Good morning! Trigger pulled on #1. I'll post pics with and without the shelf. When I ordered a rug last year from O, it was here in 2 days. Praying it shows up in one piece and is as nice as those reviews say. Oh, and I did use my 7% coupon. However, I couldn't figure out how to go through ebates AND use the discount (had to activate it through my email and couldn't find an actual code to plug in) so I figure I'll contact ebates later.

I now have the same dilemma. My island will be almost 9' by 4' and I had the electrician rough in 2 spots because I wanted a couple pretty chandeliers - and now DH has completely nixed that idea. Boo hoo hoo. I am so upset about this because it has been in my "vision" for this kitchen the whole time. So I will need to find 2 larger size pendants for the space - unless it's pretty easy to add another box later on?? We are just starting drywall so I don't know if I'll be able to change the positions/number very easily. didn't mean to take over your post! I think that 2 pendants should be substantial (as gglks' kitchen, which by the way makes me drool everytime I see that backsplash) - what is your lighting plan for the remaining portion of the island?

BM was adamant that I not use anything but flat because it would show any imperfections on the ceiling. OK, got the poster board up. It really does turn a lot darker up there. Looks as dark as the walls. BTW- I used the eggshell from the bathroom walls. Definitely have to go lighter. Help! At this point, I can go with Sherwin Williams and save a trip to BM, a town away. :) Furthermore (again, I am sorry about intruding on your thread, fb02. ) we will be painting the tray ceiling, in the dining room, the same color. I've always hated how dark it turned out, as it is the same color as the walls. I've hung a piece of posterboard in the chandelier to get an idea of what the ceiling will look like and I like it! Can you spot it? Or I can also go with the Decatur Buff for a little more drama, like I have on the foyer ceiling. And looking beyond the foyer ceiling, I will be painting the living area ceiling whatever color we decide on for the family/kitchen and dining room tray. Again, the walls it that room are Decatur Buff.

I have zero experience with heat pumps but do have 34 years of experience with having two HVAC systems. My house is far smaller than yours - about 2800 sq ft on two levels plus an unfinished basement. The house was built in 1948. It's a 1 1 /2 story house that only had 1/2 the 2nd floor finished when we bought it, and they rarely used that bedroom at all. We added a full dormer across the back of the 2nd floor, making two BR's and two ensuite baths. And we installed a separate HVAC system for this area. We like to sleep in a cool/cold room but don't want to freeze on the 1st floor. Right now, the outside temp is 39°. My upstairs furnace is turned to "off" as I see no reason to heat it with no one up there, and then to have to open a window to get it cold enough for sleeping when I go to bed tonight. it will be in the mid-50's when I go up at around midnight. I like it like that and am very cozy! But this weekend, the temp is to drop into the teens so I will turn it on when I get up and have it set at 62°. In the daytime, my 1st floor HVAC is set to 71° in the winter, and 73° in the summer (upstairs AC is set to 65° in summer and runs constantly). It is cold in my basement - only one ceiling vent - so when I'm down here doing my breathing treatments or laundry and am on my computer (desktop is down here), I use a space heater. Having two systems has worked very well for me. I have them checked/serviced twice yearly. I cannot imagine that a basement HVAC system could ever get my 2nd floor as cold as I prefer for sleeping. It gives me a lot of flexibility.