You can have a company put an epoxy coat on it. This is what we did with our front yard concrete. We used a company called Steve O'Brien Coatings. They may be not be in your area but the link will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. It was inexpensive and nothing had to be torn up. You can choose from endless colors, patterns, textures, etc. We did a flagstone pattern. Here is a link that might be useful: Steve O'Brien Coatings

Decorating, like life, is a journey not a destination. So IMO one should just enjoy the process and not be concerned about finishing. I think if you like that painting you should find a better place to hang it and keep it. One doesn't have to "adore" everything one has, it can be a lesser "love" in a lesser place in your home. It's still decor and IMO is an OK painting. "I would only get a not well known artist's work for my home, still now sure how I feel about this...any thoughts?" There is no way I can afford an original Monet or any other well-known famous artist's work I love. And since I much prefer original art I only buy "not well known" artist's works. I do only buy what I feel I don't want to live without. What I do is haunt small galleries and when I see something I like I leave. If I am very concerned it will sell before I return to the gallery I know I need to buy it and I often rush back and am very relieved it is still there. The ones that have sold I still remember and am sorry I didn't buy them but I know there will always be more in the future that I will love. I personally think one should have a few minor regrets in life! Makes it more interesting. I am always amazed that people think original art is expensive. I've paid between $75. and $1500 for original oil paintings and less for original water colors. Framing is often a big expense but I've bought nice frames at yard sales for only a few dollars and I like the look of unframed oils so don't frame all of them. I also have lots of original oils and watercolors from yard sales and have never paid more than $20. for a framed piece. Some were only $1 or $2 and very nice works. Searching for art one loves is a wonderful hobby so enjoy finding what really makes your heart beat faster! :)

Again, thanks a lot to everyone for sharing your thoughts. Below layout is what we settled on. I know it's by no means the best design, but it will be functional, and it required compromises from all parties involved (yes, that includes the cats too). The wall cabs are bumped out 2 inches. With the cover panel covering the doors and slight over hang, the cats will have a 15" deep platform. The counter top in front of the wall cabs will be about 11" deep, which is what my DH wanted ("to set things down on"). Good night and happy 4th everyone!

I had also had enough of the fried motherboards in ovens/ranges, so I went low-tech. I got a Bertazonni in all gas. I had planned on buying the Electrolux Icon DF but the oven was really low ... My cat would have no trouble checking if cookies were done but I would have to bend inhalf to do it. Now, I love my Bert BUT ... I wish the oven could go lower in temp (it can't go below 275F). I knew that going in, and looking back I would still make the same choice today. It's just the one thing I would change, if I could. I love how accurate the oven is, though. I love how evenly it cooks trays of cookies. The burners are great and for a stainless steel range, it really stays clean well. Having the top made from once piece of steel with no seams is great. The woman who cleans my house 2x/mo even commented that its really easy to clean (unlike many of the stainless steel appliances she hates to deal with). 2 last thoughts: I also love that it was made in Italy (as opposed to a country with lax environmental standards). And - I know it bugs some people that the oven throws heat into the house, I like that the oven door stays cool ALL the time. That feature, BTW, is what throws so much heat into the kitchen. It pumps air through the hollow part of the door so the front panel doesn't get hot when the oven is on. So, yes, I do really like my range and like the price (half of the E-lux Icon, the money we saved let us replace our fridge when it was sounding like a dying herd of antelope). I feel like it was a very good product for the price, and it looks pretty, too :) However, if you are short (or very flexible) the Electrolux Icon racks were on ball bearings and darn, that was tempting. Plus the interior is a pretty blue. All in all, though, a Bertazzoni might be worth looking at if you have sworn off the electronic-laden ranges.