As I mentioned on the other thread, we looked at thermally broken aluminum but ended up with Milgard fiberglass because we could get black inside and out. Also wanted to note that you don't have to have the same coating on every window to meet the codes (although you wouldn' want to change on the same wall.) We had a spreadsheet with the square footage of each window and the performance of each coating and tweaked it considerably to get the average to meet the code, which is what is required. It's a little odd because the code seems to assume we are in an air-conditioning climate, so solar gain is considered a bad thing, whereas we were trying to get some solar gain on our south side. (think we ended up with 3 different coatings on different window orientations.) Good luck! (There were some additional specs with the Milgards that you'd want to take into account if you go in that direction. I'd have to look them up.)

Wow! Thanks a million for the feedback! it's priceless. Being that the photo is very underexposed due to lighting conditions(which btw i installed dimmers on the fan). thanks again. torreykm: color vs muted..if we go with color i would like to compliment the rug since its so close and muted; it's probably our safer choice. But we are open to suggestions. I like the curtains below. However, for some reason the white looked a bit plain when I installed mine. Yet, the whites you showed me here do have some nice patterns/designs. Where can I look into buying the curtain below? I really like this one. ingrid_vc so/always1: At first i thought about the same thing; round, glass and metal to make the room look bigger/small rug issue. But then I think about how delicate a glass table can be and how it sort of takes away from the cozy. But I suppose I can have it all with a small space :) aprilneverends: I am aboard with the "texture in the space", "more texture more interesting" and embrace your valid toddler analogy. My only issue is the size and perhaps it can dwarf the living room space. But my gut feeling says that the table is so nice that it won't matter. With respect to staying with the color scheme, I can always entertain the accent suggestions. Yet, we will prefer nothing flamboyant; yes we do have botanical motives. Perhaps behind/around the wicker basket area. One thing I forgot to mention is that the windows behind the verticals is a sliding door. So we would like to keep it not to busy in case I need to access my BBQ on the porch :) voila: Thanks for the comment. I promise to post a correctly exposed picture soon( as well as the end result). My wife has travels the world and has beautiful photography which we plan to mount on a large canvas to put behind the sofa. I will try to also include a panoramic view of the living space which included the dinning area where we have a nice florida/coastal style painting. lastly, thanks the curtains in JCpenny look very nice and matches our colors. I was thinking about a turquoise color as well. I will be making a stop today to look at curtains in persons as well as possibly buying the first coffee table on here by the end of the day if I don't come across any others. Keep the feedback coming. Cheers Rob

This side of the kitchen keeps getting more an more eclectic with bistro chairs, farmhouse table, rattan chairs, black chest. Calm down it's starting to look like a storage area. That is why I suggested you repeat the style of the light fixtures over your island. IMO, though I personally love them, I don't like the rattan chairs with the bistro chairs. I think the counter stools were a great selection but they are not complemented by all the stuff you're gathering at the other end of the kitchen.

Hi jvanlaanen- How nice that you were able to speak with Leann Ford by Zoom! In my mind, we select a professional to guide us because we like what we know of their training and their work, however, we expect that they would advise us based on the exigencies of our lives, not merely envisaging things through the lens of their own Weltanschauung. If you are allergic to mold, and or dust, and floor coverings are not good for you, never mind how they look, or who tells you to use a floor covering, don't get them! Not only that, there is a reason that homes in tropical climates use tile floors, from Hawaii to Florida to the Caribbean to India. They rot, as you yourself said earlier. Really, has Leann Ford ever lived in the tropics? And as for the marble table- Aging doesn't happen in a linear fashion, it happens exponentially. Before you know it. Not to mention the effect of sports-related injuries which can happen at any age. Even if you can move a marble table to mop, are you going to be there when the housekeeper comes? Do you think she is going to risk hurting her back to move your table? Dream on. A wood table can be repaired, sanded, stained, etc. Marble cannot. So firstly, if you are not going to get a floor covering because of your breathing (and asthma is no picnic) you need to think about how a marble table would look on your floor, and it may not look as nice directly on the floor without a floor covering. Another thing, importing things from the mainland is very expensive. Why buy a Leann Ford sofa table? You have gorgeous exotic woods in Hawaii and master craftsmen. I would keep your eyes open and comb garage sales and second-hand stores and Goodwill (and look at the online sales) and tell everyone you know you are looking for an all-wood handmade sofa table and when you go to all these stores bring index cards with your name and phone number and what you are looking for written on the cards so they will call you when it comes in. People die all the time and family members give stuff away or sell it for peanuts not realizing their value. Absolutely do NOT get three papasan chairs, that is ridiculous! In a large living room, you can have 2 sofas and 2 chairs, or one sofa and 4 chairs, 2 of the chairs are the same and the other two are the same. You may have a guest that is older or with a bad back and needs a straight back or more structured chair, and the sofa and papasan chair won't do at all. I would get at least one straight backed (but comfortable) chair that has arms. If you can find 2 that is better. I would get a sofa that is a simple tuxedo style that goes with most styles, it looks like this- I think you need a larger dining area table and chairs. One large enough to sit at least 6. I am not convinced about the buffed concrete. It is tremendously expensive. It is not commonly done or expected in Hawaii, and you will not recoup your money if you sell the house. To do it correctly takes tremendous expertise and very specialized equipment and the ways and means to get the equipment to your place easily and safely and the ability to easily and safely and ecologically dispose of the waste which is considerable. What works and is easy and economical for Leann Ford in Pennsylvania may be impossible or exorbitant in Hawaii. In addition, if the finish in the buffed concrete gets damaged it allows for the growth of mold and mildew which is the LAST thing you need. And, I think the finish needs to be touched up periodically. That is way too much maintenance. With all due respect to Leann Ford, I think you are much better off working with a certified interior who is experienced and works in Hawaii. This person will know what is available in your area for a reasonable price, who the reliable contractors are, what is considered desirable, where to obtain products, what can and can't be done, etc. Meanwhile, I would suggest you start building up a sizeable "look book" of all the things you like. You can start by perusing things here on Houzz and creating your idea books, and write what you like and don't like about all the things you save. For example, you might not like a whole room, but like the light fixture, or a painting. Or you don't know if you like anything in particular about a room, but you like the gestalt of the thing, it makes you feel relaxed. You can also upload files or photos from the internet into your Houzz idea books. Or you can save photos into your computer. You can use an interior designer from another island, he/she doesn't need to live on your island. When you are looking for ideas, you might want to look for ideas from coastal areas and tropical areas. Wait a few days, some more people on Houzz will probably contribute their opinions as well.