects of this guy, but I have to watch for things with the faucet installations. He can put the copper in and it is beautiful. I love instructions and follow them to a "T". He can do great with things he's familier with. But he needs monitoring and I don't mind because I really like participating, and he tolerates me. He has a very direct wife and 5 girls, all adults, so he is used to women helping him out:) This post was edited by enduring on Thu, Apr 11, 13 at 8:25

I read a design book about this topic recently (I don't remember the name). It was about the psychology of design and contained no photos. It said that there are two competing desires in our genes. One is for expansive spaces reflecting our need to explore and roam. The second is for smaller spaces reflecting the caves and protections our ancestors craved. The perfect space combines both. For example, our living room has 8-foot ceilings and isn't too large, but all the windows have expansive views down the valley. You get the feeling of space, but are in a protective environment. We have lived in all sorts of houses-- a 1927 Tudor, a 1990 cookie-cutter vaulted builder special, townhouses, apartments, a 1885 Victorian with 14-foot ceilings--but this modest 1970s ranch with three quirky add-ons is our favorite. No one else has one like it, people comment on how warm it is, and nothing beats an amazing view. Our Victoria house was stunning but always cold.

OK...where to start, where to start? Budget! For sure! 1. LL (the warning is in the NAME = Liquidators) has very low quality stuff for very cheap. The 7" wide plank *SHOULD cost you $9 - $12/sf from a quality manufacturer. Your $4.49/sf is WAY too low for this product. 2. The LOOK of wide plank is not appropriate for the era of your condo. The 40's and 50's normally show narrow or strip hardwood between 2.5" - 3.25" wide planks. They were often Maple or a form of oak...it depends on your location. 3. The EXTRA COST of installing a wide plank product is going to be an issue. You MUST use full glue spread to install these beasts. They have plenty of movement even when using an engineered product. 4. The 'lumber core' just means LL can switch manufacturers OR the manufacturer can switch out the centre without having to rewrite their web page. THIS IS WHERE they cut corners. They switch out products/manufacturers ALL THE TIME. 5. The thickness of this plank (9/16") is pretty thin. That is a snick more than 1/2". The wear layer is 3mm (1/8") which means the REST of the plank is ONLY 1/2". That doesn't leave a lot of room for structural stability. There just isn't enough room. 6. The CORE is most likely a generic 'wood' sourced from endangered areas of Eurasia. The Siberian Tiger Habitat is under SEVERE pressure due massive clear cutting that is illegal (even in Russia! I know! Imagine!). But the fact it is in SIBERIA there are VERY FEW wild life rangers in the Province (like 12 in an area the size of Spain and France put together). That means there is NO regulation. 7. The wood is often soft wood lumber and is of little value (other than to the protected species who live there) and are sold for pennies per linear foot (you wanted to know where LL cuts corners...this is one place). 8. The Brazilian Oak is about as hard as red oak. No gain or advantage there (for the homeowner). It is STUPID cheap because of all the clear cutting happening in the Amazon Basin (remember that issue from the 1990's...it's still happening!). Again this is a wood that is sold for very little money. 9. South America exports their hardwoods en masse to China. The HUNDREDS of Chinese companies then use the wood as a cheap source of income....like selling cr@p to the USA... It's your call. I wouldn't touch this with a 10ft pole. If $4.49/sf is your limit, go with 3" narrow planks and be done with it.

I'm another who has quite a collection of pillow covers. I like to change out some of my pillows a couple times a year. I have bought on Etsy and have been pleased. I refuse to buy a pillow that is not backed in same fabric (other than tapestry/rug/rug, etc.). I have yet to deal with an Etsy seller that won't accommodate me. There is generally an upcharge. I also have an upholstery guy who is WONDERFUL. An older man, retired, who has a small upholstery shop at his home. He has done a couple of pieces of furniture for me and when I asked him about pillows, he said $16 for a 20x20, corded and zipper, cover. Holy cow! I like choosing my own fabrics. However, in my area, we have very few fabric shops anymore, even in the big cities near me. There are lots of on-line fabric shops and so that leads to another rabbit hole, LOL. I keep an envelope of fabric samples I have ordered.