Thank you Florence, that was my hope - to encourage other newbies to give roses a try (I mean especially OGRs, climbers and shrub types). For me they are the easiest, most generous plants and anyone can substantially improve almost any area with a few well-chosen specimens. Eric, there are a lot of stone houses around here, mostly farmhouses, but many have been covered in stucco or render, whatever it's called. The stone looks charming to me but the new houses tend to be built out of bricks and mortar with stucco on top, certainly more practical! Oath, there are many venerable OGRs growing in old gardens, sometimes right on the pavement in back lanes and such. They are often unkempt, which is a shame. Unfortunately, the modern trend in gardens is lawns with a few boring shrubs and perhaps some HTs lining driveways like soldiers!!! On the plus side, we have access to some great European hybridizers. Many wine growers make interesting use of roses by planting a single rose bush at the end of each row of vines. As roses and vines are subject to the same diseases, examining the rose tips them off to potentially damaging conditions for the vines! Mkrkmr (Michael, yes?), my favourite companions so far are lavender (the dwarf cultivar Hidcote), Nepeta (catmint), hardy geraniums (Johnson's Blue) and sage of which there are so many kinds. I have Russian sage (Perowskia), Mexican sage (Salvia Patens) and Salvia Officinalis. I also like annual Lobelia. I think companions are a personal choice, trial and error and whatever works for you! Jane, you are a sweetie! You know these aren't my best pictures, I was limited in having to use similar angles and ... no luscious closeups ... but I have those, too!!! So, for those of you who like pretty pictures, here is Albertine: MayBee

Thank you for the kind comments. Williamsem, we really went back and forth over the paint color and after a week, we ended up picking white over a pale blue or gray paint color. It's such a small space and the way the ceiling is (not in the pictures) that part of the ceiling has to be the same color - there is no hard stop on the start of the ceiling in the front portion of this little bathroom. I second guess the white paint sometimes, so it's nice to hear your comments. This post was edited by belasea on Sun, Jan 27, 13 at 7:46

Did you do an amazing job! I thought, "eh" at the before photo, then got past it's appearance and looked at its "bones". "Potential," I mused. Then... What a GREAT color choice and beautiful job. I know I'd be thrilled at how it came out. I hope you are! Christine (Who killing time, letting the stripper do its job on a door.)

Thank you so much for all the comments! Here are some close up shots... Spice cabinet (1 of 2) I cook... A LOT... so these are GREAT! I don't have to get on a step ladder anymore to reach them lol! These pulls were what I had in our old house and I LOVED them so I wanted to find them again for this house. I was able to score these on Ebay for $2 each. White glass subway tile and the cabinets are by Shenandoah in Maple Linen, all wood construction The granite is Alaska White. We went to four different granite yard at the advice of our fabricator. By reading this forum I found that you should never rely on those little pieces of granite at the big box stores! I am so grateful for that information. We never would have found this granite. It was love at first sight! The floor is Tuan AKA Malaccan Cherry from a local flooring store.