Yes, I am sooooo ready for this to be over! We are probably 2+ months from completion and I feel that the ground is shifting under our feet, design-wise. Nini, don't feel bad for a second about not spending time on lighting decisions. We are using a lighting designer, who is terrific, and he needed to know what type of lighting we wanted in each location. So, months and months ago, I spent countless hours on the internet, finding and choosing fixtures. I loved doing it - it is the "pretty" stuff and I can easily visualize how each room would look and, with a few exceptions, found fixtures that would suit each one. But then, just last week I looked at the items I had "saved" as my chosen fixtures and those for two separate rooms had been discontinued. One company has even gone out of business. And, as you know, if the main fixture in the master bedroom changes, then the smaller ones there do also and maybe ones in the master bath might have to be changed. And so, it becomes a line of dominoes. Anyway, this seemed like the last straw. After spending so much time, ultimately getting it nailed down, making other decorating decisions based on the overall look, and now having to start over, I felt like a toddler ready to start a tantrum. My wiser husband, who had just gone through this with the lights in the home theater, said that with a little more looking, I might find something I liked even better. So I got myself a glass of wine, sat down at the computer and within an hour found similar fixtures that I liked as well. Probably the fact that I'd done so much searching previously, helped me narrow down the choices so now I just had to find something similar. But the moral of the story is this: even if you get it all figured out way, way ahead of time, you may have to go back and do it all again so don't kick yourself for waiting. Just keep the wine handy!

Hello all! A former lurker here...I've been away for awhile, but have returned today, and after reading the post and responses, want to offer a different perspective...maybe it's the part of the country I'm from, but I think that if I've felt comfortable enough to open my house and I've shared a meal with someone, if they invite me into their home, I would expect the same. I don't consider that expectation "boorish" at all, but simply good manners. That said, you have given yourself a good deal of time, and might use the opportunity to motivate yourself into action. I would bet that when your home meets your standards, you will feel proud to show it off. It does not matter what your company's taste or standards are, and it is not important that they even like your home. I do think it is important that the gesture is made, although some areas might not be on the "tour". I can speak with experience, as I too was overwhelmed, but in my case it went on for a number of YEARS. I was ashamed of the condition of my home, and did not invite people over. I certainly heard the old saw "people come over to visit you not your home" but I never bought into that, because that old saying does not take into account the comfort level of a host who is distressed when their own environment does not meet their own standards. I cannot comfortably entertain if I'm distressed. Some people have no problem inviting people over when their home is a mess; more power to them, but I am not one of them!! (I don't care if other people's homes are messy) I have finally gotten things under control (I plan to at some point post a thank-you as I felt inspired by the acheivements of others on this forum) and I not only am finally getting to enjoy my own home, I am finally able to even spontaneously invite people over - something I didn't think would EVER happen; what a great feeling! Just keep plugging away at it one day at a time! I wish you the best. (ps needing to control so much that someone else's magazines etc. get thrown out in 2 weeks read or not speaks to more serious issues that are not about housekeeping.) Respectfully, Penny

I've never been attached to furniture, but I remember when I was little,we would travel from Alabama to Wisconsin every summer to visit family. We always stayed at grandmas. Grandma had this light blue shag carpet in the living room. I never really thought much about it until when I was about 18 or so, mom announced that all grandmas kids were going to chip in and replace the 30 year old carpet at grandmas house. I was very upset,and to my surprise ALL 5 of my siblings were too. She ended up choosing a light blue,non shag carpet. That helped,but not much. That house never felt the same again. She also had this big painting of a lovely Spanish woman. My grandpa was in insurance,and the painting was a payment to him. (She always called it "grandpa's other woman") I don't know why,I always loved it. Those are really the only two things that stick with me about her house. She died last year. A few weeks ago, mom and all 9 of her remaining siblings got together to clean out the house. Imagine my delight when a large box arrived on my doorstep,containing that painting. It's very big and old fashioned, and does not go with anything in the house, but it will be displayed on the hall wall with love.

I hope 2017 is a better year for you...and all of us. I am sorry the relationship didn't work out and sorry for the loss of your friend. Hugs to you on both accounts. 2016 wasn't the best year for me either....although, I admit, I have had worse...or, some pretty bad years anyway. My husband was in the hospital for 3 weeks, Thanksgiving, 2015. Then he couldn't work for six months. Throw in some boat break downs...more out of work. His brother died in July. They were very close...close in age...11 mo apart, and close in every way. A few months ago, his deckhand fell over board and was in the water for about 30 minutes before he missed her and found her. The water was very choppy, and the net swung around, hit her and knocked her over board. Thank goodness she used to have a pool and is an excellent swimmer. I would have drowned as soon as I went in the water. A couple of weeks ago, he was coming in from shrimping, coming across the bay, at 8 a.m. Had a good morning...on his way back to the dock early. Hit a pipeline that wasn't adequately marked. The buoy was the size of a basket ball and should have been about 4' in diameter. Got a rope and a cable in the propeller and hit so hard that it broke the bell housing off of his transmission. He has had a hard time finding a used one to buy. New is about $2900. He filed a claim and the oil company will pay but from just before Christmas, to after New Year's....they are shut down. So, we wait.......... Well, it sounds like all the bad luck befell my husband, but it all affects me too. Plus, I hurt my shoulder when one of the jacks reared up and I held on to him and then he came down and his hoof hit my back, right where my shoulder joins. I was leading him by holding onto the halter (without a lead rope) and I shouldn't have done that. I don't know when it stopped hurting....it just dawned on me today that it doesn't hurt any more....but now my hip is very bad and I am in constant pain from that. Likewise, can't get a hold of my doctor until after the first. So.......I wait. Yes, I will be glad to see 2017!