You have inspired me. This is now my next project (after the bathroom is finished). I have always thought this piece was ratty looking but it served a purpose in our bedroom. The cat sleeps on top and the TV is there also. I also use it to keep my office papers. Thanks to you it will soon have a new look. I just checked it out a bit and noticed that the drawers are dovetailed but could not find a manufacture's name. Do you know who made yours?

Hi everyone, Thanks for the responses. It's been more than four months since my original query so I thought I'd post an update. After talking with several other contractors and vendors, we decided that going with replacement windows was clearly the wrong choice, so we switched contractors to someone with more large-scale remodeling experience and went with new construction windows. In the end we chose Anderson 400s and used Azek trim on the outside. The old windows came out and we found some damage to the underlying sheathing and framing, but not too much. The new windows were installed and insulated properly and the difference is huge. While we were at it we also replaced most of the edge and corner trim and drip caps on the house as this was rotting off as well. The project is taking a lot longer (we're hopefully wrapping up this week) and is costing a lot more than we thought, but I'm glad we caught this when we did as the damage would have been a lot worse if we had waited. Interestingly, the cost of the new construction windows was actually less than the replacement windows. The labor was more, of course, but we were already being forced to replace the rotting exterior trim so that was all equal. We did have to replace the interior trim, which was not inexpensive, but in the end the project wound up costing the same because the windows were less expensive. The difference in the new trim is amazing- it's nice to have real window sills and stools, with a less generic casing around them. The question of new windows vs. restoration was never an issue- the old windows (only 18 years old) were of poor quality, poorly installed, and leaked cold air to the point that we had to install plastic sheeting over the openings in the winter. Also, many of the window sills, mullions, and jams were rotting, so the amount of work to restore the existing windows would have been huge, We were going with new windows one way or the other. Thanks again for your help, Josh

I reused granite in my last kitchen and it worked out really well. However, I was told over and over again that it couldn't be done. Some places gave no reason, others said it would surely break when it was removed. After watching the process from start to finish (including trip to the shop), I don't think it's that challenging and I suspect everyone I phoned just wanted to scare me into buying new. We had an enormous 96"x48" island, also in black granite. Really stunning, however I couldn't live with the cabinets and a few other design details in the kitchen. We were on a really tight budget so we wanted to take the entire kitchen apart carefully and reuse as much as we could. I was also told I couldn't do this with the cabinets, though this also was no problem and quite fun to puzzle the old and new all back together. Anyhow, when it came to reusing the granite island, I decided to move the sink so couldn't reuse it as is. Instead, I had it removed and taken to a shop where they cut it into a 96 x 18" piece which became a raised bar along one side of the new island (which was done in cherry butcher block) as well as a new counter with sink for in the pantry. It all turned out beautifully. We also re-used other pieces of granite counter but they stayed attached to their base cabinets so didn't have to leave the house. I think it's a shame to waste anything that is reusable but there are lots of options if you don't want to use it yourself - sell it or give it away on Craigslist/kijiji or Habitat For Humanity. We gave away all our cabinet doors in our last house and this time around HFH will be coming to do the removal/salvage for free in exchange for everything they can take away.

I still always bristle to hear rooms called 'grandma'.; using grandma as a pejorative...as far as the autumnal colors, the naturalness of such a palette is relaxing to me, and why I've used such warm colors in parts of my home. Including, in one room, pine paneling, floral curtains (once the new windows are in) and the warm, gentle, autumnal colors. Frankly, I am increasingly really appreciating decorating, in any palette, that embraces comfort and unpretentiousness, and doesn't have to 'wow', perform or impress. One might think this is a result of my grandma stage of life, but I began leaning in this direction since my late 40's. BTW MTN, IMO the chair's teal frames appear to reference the wall color in your photo of the TB interior above.