No, I would not switch out the flooring. The AO tile is not cream, it's a warm white. The difference may be subtle but an offwhite/white color scheme is beautiful if planned from the beginning and is rather difficult to do well and not look like you got a bargain on mix and match fixtures and tile. Go the distance with your original plans and it will all be fine. If anything I might consider going with a different color than ultra-white on the walls. Maybe a soft grey or sage green or aqua or something.

GE is a decent choice HP. I can live with that. Thanks for that suggestion. Segesta - it never even occurred to me to Craigslist the appliances I purchase now, later on. Fantastic idea. At least I'd get something for them down the road. And yes, I do hope that a couple of years from now I'll be able to spring for the better stuff. Part of the problem also is my partner has been out of work for a long time (darn economy) and right now the burden of everything is on me. Once he's back employed, and I get my tax credits from the purchase of the house and things settle down with the renovations I'll have a better idea if I can splurge a little bit. On a bright note - at least he's been available to supervise what's going on during construction :) Right now, saving a few thousand on the appliances, counters, and other items which can be swapped out easily is the extra for the overage on electrical and plumbing. I'm hoping not to cut the cabinetry as that can't be changed as easily.

I started a post, and then hit a key and lost it all. Phooey. First, I'm sorry to hear about your mom. It sounds like your brother and you are at peace with your decision and your loss, which is a great gift, but it sure must be sad sometimes. I'm sorry. My mom and dad came to the same conclusion on the deaths of their last surviving parent. My mom's mom had graduallymoved to ever-smaller, ever-more restrictive quarters, so it was gradual. And my dad's dad tried, honestly he did. And, he moved a few states away to live w/ my aunt, so he and my dad were able to weed out quite a lot. They had the same reaction, and started to just get rid of stuff in their homes. Of course, that's been awhile now..... I think that's a great gift to give your own kids, Marie. I read a post (was it here?) in which a woman said, she'd told her adult DDs that when she passed away, they were free to throw away, give away, whatever, her "treasures" (she had a little box of keepsakes, odd stuff but sentimental to her), and her possessions, because they were intended for HER lifetime, and not beyond. That sounds like a good idea, too--to free your kids et al. of the notion that just because you owned it, they honor you by keeping it. When my DGM died, my aunt sent me some "sentimental" stuff--my mom was hooting. They were just the things she happened to own at that time--they weren't important. Bathroom accessories in a rose theme--well, DGM liked roses, but those were just what they had at JCPenney the last time DGM needed to buy those things. They weren't important! I have a cousin that was thinking of taking the fabric from DGM's stash (she was a big sewer) and making everyone in the family a teddy bear (shiver...). My mom pointed out, gently, that those fabrics didn't MEAN anything emotional to DGM; they were just what she happened to have at the time. Some of them, she may not even have picked out! She sewed for other people, lots of times. Some stuff of hers WAS important to me--I got the cookie jar, which to this day I treasure and which helps me think of her often. That's enough. You may help enough just by keeping your TRULY valuable papers in a really good place, the photos in another good place, and telling your kids they should throw the rest out without even looking at it. It's useful to you, not to them! Steve, I like what you said about "theater of the mind." But sometimes we keep stuff we don't really need to "replay." You can buy NEW magazines (please, buy new magazines, so I can have a job), new books, etc. There's not really a need to keep stuff. But, on to practical matters. That stuff you'd like to pass on? Get one of those accordion folders w/ the dividers (alphabet, or 12 months), and label each for one kid. Then you've got a place to put that stuff. Maybe label one "Understanding Grandma better" and put notes to yourself (I think those might be really nice for your descendents to see), etc. Things that would truly tell someone, years from now, what you were like. And then be ruthless. If you haven't looked at that vacation stuff, it won't matter as much. Maybe you'll find 2 or 3 things from each that are worth hanging onto--something that helps you get STARTED remembering the trip. That should be enough. As for scrapbooking, well, I guess I'm unAmerican because I really don't approve. Sticking stuff in scrapbooks to look at later, yes. Getting creative w/ precut stuff and fancy letters, no. So get a big binder, buy some of those plastic page protectors (some divided for smaller stuff, some full size), and stick stuff in there. Just get it out of a box and into a book you can page through. The heck w/ labeling anything, making fancy borders, etc. Just stick the brochures into the pockets. And maybe set an arbitrary limit--no more than 5 mementos from every vacation. Because honestly, your brain is very flexible, it'll remember. And nobody else wants to look at your vacation mementos, really. And be tough; try to picture your kids 10 years from now--will they care enough to want to look at it? Will YOU? Stuff that's less personal--politics (which changes constantly), decorating idea, etc.--toss and get fresh. As if you were checking out library books from life.

rhome, you know whatÂs funny The day I started ripping this out and got about mid way, I took a break and got on the forum here and there was a post (maybe last week) and your nook picture came up. I called husband over to show him your nook which made him feel a bit better since I was knocking holes in walls. Mine, in order to get some depth maybe a non-squared off shape within, I really want to be able to put the tea pot in there. Like everything else in this kitchens weird shape/layout the nook will be a pain in derriere. Tonight I had some wood out, holding it up and trying to figure it out, dropped the wood, went to catch it and speared my wrist on some metal studding shreds. First accident, but IÂm ok.