Thanks you for all your ideas and suggestions. You all are great! When it comes to planting near the house, I felt like I'm stuck in first gear. Maybe I'm moving into 2nd now. The front and west side of the house bother me more, probably because I see these areas many times a day and they are so BARE. I'm on the road now, traveling from Portland ME, and won't be home until Sunday. When I do get home, I'll take some photos so I can make it clearer what I mean. esh - You and dibbit hit the nail on the head re: using native plants. Yes, Myrica cerifera (Southern wax myrtle) is prolific here. It grows everywhere - even on sand dunes. . It tolerates long periods of wind and high tides (including salt water), and bounces back after tropical storms. Some are huge! I've also seen them pruned into multi-trunked trees - lovely. I'll see if I can find some small ones in the woods that may tolerate transplanting. Your post made me think about what DOES thrive here, not what I can MAKE grow here. In addition to Myrica cerifera, dominant evergreens include native Ilex opaca and magnolia grands. (Maritime forest) Spruce, that's great news about planting so many trees on your new land. It sounds like you are pleased, but maybe a little impatient for them to grow. My knowledge of Ilex opaca is limited to the prickly ones in the woods and next to roads. Since Isabel knocked down so many loblollies, our forests have been transformed - you really notice this in the winter. The dominant color is dark green with so many hollies and magnolias growing fast. Tomorrow, we drive from NJ to to Northern Va so I can make a side trip to McLean Nursery. If there is anything I should keep in mind (besides renting a closed trailer), please let me know. I remember messages between you and beng (I think) about what a great place this is. I've been waiting for a chance to visit. Ken: You asked "what is the descriptive term for that kind of house?" Good question. I don't know the answer but will see what I can find out. As background, my husband wanted to re-create the house he grew up in. That house was in Washington DC and was designed and built by his father in the 1950's. The house had a flat roof where people gathered to watch stars and fireworks, lots of glass "to bring the outside inside," and wonderful views of the city. Pete's father studied architecture under Walter Gropius who is viewed as a founder of Bauhaus, a school of modern architecture. When I first saw that house, I'd never seen anything like it! I think of our house as a beach house although it isn't in the style of most beach houses in the mid- Atlantic or southeast, in VA and NC. Maybe it's more like a California beach house? A modern or contemporary beach house? I think it's a reasonable facsimile of the house Pete grew up in, with lots of glass to bring the outside inside, a flat roof for star watching, and wide decks so we can entertain the neighborhood. Ken, you had a question about our "occasional short periods of salt water flooding during tropical storms." When a tropical storm goes through and if the eye goes is west of us, the Bay backs up and we get flooding. If the ey passes to the east of us, the water in the Bay drains out into the ocean. During Isabel (2003) and Ernesto (2006), the land under the house was under 3-4 feet of salt water with very strong wind and breaking waves. As the eye moves away, the water drains very quickly. The salt water damage is mitigated to a degree by several inches of fresh rainwater. After one of these storms, you swear everything is dead but the native plants spring right back in the Spring as though nothing happened. Yes, our local extension agent (ag agent) and especially the forester have become friends. They are unfailingly helpful but don't have much advice about landscaping. dibbit: The way you describe your entrance sounds similar to ours - a long driveway that curves (through the new forest one day) before you arrive at the house. Our entrance is unimaginative and uninspiring. Most things I planted died - including Nandina 'Firepower'! I like your idea of using cedar trellis to beef up the pilings and screen objects like the propane tank. I thought about using one of the smaller magnolias in that bed, adjacent to the weeping yaupon holly and tank - maybe 'Little Gem.' I usually have a small nursery under the house - it's fairly well protected but the trellis would be useful there. We also have 5- 550 gallon storage tanks for rainwater under the deck. I like your idea of keeping the design but ditching the plants. Your list is good. I've been making some changes since last year but am still stumped in some areas. What trees would you plant in front of a house like this? I thought about the Nuttall oak - it doesn't mind wet feet and is sturdy. Or maybe one of the new red maples like 'October Glory'? A small magnolia? Alabama - I am not familiar with Titi. I just started reading about it - it sounds promising. How do you use it? Do you know a source? Many thanks, Pam

Yes, that kohler would be great for a combo powder room-laundry room. I'm looking for cheaper since it is just a laundry room for me. I'm thinking a stainless steel utility sink because I plan to use it for soaking baseball pants and the like. I really like that IKEA sink because it looks better than the cheap sinks I'm finding elsewhere (well, of course, because it's ikea). Also because it wouldn't limit my faucet choices as much as the other sinks I'm finding. I've been meaning to draw up a plan and post in the laundry forum. . . . Maybe someone's got a great alternative. Maybe the original poster had a great weekend. ;) Here is a link that might be useful: Stainless steel utility sink

The stainless steel sinks are probably the most durable. That would also depend on the thickness of the steel. The thicker, better built, the more it is going to cost. You might also look at commercial kitchen sinks. Originally the builder had put in one of those ugly gray fiberglass tub utility sinks in the cabinet in my current home. I pulled it out and put just an inexpensive kitchen sink with a pullout faucet. Did end up putting a new preformed laminate top. Previously there was ceramic tile and I hated it. Always dealing with stuff in the grout. My main criteria for the sink was that it had to be big enough to wash the dog. I just put in a white one bowl sink. It's an inexpensive Dekor, which it is probably made out of fiberglass or some kind of plastic. For me, I also clean out paint brushes and clean all kinds of grungy things. I figured if it got too ratty I would just pop it out and replace it. So far it's been in for a number of years and when polished up it looks as good as new. I don't know why you would want to stay away from fiberglass. Does it lose its finish, crack? They do use fiberglass to make boats and they run them in rough salty water. I would think it would make a good product for making a sink.

I bought a 24x24 sized standing stainless steel sink from Home Depot online. it was really expensive. I think it is about 12" deep, but not sure. It still needs to be installed, so I can't report on the product. I wanted stainless steel for my basement laundry area.