My wife and I are in the bid and contract phase of a cost plus build. The comments from everyone have been spot on. It's not that your GC is an idiot, he builds his spec houses 90% of the time and once a year, maybe, builds a custom home for an individual. So, when he calls his subs and sends the house plans, they all do his builder specs and send it back. And not wanting to waste his time, he took what they sent, added it up and gave you a price. My GC is doing the same thing, but since we're cost plus, I'm reviewing every bid/quote and having him go back to get things right. We're not moving forward to the contract set up until the bids are right. It's taken almost three months and I'm still trying to get Doors, Windows and some small items from him. Luckily, patience is my only virtue, and I'm persistent like a dog at dinner time. The contract is the most important thing, and as said before, hire a local real estate contract lawyer. Start with the American Institute of Architect's (AIA) forms and have the lawyer add clauses to protect you and include your plans, spec lists, draw schedule, and any time constraints within the framework of the contract. If you don't see it in the contract, then the builder and subs won't be held to it. Be a vicious jerk right now, insisting every i be dotted and t be crossed... then, if things get off track, you don't get mad, you just point to the contract and inform the GC that money is not disbursed while the contract is not met. Make sure your bank can't pay the GC without your signature, verifying that the work is done to your satisfaction, not just building codes. Brian Charlotte, NC

You all are the best! My husband was so adamant about doing the fireplace in stone but I flat out told him that I think it would be too much for that room. Then when I showed him the stone fireplace mantels, he fell in love with those! Thanks for the plaster lesson, Allison & lagom (no worries about the McMansion comment - I'm not offended at all!). I think my builder was already doing a plaster finish on the walls now that I understand the difference. But I made an appointment with a decorative painter for the morning to get his ideas on what to do with these spaces. I'm excited to see what he comes up with!

I needed to mount a TV above the fireplace because it was really the only place in the room it could be viewed by everyone and not in the way. The mantel of our fireplace is rather high (almost 6 feet) which would put the center of the TV well above a comfortable viewing angle. I spent months searching for a TV mount that could lower the TV to a decent height. I quickly discovered that anything motorized would cost several times what I paid for the TV. Beyond that, there were 2 options: Omnimount or Down and Out by Dynamic Mounting (http://www.dynamicmounting.com/index.php). The Omnimount is cheaper ($200-$300 vs. $400-$500) but an inferior product for my purposes. The Down and Out mount is much thinner (protrudes ~4 inches from the wall) and can lower the TV much farther (~30 inches!). I should also say that I have engineering degrees and tend to do all my own work. I thought about making my own mount but was a bit surprised at both the cost and level of difficulty. The Down and Out was fairly simple to mount on the wall and works VERY well.

This morning, I found an article on making fireside/Hearth gift baskets. Wasn't sure of the site link so posted it below. I found it on the Better Homes and Garden Site. Gifts from the Hearth This gift basket holds aromatic herbs and pinecones for the fireplace and simmering potpourri for the home. Present your fragrant, handmade gifts in a decorative container big enough to double as a firewood holder. Look for a metal basket like this one pictured, wicker baskets, or aluminum buckets, preferably with a handle. Intersperse your goodies with evergreens. And don't forget to include fireplace matches. Scented Pinecones A cone or two can be tossed into the fireplace on the hot embers. Or, arrange them in a pretty dish for a more subtle, fragrant decoration. Cost: $25 Time: An afternoon Skill Level: Beginner What You Need: About 24 2-x-2-inch pinecones (available at a crafts store) 1/4 cup (approximately 2 ounces) frankincense powder (available at a crafts store or florist) 1/2 cup (approximately 4 ounces) myrrh powder (available at a crafts store or florist) 1/4 cup gold glitter White crafts glue Cellophane bags or wrap (available at a florist, crafts, or paper store) Shallow container, such as a shoe-box lid Gold filigree ribbon Newspapers Instructions: 1. Rinse pinecones with water. Lay cones on an old cookie sheet and place in 300 degree F oven for one hour. Spread cones out on layers of newspaper and set aside to complete drying. (They'll close tightly when wet and fully open when dry.)2. Blend frankincense, myrrh, and glitter in a shallow container. Dab glue on tips of pinecone petals and on bottom of cone. Roll cone in mixture of powder and glitter. Set cones aside to dry.3. Package a handful of dried cones in cellophane to give as gifts. Tie bag shut with gold filigree ribbon. Attach a label with a holiday greeting and instructions for using the pinecones. Dried Herb Bundle For a burst of delicate fragrance, add an herbal bundle when starting a fire in the fireplace. The lovely bundles also make a fragrant decoration for the hearth, or put them in a basket beside an entryway. Cost: $15 Time: Under an hour Skill Level: Beginner What You Need: Dried stems of aromatic herbs (available at crafts or herb stores) 6-inch cinnamon sticks (available at crafts or herb stores) Raffia Cone-shaped holder (available at a crafts store) Instructions: 1. Strip dry leaves off dried bunches of herbs by sliding your hand down stem. Gather a small bunch of stems and tie the bottom with a strand of raffia. 2. Tuck a cinnamon stick into the bunch. 3. Stuff two or three bunches into a decorative cone-shaped holder fashioned from stiff paper or a holder bought at a crafts store. Simmering Potpourri A ribboned tin or cellophane bag is a festive way to present potpourri. The scented mix can be used in a potpourri burner (use 1 tablespoon) or simmered in a pan on the stove (1/4 cup potpourri in 2 cups water, set on lowest heat. Don't boil the pan dry) Cost: $30 Time: Under an hour Skill Level: Beginner What You Need: Orange peel (cut into 1/4-x-2-inch strips and air-dry until crisp) Cellophane wrap or bags or airtight tins (available at crafts stores) 1/4 cup each of dried bay leaves, cedar tips, sage leaves, rosemary leaves, lavender leaves, marjoram blossoms, juniper berries, cinnamon sticks (broken into pieces), and dried orange peel. Many of these ingredients can be found at a florist or at a crafts or herb store. Instructions: 1. Blend ingredients (makes about 2 cups). 2. Package in plastic or cellophane bags, or store in an airtight tin and decorate with ribbon or string.