We both work full time...my DS at a less demanding 9-5pm job at a university, me at a 50-60hr week + travel management consulting firm. We're remodeling our entire home interior--every room. Plus massive plumbing, electrical, and HVAC upgrades. We hired an architect to draw up the plans, and a GC is doing all the work. I am personally playing the role of interior designer/finish chooser. That being said this project has been a 40 hour a week second job. To make it easier we: 1) MOVED OUT. I can't even imagine how naive we were thinking "oh we could stay and they could move room to room." It would have taken far longer to complete it and would have ruined our life (no exaggeration). 2) PLANNED EXTENSIVELY. There are so many decisions you have to make in a remodel and so many surprises. To keep these items to a manageable level, think out everything in advance that you can and make sure it's in the budget. It will cut down on the mistakes, stress, and change orders. The idea of some people who don't know whatcounter top they want until they put in their cabinets--I couldn't operate that way. 3) ACCEPTED THE AFFECTS ON MY CAREER. I'll be honest with you all--I got a middling mid-year performance review last month. "You don't seem engaged." "Your not selling enough new business" "you haven't done anything 'extra' this year" -- you just have to be at peace with the fact that a major reno has side affects in a lot of areas of your life, including your career. I was willing to sacrifice a better raise and add another year to my promotion timeline because there is no way you can add a 40 hour a week second job and not have it affect your first one. I honestly can't wait to get back my job and try to make up for my distraction this year--I was excited about this project when we started but I am so sick of going to Home Depot and the tile store all the time. I know I know, we're going to love it. TWO MORE WEEKS!

Hi, anyone from Vancouver Canada? I have been trying to find a source for a Corian solid surface shower pan but am having a difficult time finding one. I've called a few bathroom supply stores and went to a few Home Depot and they only have the ugly acrylic ones and only in white, Corian.com does not even mention this type of product so why is that? If it's such a great product why wouldn't they advertise it?

Along with heated seats and mirrors, my Audi has a heated steering wheel option that I love. Both the seats and steering wheel heat almost instantaneously. Although it's not as cold here in the PNW as some places, I love having a warm steering wheel most days/mornings of the year. I also wanted a back up camera, as I'm always delivering and picking up my grandson from school and those little ones can be hard to see walking behind the car. One feature I hate about this car, though, is they placed the bright headlight indicator on the lower left side of the instrument panel and, even though I'm not particularly short, I cannot see it without raising myself up to peer over the steering wheel. Not the wheel, but the center spoke/bar of the wheel; it hides the indicator. My good fried with a newer Volvo SUV says the same is true in her car...she can't see the indicator without lifting herself up to see over the wheel spoke. It also has the radio controls on the center console, so if you bump it or set your purse on the digital station settings, it whacks everything up and you lose all your presets. It's obvious that men engineer all these vehicles as the features are often not female user friendly.

I assume you have the sofa that was upholstered with the 18 yards. If so, how long have you had it? If it is new, I would spray it with Scotchgard to protect it. If it is not completely clean, then this might not help so much. Here is some good information on caring for velvet. Personally, I have avoided velvet upholstery, although I do have velvet drapes and pillows. Velvet that is 79% poly 21% viscose should resist color change or fading - the viscose could fade if exposed to sunlight. Part of that depends on what color it is, as some colors fade more easily than others. Polyester is generally fiber dyed (if the fabric is a solid color), and this type of dyeing is very stable. The problem with polyester (especially velvet or chenille) when used for upholstery is that it can create static cling, depending on what you are wearing when you sit on it and what the soles of your shoes are. I'm not sure you need the extra 10 yards, unless you want to make matching pillows and/or covers for the arms and/or back of the sofa. I generally do put covers on the arms of my sofas, as they tend to get dirty more than other areas of the sofa. It is good to vacuum velvet upholstery regularly, using the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner - or you can use a small hand-held vacuum.