Zigzag, the place we're dealing with does go the extra mile for us, I had my heart set on a certain linoleum for our tiny bathroom, yep discontinued, it took them 3 weeks but they found a small piece. The tile we were looking at comes from Germany it's no longer made. My daughter and one of my sons have tile without heat so I know it can be cold on the feet, there will be an area rug which should help. When we're gone the house will probably be bulldozed, it's the property that's worth the bucks not the house. The fireplace with new insert heated the whole house comfortably last winter the worst we've ever had, our oil bill for the whole year was under $400 whereas most years we put out over $1000. We get wood free of charge :o) I've got X number of dollars to work with and a short window to get this done, it's now or never, time marches on. If I wait until I have enough to put in heated floors something else will have come up, this project would be kaput! I grew up in a house with no central heating, this will be a piece of cake in comparison :o). We made a pact when DH retired, everything we buy we pay for or we don't get it, we make a point to live within our means, pay interest to no-one. We've ended up debt free and the funny thing is we've got more disposable income then we ever had when DH was working. It's the interest that kills you. Annette

Linda C - she just e-mailed me: "That is hilarious! I am going to print it up and pass it out and say that this is a preview for November Final Friday! Mom" Thank you. She's passing it around to a bunch of Methodists in Ohio lol. I love making my mom laugh. She's had a hard way to go and it's lovely to see her get into something funny. seagrass

I had drama with my kitchen up-grade. Actual granite slab didn't exactly match the sample, sooooo....had to re-seclect the backsplash, twice! Once because of color, and the second time because the edges on the tiles weren't true, and the grout line could not be made straight. Had to go ahead and have the cabinets painted because the old pickled finish looked totally terrible with the new countertops/backsplash. That was in the plan, I had just hoped it would be a gradual expense rather than an all-at-once expen$e! While I would love to have brand new custom cabinets, that was just not possible for me. The old ones are wood...just ugly wood. Now they look great! Then I decided the dishwasher (original to the house...appx 17 yrs.) looked ugly and stuck out too much. Knew the microwave didn't look so great, but was going to live with it...and then it croaked. I had only minor sink and cook-top drama...just expect some glitches here and there. Guy didn't hook new disposal up correctly, and there was a leak...or could we say lake, under the sink. So, I'm in the middle of this kitchen mess, and people at the office said, "let's have the Christmas party at your house." Now there had been a delay in completion, because the painter's son had to have emergency surgery, and he couldn't show up for several days. I understand the need to be with your child. Told my contractor about the party drama, and they worked magic! Got the cabinet doors and drawer fronts back in place, cleaned up the dust, and came back to touch-up and finish-up, days later. I'm trying to get brave enough for some bathroom cosmetics...more on that, later. Oh, by the way...I love my kitchen! I know you will, too. Better post some befores and afters!

Lynn, the HW are red oak #2. They have alot of grain & knots which works for me b/c of the dogs( big one is Sam-11yo, my 1st child, Pepper - shaggy black one & Salty - the little sh*t Tzu puppy, J/k) I have turned into that crazy dog lady!! I had mentioned earlier I wasn't lovin' the glass cab in the foyer - too much visually when you first walk in. So, I will get out my handy dandy magic sliders & move it all back. Not only do the dogs think I am crazy, Dh does, too!! But he appreciates the effort just not when I ask him to help:) I have wanted to add 2 cool - kinda funky stools to each side of the glass cab. I could pull them into the seating area when entertaining as xtra seats. Maybe some kind of animal print........hmmmmm Sideboard is too big for the foyer & it does look nice in the DR. French doors on each side of ET opposite the sofa. LOL on the attic. I am turning into a pack rat!! There's junk up there, too!! Thanks soooooooooo very much. Smiles:)