hmmm, that's a toughie. Personally, I love the look of a light colored sofa too, but if you love blue - go with the blue! I also love the ticking stripe idea (I love stripes!). I'm currently going through the same dilemma and can't decide between a light off-white natural or a darker camel color. I was considering the PB sofa too, but I think I've decided on this one from Broyhill (can't decide on fabric though). The local store I called said you buy the frame first (which I'm considering upholstering in a fallish color) and then buy the slipcover separately (which I'm considering the natural twill). Total cost is between $778 and $1200 - depending on fabric type, but that's not too bad considering you get two looks. california dreamer, I currently have this Rowe slipcovered sofa: It has held up well, however I made the mistake of getting the down cushions and I would NOT recommend them! For the past 8 years dh and I have been poked and prodded with little feathers coming out of the cushions! The slips do hold up well after washing (I have a patterned cotton fabric - dont' know what I was thinking, should have gotten a plain fabric!) But the arms of the sofa are too tall for my tastes - they are tall in the back and slope forward in the front. I bought this sofa sight unseen, so I will try not to do that again. Lesson learned :)

I just did my east/west facing LR in BM Edgecomb Gray and am very happy. I have similar dark colored furniture. The room has four large east/west windows so is light, but didn't wash out the color. BM White Dove for trim which offers nice contrast and adds height. BM Revere Pewter may work if you get a good amount of light: it's more of a greige with slight green undertone, so a tad warmer than cool Edgecomb Gray. BM Classic Gray is very nice too, as is BM Pale Oak. Agree about the introducing gold tones.

Has anyone installed Natural Cork's Everglade Oak floating cork floor, from their Cork Canvas line? Or any of their other Cork Canvas designs? Natural Cork - Cork Canvas Plank I'm getting ready to rip up the old wall-to-wall carpet in my 1BR condo and put down a floating cork floor. The new floor will be for the the living room/dining room, bedroom and hallway -- everything except the kitchen and bathroom. There are several aspects of cork that I like, especially its sound-dampening qualities. The hard part has been finding a color and texture/pattern that I like -- not too dark or too light, not a busy pattern, no warm orange or red undertones. After many visits to the few local flooring stores that have good experience with cork, I've settled on Natural Cork's Everglade Oak. It's imprinted with an HD image of a wood grain in a gray-brown color. I didn't set out looking for a cork floor with a wood-grain image, but after considering the way the "real" cork color options look with my walls and furniture I think the Everglade Oak works best. My runner-up choices are Kilmartin Pine, also from the Cork Canvas collection, and Eco-Timber's Fumed Oak which is also a wood-image cork. The Fumed Oak is a good medium brown but I think Natural Cork's products look more authentic. The Kilmartin Pine looks good but is darker than I'd like. Before I pull the trigger, I'd love to hear about others' experiences with this product or even see photos of them installed, if you have any. Thanks!

mark_rachel, that is what I told my husband! And, Oak & Board, I've been studying this off and on for at least a year. You are one of my favorite commentors. I have learned a lot from you. Both of the samples are solid hardwood not engineered. KD is pleased with the quality of the floor and barely there bevel. Haven't seen a white oak floor yet in Michigan. Well aware of matching existing flooring of which we have none. Need a little more visual interest than the white oak. Considered natural hickory and I think it is too much for me. In my area, everyone is used to red oak. Boring Detroit area suburbs. Not a high end home.