Fresh Start covers very well. Perhaps you are spreading it out too far? Don't exceed 6" per brush load and be sure you aren't scraping one side of your brush. You need all the paint left on the 1/3 bottom of brush. Brush it out and dip, and tap, and brush. The knot. Spot prime it with CoverStain now and let it dry before you get there with Fresh Start. Michael

fallingwaters; first of all, know that your you and your dh, and his hea lth care prov iders are in my prayers. Your priorities are in the right place, although I know there is some disappointment after getting so much in place for the renovation. I, too, put off my kitchen for a year. My MIL fractured her hip and was having repeated complications, my husbands workload increased at work and by being the primary healthcare surrogate for his mom. I sensed that just having the stress of ripping out the kitchen -- but also of not HAVING a functional kitchen, was a bit more than our family could deal with. My kitchen is a place of respite, even if in it's current state it isn't perfect. My experience has been like needssometips and jreuter. I saved up some more $$. I'm not putting that extra into the kitchen, but it is giving us a bit more of a cushion. 2. I've gotten just about every wee decision made, down to the gar bage di sposal, and what I'm lining the drawers with. Except for the darn faucet. Still trying to figure it out. In the next few months as you go thru this with your husband, there will likely be times when you feel out of control. Looking at pulls and such and making a few decisions unrelated to the health aspects may help you get a feeling of control back. And in the middle of the night, when you can't sleep, no doubt someone has posted a tittilating post (I know that isn't spelled right) that may take your mind off the stressors for a few minutes.

Not that I'm a fan of the home center's kitchen departments, but it would be a great place to test the waters. They use 20/20. Plus you would get lots of computer and manufacturer training there. Make a plan to work there for at least 6 months. If you still like it, then send out your resumes to the local dealers. I honestly don't think that you could start out as an independant designer without more kitchen design and installation experience. And don't even consider buying 20/20 on your own. That would be cost prohibitive. Kitchen design is a wonderful career. I've been doing it for 23 years. But Livewire makes some VERY valid points. You can be a great designer, yet not make it in the KD world. Here's a list of traits/skills I personally think one needs to be a KD. Livewire, please add to the list if you think of any more: 1. creative 2. problem solver..."think outside the box" 3. be able to visualize 3D space 4. multi-tasking!!!! 5. good memory (product knowledge and technical (construction) knowledge) 6. Tough skin (you can't take things personally. You will lose jobs....even ones that you worked your tail off on!! Ones where the customers TOLD you that they were ordering from you...only to go with another company. You WILL get used...and you will have to learn from that. You have to be able to 'let it go'.) You'll also need tough skin if a customer yells at you for something. Stay calm. A few clients will lose their temper during your career, but I imagine in my thought that: they had a tough day....or maybe their mom is in the hospital....etc. 7. Detail oriented. There are so many things to measure and to consider, to ask....and to research! What's the wall height? The window trim width? Are the walls square? Is the customer using frameless or inset? How will changing that alter the design? Which cabinet line are they going with? If I Have to change over the design from brand A to brand B, how will that change the design? How much room for crown? How should I design the crown? The list can go on and on..... 8. Must be patient. It's like having kids...you never know what you're gonna get....with your customers. Most people are great to work with but you will get: nervous-nellies, nit-pickers, fighting couples, arrogant engineers, indecisive people....etc. You can't take things personally. 9. Listening skills: Don't think that you know it all (be humble). Even if your design is the absolute best for their room....it's still their room. And if they want this or that....even after explaining the brilliance of your design...so be it. People will get very angry if you don't give them what they want and they WILL go elsewhere. 10. Field experience: Installation knowledge and experience is very important. If you're in this business long enough, you will learn a lot from your installers. I recommend any new KD to be on the job during an entire install. 11. Problem solve: When problems arise during installation...you'll need to talk with the subs and the customers to devise a plan to action. I hope this helps! Kompy

thanks alice and everyone here that have been so helpful. I'm up again after 4 hours of sleep but this time because of middle child throwing up... another thought since extending into the family room even by a few feels too cramped i think. what if i left the peninsula one level but put my prep sink towards the window and had my main sink on the center island? on the peninsula, people could still sit and not be too concerned of splashing- kids could sit and finish up homework and not have to clean up since we have the kitchen nook- i could prep and still talk to people and rhome , the fridge would be just a few more inches right although not inbetween? i could also use the main to prep if it is clear of dishes i could have my cleanup sink with the dishdrawers right behind me and above that I was planning to have glass doors anyhow to house glasses and glassware- this way i keep all everyday servingware close at hand. if i extend that island a little bit i could also fit my prep stuff at the end of the run next to the stove so i can still access this if there were dirty dishes and i wanted to prep in the prep sink.- kids could wash hands in the prep sink or fruit and the bev center would be at the end of that run. then, because i don't have to hide a cleanup sink, or be worried too much about splashing, i won't have to extend too far into the family room? does that make sense.