Thanks again for the help:) Ok...so the deal was that I bought a 'gift card' on deal for a local window covering shop thinking I'd like bamboo woven blinds for the family room. Once again, I'm double-guessing... I have this card so need to get something,lol. Here's another room where maybe I could use the woven blinds. In the kitchen, I'd remove those yellow valances (which I've been wanting to do anyways) and could either install woven blinds (could remove white blinds here too)or, go with california shutters. Could you see woven blinds in the kitchen more than in the family room? Can you see how I spin around in circles,lol?? The counters are beigey as is the tumbled marble backsplash so colors would work well... This room has changed a little...I've moved the bowfront bar and chair and have window benches.

I moved to a property with so many deer and wildlife I could no longer grow my Sempervivums in the ground they were eating them really fast. So I started making picture type wall hangings to use outside. I saw a lot of suggestions of using stockings stuffed with the proper soil for Semps. I started making them last year. They did wonderful through the winter and have multiplied great. This is what I have done so far. They need touch-up beautification and they are ready to be hung. I used nursery plastic boxes to bring home those little pots. I stuffed the stockings with the soil, and attached the stockings with thin wire. Then I cut holes in the stocking and pushed the plants in. They stayed on the ground last winter and they are firmly attached now. This year I will put the frame around the boxes to complete the picture look.

You definitely have enough room to tile to the floor. Ignore the posters who can’t be bothered to read the actual issue (the light switch) and just post comments about bullnose. As far as the small area for the pattern: yes, if you were only looking at that 4” wide strip, it would look weird. You won’t be, though. Your eye will automatically connect it together with the backsplash that’s above the counter, and it will look great.

Salex, I knew I recognized your name. I believe you commented on one of my earlier posts about building cabinets yourself. When we first moved in we were just going to add an island and DH was going to build it, which I was fine with but we've had some big changes since then. He was laid off suddenly shortly after we bought the house and I had to go back to work (the timing worked out as my son just entered kindergarten).. He did find more work and we are much better off then we were before with me working as well, however our kitchen is extremely dysfunctional and he doesn't help with any cooking or cleaning. Working and trying to hand wash dishes for my family and deal with the wonky space with no storage and I am at the end of my rope. I do not have patience for DIY right now when it comes to this major source of angst in my life. There are so many things in our house that he could work on and build for and I would welcome everyone one of them but I just can't get excited about him doing the kitchen. I think he has most of the tools you mentioned but does not have a good source of wood. He also really isn't "in practice" with woodworking. He knows it, but hasn't honestly done much in the 10 years we've been married (think he did more when he was younger) so I'm not confident in him doing this. I do think he's capable of figuring it out, I just don't know what we'll have to go through to get to the end result. I think I'm about to find out though. He's insistent on doing it and as much as I am against it I can't just go drop $8K on cabinets if he's not in agreement with me. I thought I'd gotten him open to at least considering buying if I found something decent at a decent price but I guess not. I'm sorry, I'm feeling very disappointed right now. I'm not ready for this journey. Thank you for the link about the drawer in a drawer, I'll check it out!