Robin -- you might be surprised about the perception of privacy. We recently moved from a city duplex with 10 feet between us and the next duplex. However, we had a 6 ft privacy fence on 2 sides of the back yard and a 6 foot stone wall between us and our wall neighbors. The house was also built with the proximity in mind and our windows were mostly transoms up high on the sides. We never saw and rarely heard our neighbors on either side or behind us (an alley) unless we wanted to. Now, we are looking in another town. It isn't a city and lots are quite a bit bigger. However, in most places fences are not allowed. In some places, 5 back yards are all facing each other in relative proximity - as in, I and your other 3 neighbors could probably tell what paper you were reading and whether you drink orange juice or milk at breakfast. In addition, dogs running and driving each other crazy with the invisible fenced back yards.

(tl;dr, OT!) David, You're probably right. I come from an industry where the angle of light is one of the primary considerations (live performance lighting). There are a lot of basics there that seem to get, at best, ignored in home lighting, or worse, aren't even considered. How the fixture looks in the room is of utmost important, with no consideration for how it makes everything else in the room look (including people). Of course, I mean _both_ are important, how the fixture looks aesthetically as well as the light it provides. In terms of angle, I read one thread about under-cabinet lighting (it took me a while to figure out what "UCL" meant) people discussed about the lighting needing to be toward the face of the cabinet vs against the backsplash/wall. From a casual perspective I can see why most would think that. What that doesn't address is that down light can make seeing what one is cutting difficult to see because of the shadows cast by one's hands. Personally, I prefer against the wall/backsplash tilted forward a bit. That gets the light more under my hands, still lights the whole counter space, and can highlight the backsplash (assuming one has a backsplash that benefits from being highlighted). I also prefer sidelight (sconces, table/floor lamps, or low other fixtures) for rooms where people gathering is the primary function. It is a far more flattering light for people than can/pot/down lights. But that has never, that I've seen, been suggested on Houzz. I could be wrong. Maybe it has been brought up here in the GW forums. I've only recently started frequenting the forums. In another thread a while ago the discussion was about lighting a more sculptural piece of wall art, which had a head as a prominent part of the work. Everybody was suggesting down light. While, yes, that would accent the texture. But it would also make the face look garish. I suggest something more from the front and a bit off axis, to give it more natural, defining shadows vs deep shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin. I get it, I suppose. It is easier to talk about how a light fixture looks rather than how than how the light from it makes everything else look. But I don't think one has to hire a lighting designer or be a master electrician just to understand some basics. They just need to be thought of. Even little things like how a more diffused light can actually _look_ brighter than a clear glass, exposed light bulb simple because the shadows are softer. Ah, well. Thanks! Joe

My3dogs - Would you still do bb in here? Yes, the fabric has both the beige color and a gray/taupey color I think works really well with the floor. True about the stain color coordinating with nothing, Tina - Oh no. Hmm..After a quick search I believe it's Roth & Thompkins. And they do carry that in a navy but it's navy and white, which I remember now that's why I left that sample at the store because it was really white. Then again, there's white in this bathroom. Ah found the photo I was looking for with it against the floor I do really like this fabric. If I'm going to repaint something neutral I really need to get the colors right. ETA - I need to pick up a sample of BM Feather Down (the lighter version of BM Manchester Tan). I think that's the color I want to use in the foyer and hall. If it works in both places it might be nice to see the color just extend straight into the bathroom. And the bedrooms down the hall are painted BM Manchester Tan already.

I live in upsate NY, so the weather is humid continental and heat is up to average 28 celsius in the summer and average low to 14 in the winter - similar to your temp except for yours is less humid. I get the morning sun in the kitchen, which is hot and strong in the summer. I don't cook at all, so I don't get any of that hot morning sun where I want it in the living room (I spend the most time in the living room and I love the heat). I get the afternoon sun in the living room, which is very weak and doesn't do me any good. Even on a sunny day in the middle of summer, I have to put the lights on in the living room because the afternoon sun is so weak. It doesn't help that there are lots of tall trees back there as well (blocking the sun even further). If I ever buy another home, I'm going to be sure the morning sun comes into the living room. I can't stand the cold winters, so I hibernate! I keep everything closed up with super insulated curtains on all the windows. I don't open them up until the Spring. So you will have to consider all these issues (when the sun comes into your home, where you want the strongest sun, and where you want the weakest sun) when building your home. That will also affect your heat. It's so hot in our summers that I have the a/c on and close up the curtains on the hottest days (and open up the windows at night). Another thing you'll have to consider is if you want to grow a vegetable garden, where is the best location for that on your property. I have a friend who is an excellent gardener. She needs to think about the location of her garden to be sure she gets the correct type of sun - when and where. Best wishes and congrats!