We compromised by not bumping walls to increase our square footage. Initially I regretted all the limitations that put on our redesign but now I just notice how nice the cabinets look and function, how shiny the new appliances are, etc. Right now all you are seeing is that big bulkhead thing, but when you start getting all the other changes in place the bulkhead will most likely become less obtrusive to you. Over time you start focusing on the things that function well, the things that look nice. The things that bother you initially really do fade. Not sure exactly how that works but I know the one piece of travertine that was right in the middle of the hallway that was sooooo much lighter than the other pieces, the piece that really stuck out like a sore thumb and everytime I walked over it I regretted not asking my DH to replace it. Well now I walk right over it and I don't even think about it or notice it?? That is just one element of your new space, it will become less and less noticeable to you. HTH

I spent HOURS looking online. And I had my sister's to look at and go by IRL. I loved her handles. And I learned from her about the needed projection and length (5") of handle for ease of fingers, no fussy trim/design (less to accumulate grime and gunk = easier cleaning), no sharp edges/ends (to catch a shirt on or hurt myself) etc. I found numerous handles that fit into the needed requirements - the final one was price. I had to rule out a lot that i liked because of too little projection or too much detail or too expensive. I found something simple with a curve that I liked with rounded ends, about a 1.25" projection and within price range for me. AND they're available in nickel or ORB - which ever of those I decide on. That will depend on what color my cabinets end up. Then I found them at HD (or L's) in nickel and bought one to put on a cabinet and try it for a time. So far I still love it.

Greetings. Thank you for your concern with our situation with our 17 yo daughter and thinking of me. Here is the latest. Our daughter is clearly a victim of an obsessive level of "Divorce Poison" from her biofather. One must realize that SD's biofather has led a life that anyone would not be proud of (arrests, bankruptcy, etc.) and he is just not the role model any reasonable person would encourage. With that said, we never limited her contact with biofather and we encouraed SD to communicate with her biofather freely. We have no agendas except honesty and the willingness to try our very best to raise a healthy daughter. Our daughter did make the move to biofathers "country club" home in FL in January and she now lives with him full time. Except for one very brief 3-day unannounced weekend visit at our home (to see her boyfriend) in February, our daughter has completely cut off all communication with her entire extended family here in VA. She has completely cut off communication with her mother, grandparents, cousins, me, everyone. No card or contact on Mothers day. Biofather did send her up to "live" at her boyfriends home just 1 mile away from us for her 10 day spring break in March and she never attempted to contact any of her family here. Clearly biofather is still trying to be the "cool" parent and encouraging our daughter to not contact any of her family in VA as part of his "must win" manipulation strategy. We are just letting this all take its course and hoping that our daughter will realize that her life in our loving home was mature and real, and that the "toys" and "freedoms" her single and very lonely biofather is providing are not the fantasy life they appear to be. I have sent our daughter short emails asking her how she is and keeping it light with no responses ever received. We feel that if we force contact with our daughter to soon that this will actually push her away from us, given that she is very stubborn and always had to learn from her own experiences. We told her we love her and that our door is always open. It is our daughters choice to not communicate, and we feel that she is still believing most of the non-truths that biofather filled her mind with concerning us and our home (to strict, not enough lifestyle and big ticket toys, etc.). We miss her and worry about her. We love her unconditionally. Who knows how this will turn out. She is 17 and will be 18 in November. This was a big decision our daughter made (originally with the secret plan to have her 17 yo girlfrined live with her and biofather) to move, and we wish her the very best. We welcome any and all insight. Thanks! One recent note; biofather has had his lawyer calling my wife (biomom) threatening to take her to court for child support, even though biofather is many thousands of dollars in debt for support not paid for years through child support enforcement. He has lots to lose going to court, guess he forgot. We just did not go after him for the unpaid support over all of those early years, and some recent years. We suspect biofather cannot afford the "country club" home and lifestyle with SD and now must get more $$ to keep going. My wife is just waiting to see where this court battle goes. Unfortunately due to the constantly threatening tone from biofather (for years) my wife does not communicte often with him. Let me know what you all think. Cheers!

Cynthia, Thanks for your input. I'm sorry your Dee-Lish is not doing anything. I hope mine does not mirror yours. I plan to winterize mine at least this coming winter in spite of its ADR designation. I am finding ADR for me means mostly black spot resistance, but not sufficient winter hardiness to put on any size. With severe winter dieback on so many ADRs I have tried (except for Earth Angel, which by the way, may turn out to be a once blooming rose, it's repeat is so pitiful....but mine is young and just may need time to mature), I am wondering how much credence I should put on an ADR winning rose. Really Cynthia, my main rose growing problem is my obsession with fragrance, which is pretty limiting from the standpoint of fragrant roses' notorious serious disease issues, not to mention winter hardiness problems, too. If fragrance was not my reqirement, especially a rose's, no equal from among any other flower, I would grow daylilies or dahlias! Moses