Colleen, we don't have big neat pinecones here. Just the little blah ones. Tho I do spray paint and use those for Xmas decorating. I could spray some white and put around the chandy tho. Leveta, normally I use Krylon primer in white or grey. But if I'm spray painting metal, I usually use Rustoleum as it doesn't need a Primer. For some reason on this chandy tho, I used Krylon. Probably was what I had on hand. Two, I remembered birds don't like "new" houses, or painted ones, till they are weathered and no smell to them. But after living here for almost 50 yrs, trust me...birds here don't like birdhouses with our Phx weather. Oh, I went ahead and hung the chandy from the pine tree, after I glued on Marlene's white bird. He's perfect I think. I can add stuff to the other 3 spots when I get it. Just climb the ladder and glue. But after I was all done hanging it, I noticed about a foot above the chandy and off to one side, a little Inca Dove has a nest. How cute. She must be wondering what the heck I'm doing. For those not familiar with the Incas, they are very tiny doves. I love them. I put out birdseed each day and there is a flock of around 25 that come, along with mourning doves and the dang big white-wing doves. The latter are as dumb as pigeons and I'm NOT fond of them (tho hunters sure are, LOL. I'll take more pictures soon. Yesterday we put white lattice on small end of back patio, to block setting sun from coming thru bay window during dinnertime. The bakers rack I painted black is now up against that. So I need to get my stuff on it and take photo too. I kind of like the patio closed in that one area. My DH got the lattice for me, then helped me put it up. And he helped me hang the chandelier and thought it looked nice. I was shocked...figured he's go what the h--- is that thing? LOL. In fact, when he spied Sally Ann and the Blues Brothers, I was SURE he'd think I finally lost it. I told him about the painted flamingos and me wanting to copy those boys. I nearly passed out when he said he thought they really looked good. Is that my DH or did some alien replace him? LOL hugs, Karen

I went ahead and moved the highboy and bed position. Bad news is that I don't think the daybed centered under the window idea is going to work as it leaves only around 20" per side which seems a waste of space. So then I will need to scratch my plan to use the panels--unless I can shorten them? I can get a top valance in either pattern--DD likes the sheer dots, though will wait to finalize until other items are finalized. I also had ordered a lime lamp in case it started looking like too much aqua. On the paint front, DD has one lime green accent wall now. I don't think the desk really works with color. If I keep furniture the present color I will need to go with a real light wall color--still sifting through my options here and will wait until my FLOR samples come in on the 13th. I feel a solid rug is best for her as her room starts looking very "busy" easily with all her paranephilia. I mostly want the rug to protect my hardwood floor (only three years old). Already there are 3 ink stains which I've mostly gotten out--but if there are any stains, I'd rather the rug is stained and not the floor. I didn't much care for the desk next to the dresser as I had before so moved it. I do like that oak hutch bookcase for the storage, may keep it awhile or swap it out with the new bookcase at some point. I can definitely say I am glad for the additional storage of the highboy since DD is a pack-rat! Old dresser will go but am keeping there for now since it has all her clothes. So, what do you think in terms of furniture layout? No where else for the bed really if I want to have access to the trundle. I did find another bed couple of daybed options on CL. I'd rather not paint this one since it's part of a set. DS has other bed. Funny I've toyed with painting his black, but can't seem to paint either because it's a "set." Either of these grab anyone? Would paint the wooden parts. Wooden one with slats. May be more comfy? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/fuo/1544828496.html Or this one? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/fuo/1545041069.html Or this one? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fuo/1544721809.html Or keeping looking?

I believe that our homes are for our comfort, safety and aesthetic pleasure, and if that means not always having something original in them, so be it. Our front bathroom is old, shabby Art Deco and I hate it, and our soon-to-be-expanded kitchen had the remuddle from hell by previous owners. We are lucky to have all the original sconces still in good working order. But I've also used Rejuvenation fixtures and love them. They are well-priced, safe, and handsome. So why not? I recently purchased Bungalow Bathrooms and also Bungalow Kitchens, by Jane Powell, and they will be helpful as guides for me. I especially love the kitchens book, as it has many examples of 'old-fashioned' kitchens which will look great in this house and remind me of my mother and grandmother. Just cannot relate to the granite-counter, stainless steel, plain bleached maple cabinet look that is so popular on HGTV. Powell shows a room and then discusses how to create something similar, first with a section called Obsessive Restoration and then with one called Compromise Solution. Both practical and pretty. What kind of friends come over and criticize a decorating solution in one's home? I would think that they'd at least wait until they were back in their cars before they said "Oh, can you believe that she did *that*?" For shame. Bring in Miss Manners!

Thanks for coming back with the updated picture. It definitely has a more inviting look than "before." In my opinion, it's a major flaw of the wall that it does not have a tail that turns into the grade at its end. Water should run AWAY from the wall at all places, not parallel and adjacent to it (which it does near the end.) You've added to its length with landscape "timbers" and some rock, but this extension doesn't really do anything for the fact of erosion taking place along the back side of the wall. The existence of the tree complicates matters a bit, but it shouldn't be cause to not build the wall properly. If the wall were to be a solid masonry wall (like you have now), the tail piece could add significant strength to it. Since much of the existing wall sticks up above the finished grade, it doesn't need to be as high in order to achieve the retaining function. It seems that it's sticking up this high in order to provide screening of the drive/back yard area and physical separation (in order to keep someone from falling onto the drive. The same goals could be accomplished in other ways if you wanted to minimize the overall wall height, such as by stepping the wall, which I'm trying to show in the second sketch. You probably need to find a landscape architect or good landscape designer who can help you with this.