rcnaylor, If you read carefully, I did mention that we (NC) had one of the hottest/driest summers on record. We set record highs every other day during the month of August, rain was MIA. We experienced a Phoenix-like summer, which is VERY unusual for NC. The record highs were in the 100's not 90's. To put this into perspective, our average high during the month of July is 87F, and the average low is 67f. Those temperatures are acceptable for PR to survive. I was also referring to the strip of grass which some of you have seen many pictures. That strip is in nearly full sun. My backyard, about medium shade I will say, is comprised of mostly TTPRG, some KBG, and some Fine and tall Fescue. I only lost about 5% of the entire area. Grubs did NOT eat any of the roots unlike the front yard. Anyway, my point is that Gryd mentioned that PR browned easily during the summer. I said to him/her the soil because despite the hot summer conditions mentioned above, my PRG lasted until the 2nd week of August - that's is 2 weeks again from fall seeding. That tells me how heat and drought tolerant PRG is. BTW, I have decided NOT to overseed my KBG lawn with PR. I figure it's too late anyway. Even for PR to get establish. In other words, it'll have to do until next spring. As far as tall fescue, I personally do not care for its looks too much. It doesn't provide anything that KBG already has. I'm not concern about drought because I water whenever the law needs it. I'm not concern about heat either. The newer elite KBGs have outstanding heat tolerance, not a problem here in Central NC even under Phoenix-like style summers. I'll be willing to bet that KBG can grow further south of here. Anyone from Jacksonville, FL who wants to try KBG? I have extra seeds I can send down there for testing. It's Midnight KBG. Let me know.

Since it is a new build, I would encourage you to solve your lighting problems with a good lighting design and not by lighter or darker finishes. It's amazing how many people feel that they can't have what they want in a complete kitchen renovation because of natural lighting conditions when they could just add more lighting and it's not a problem anymore. That said, stained finishes are definitely more durable and hold up better as well as being easier to touch up. i wonder if your take on the the painted finish is because it is sprayed rather than brushed. A sprayed finish with topcoat will not look or feel like a hand brushed finish and will definitely feel more "factory" and "perfect" and less "natural" especially to someone who is accustomed to a brushed finish (I don't mean a hacked brushed finish either, but a nice one done by someone who knows what they are doing). It is definitely a different look/feel but also a lot more expensive to do a nice brushed finish.

Well they started doing the trim in the cream and we all looked at it and shook our heads. Just not working. Decided it's either got to be a real contrast or stick with white. And since I'm not willing to commit to a colour at this point, white it is. Still leaves me the option of painting the door any colour I want (I could even change it yearly!) or adding colour to the front window frames. roarah, thanks for the link to the cursive letters. I'm going to measure and see if they'll fit on the window trim. Also found the vinyl ones on etsy, but I'm not sure how reliable they are. kmcg, I like that churlish green too. It seems similar to the gold I chose for the accent strip. I don't have it on my F&B colour sheet. I wonder if it's new. They finished the 2nd coat today and started on the trim so they should be done in another day or two. I'll post pix of the finished product. I have to admit I feel as if I've let down the side a bit by going with the safe white. Will really have to find something jazzy for that door.

I think the pix of your kitchen and other rooms look lovely. I'd hesitate to take something that is working and mess with it. I just went through painting all new window trim and baseboard moldings and then stripping and painting all the existing stained trim and baseboards. It sure gets old fast. You can go faster with probably 1 coat and then touch ups, but it is still a lot of precise painting. I agree about maybe painting a piece of furniture or adding some gray accents in other ways. Maybe a gray accent wall would work for you. If you confine your gray trim to the master & mstrbath, that might be enough without biting off more than you realize. I go into projects thinking I will get things done faster and easier and am always surprised that it takes me as long as it does (a bit of a perfectionist about painting). I love your yellow with the light trim. I'd keep it simple. In our house, there is always so much that needs doing before I ever get to anything that may be whim-like.