HI Sapphire, I did not look at the Speed Queen Frontloader. I am no expert on the differences between the Wave-Touch and the IQ-Touch. Electrolux has one Wave (the 70) and three IQ (models 50, 55, 60). You can see differences on their website by clicking on the four machines in white, and comparing them. I believe that you can also see the manuals for each by clicking on the individual model. The list price increases by $100 for each of the IQ models and then by $150 for the Wave. These links (from people much more astute than I am) each offer something different to consider, and are helpful; most are from GW Laundry Forum. The list is not exhaustive, but a good place to start. I don't know if or how you can post more than one link, so I have put them here (roughly in reverse date order) with the initial title and the dates the threads were active. If you find any others, please let me know! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwCGQjITeVE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnC9s7t3HOA A You Tube explanation from a store sales rep, and his amendment from Jan and Feb 2012. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg0801511930778.html existing owners of elux washer/dryer iq touch and wave touch... (from Aug 2011 - June 2012) http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg071430459001.html?7 Any new opinions about Electrolux Wave washer/ dryer? (July - Aug 2011). See a list of the differences posted by jmith on 8/14/1 and note the recommendation of silvercanadian on 8/14 to "download the user guides for both the Wave-Touch and the IQ-Touch and read the sections on the different cycles/options." http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg0109280211657.html Electrolux Wave Touch or IQ? (Jan 2010 - Feb. 2011) http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg0716252415778.html Electrolux IQ Touch pair first impressions (July 2010). There was also something intersting on eHow on 'How to Self-Clean an Electrolux Washer Basin.' http://www.ehow.com/how_7897655_selfclean-electrolux-washer-basin.html Finally, a worthwhile reminder from Richard last month on something I never thought about: using a surge protector: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg0419444124107.html?2. I saw four more threads on that topic when I searched for 'Surge Protectors and GW Laundry Forum. I haven't had a chance to read these yet. Hope that this is helpful. This post was edited by wannaknow1 on Fri, May 3, 13 at 10:56

nancybee_2010: As in most of my decorating projects, I had it 98% complete, but your question gave me the nudge to finish the remaining 2%. I had tried out and returned several pots before settling on just the right one and transplated my other plant in it. I also decided to keep the old photos in my bedroom since I liked them there and bought a new frame that coordinated better with my candlesticks. That 2% remaining was to pick the photo to put in the frame--finally I decided to put last year's Christmas family photo there as I felt the sepia photos didn't look so good in the gold frame, though if others think sepia is better I can scan and tweak this photo for a sepia version. I should probably still tweak the bookcase some more, but it works for what I need it to do which is store books and photo albums. The photo albums don't fit on the lower shelves so I'm stumped how to change it without just storing the photo albums in a closet and then they are not out for people to see. As for the dining room, I did keep the red vase. I love how the light reflects in it. I may add some more vases at some point when the bulb actually dies, but so far it's hanging in there. cliff_and_joann: Thanks for the compliments and feedback. As you see above I did swap out the green vase. Your home is an inspiration to me--esp. your tablescapes. I've been following your DR chairs makeover with interest and can't wait to see the results! On another note, I recently got a new camera and am very excited that I am finally able to take pictures of window shots without the background getting washed out!

I really don't like granite. It's too speckeldy, too pretentious, too cold, too ostentatious, too expensive. And maybe it's just me, but doesn't most of it just look like rust stains? I also researched all the other countertop choices. Throughout our homebuilding we've tried to remain focused on our twin goals, Durable and Low Maintenance. And so we've come back to granite. What I found out is that granite showrooms only have a tiny selection of slabs onsite for you to look at. And most of those are ugly speckled rust stains. BUT, when you've found a company you want to work with, they'll hook you up with the huge granite yards where you go to pick out a slab and they send it to the installer. In our case it's a two hour drive to a huge city where there are a half dozen granite yards and acres of slabs of granite to choose from. You walk around for a couple of hours dragging your husband (who really doesn't want to be there and doesn't like anything unless it's cobalt blue) and your kids (who are fighting over a piece of gravel they picked up in the parking lot) and suddenly you turn a corner and find The Perfect Slab. And you hear a heavenly chorus that swells to drown out the sound of the kids squabbling and the perky salesperson who doesn't have a clue what you're really looking for (you couldn't tell her because you weren't really sure either.) And tears of relief and joy spring to your eyes, your husband drops to his knees in shock when he hears the price, and then you're done. Then you get to choose a backsplash!

Okay, without having dimensions, I took a stab at it: - It's a large space, but it's very spread-out, and bigger isn't automatically better ... I'd divide it up like this: - Carve out a U-shaped work space in the middle of the large kitchen. This keeps all your functional items close together /easy to use. Within this main kitchen space, you can have 2 huge drawer stacks + 1 smaller drawer stack next to the kitchen for cooking tools + 1 chef's drawer to the left of the sink + 2 big super susans. - I'd do uppers only on the side over the range, which would leave the whole space wide open ... and with light and breezes coming from both sides, this would be a very pleasant space. - To the right of this main work space, you have either a cabinet run OR pantries ... with the refrigerator in the middle. Loads and loads of one-step-away storage ... and it's space you can step to without walking around an island. So super convenient. - Because you have so much length to the kitchen and because you value table-time, I'd add a bay window to the front of the house /add a small kitchen table for more intimate dining ... then continue the kitchen cabinets (but more shallow) for another huge amount of storage near this small table. - I'd us this by-the-small-table cabinetry as away-space for the kitchen. That is, I'd use this one-step-away counterspace for the things that clutter up /clog up the kitchen counters: the coffee pot, a bowl of fruit or a cake-under-a-dome. This away-space will mean that your real work space is always clear /ready for use. It'll also be a nice sight line upon entering from what I now know is the front door. - Because I think dishware would be stored in the cabinets /uppers by the smaller table, I moved the dishwasher to the front side of the kitchen. - This leaves the back-bar as a large, open space, which will function well as a buffet table when you have guests /will be using the larger table. - This whole layout can function in multiple ways ... the center is the real work space, yet it relates to either the small eating area OR the larger eating area ... or both at once.