Yes, crazyhouse6, the crystal ball sconces come single. These are my final contenders, but leaning (right now) heavily toward the first one. The shade on it is actually glass. I also like the LENGTH (for my space) of the second one and the last two, but the last two are probably too modern. What do you guys vote for? Finding out later today if they can put the sconces on the towers without yanking out the towers and repainting. Here's my two favorite chandys and another inspiration photo so you can see where I'm coming from (if you don't already know!) - simple tile pattern, monochromatic, but romantic finishings:

Setting the table is the best part of entertaining for me. I love using my beautiful things, and I love washing them and putting them away again, and washing and ironing the linens. (Yes, I hate ironing shirts as much as the next person, but ironing linens keeps me in touch with where they came from- my mother, my grandmother, my MIL, wedding gifts, and even tag sale linens!) I love using my sterling, which my mother picked out for me when I was a baby, and my grandmother's Haviland and cut glass. I love fresh flowers and candles on the table. In fact, I love using the dining room, and if it's more than the 2 of us, I do. We moved last year and the dining room in the new house is easier to use than in our previous house, and I'm happy it gets so much use. I don't always use my good china for everyday dinners in the DR, but I always use my sterling. When my boys were small, I taught them the correct way to set a table, and we always used placemats and cloth napkins, even in the breakfast room. My daughter-in-law is beyond casual - no placemats or tablecloth, sometimes you have to ask for a napkin, bread in a plastic wrapper, etc. My GD, her daughter, is only 2, but she refers to my china and crystal as "Su-su's pretties". I tell her, "Play your cards right and this can all be yours." I gave her an infant feeding spoon in my pattern when she was born as well as a sterling baby cup and a small spoon and fork in my pattern. I am pleased to see that my DIL lets her use them often. I am going to give my DIL (among other things) some pretty washable placemats and cloth napkins (no-iron). Small steps.

Lhylcn- sealing should ideally be done both by the fabricator in his shop, and again in your kitchen once installed. Most sealer manufacturers I've spoken to say there's no exact number or times it should be done, but it usually takes several applications until every part of the marble is sufficiently sealed. This is tested by letting water sit on the surface of the marble and making sure it beads up well rather than soaking right in. Honing is just a process that makes the marble "dull" rather than shiny. It's a personal preference. My Vermont Danby marble is very honed, very little sheen. Red- two things that have etched my marble instantly are tomatoes and lemon juice. I'd think ketchup would etch, too, being tomato-based. Etching, though, seems not to bother most marble owners, myself included. You can only see it in certain lights, and it's a part of the patina of the living stone. As far as staining, my counters are sealed with Porous Plus 511, and could easily handle ketchup sitting on them for awhile with no stains. I've had coffee droplets that splashed from the Keurig sit overnight and just wipe up the next morning. I have no stains at all. The counter have only been in for about 2 months or a little less, but I've cooked a lot in these months, have had house guests and hosted Easter at the house, no stains! That said, the Vermont Danby marbles are known for being less porous--and therefore a bit more stain-resistant--than many other marbles.

shezzy-yeah, I don't know why my DH put it so low. Our ceilings were 9 ft. He also painted a lighter shade of green from the molding to the ceiling. I guess he really did want to see the "ëffect" at night, and as you said, it wouldn't be so dramatic had the molding been higher. In our new home, our ceilings are 8 ft, so not sure we even want to mess with it...don't want to shrink the ceiling down even more. justgotabeme-Kudos to your DD! You could still do it, and have an awesome room for when she visits, or when guests come over! LOL at "love nest" on the blueprints. Hey...it is what it is...right? :) dc pilgrim-Very cool! The blue looks awesome! It is probably a more appropriate application in a media room as you put it. newdawn-I think it *could* look art deco, but our room is soooo NOT art deco, I never thought of it that way!