~Winter Sowing Container Count / Zone Wars~ Zone Wars Summary: Zone 4 . . . . . . . . . . 78 Zone 5 . . . . . . . . . 758 Zone 6 . . . . . . . . . 458 Zone 7 . . . . . . . . . 710 Zone 8 . . . . . . . . . . 92 Total Containers: 2,096 Good morning winter sowers. We've broken 2,000 containers! And zone 5 has taken the lead! Please note: this thread will soon reach the maximum number of replies, and I will be starting a new thread sometime today. Click the Container Count / Zone Wars Spreadsheet to see the container count in detail. ~Happy Sowing Everybody~

RF (radio frequency) goes through walls, IR (infrared) does not. I've had very little luck with RF remotes working well, when they do work, it tends to be delayed. For TVs, especially flat screens, I would suggest running an HDMI cable (in wall rated) and Cat5e from the TV location to a "homerun" spot. Either a closet or cabinet or utility room where the Coax from either Cable or Sattelite is located. Simple IR eyes (at the TV) and repeaters (in the homerun location) allow the IR remote to change channels rooms away. HDMI carries audio and video reliably and in one cable. Firefold.com is a good source for reasonably priced good quality in wall rated HDMI cables. Over 50 ft will require a repeater for the HDMI, there are wall plate repeaters to boost signal (HDMI has a power cable in it) that are reasonably priced. For Audio: Wallplates require one or two Cat5e cables, depending on the system. Volume controls are the other way to go. So in a closet, you need an Amp/Receiver. A whole house system (I have BreathAudio) can be both. Inputs like your logitech unit plug into it as a source. Then you plug the speaker wires from each room into the Amp/Receiver (if you go volume controls only, then the volume control speaker wire goes to the Amp, while the wires from speakers go to the wall mounted volume control). Then you have to control the sources and amp, either by walking up to the closet and make selections, or by RF remote or IR Repeater set up. Then you turn each room on or off with the volume control. Our last house did wall mount volume controls, and the BreathAudio was much easier to set up and use. It has built in IR repeater to control our CD Jukebox from any room. Simple Cat5e RJ45 connectors and speaker wires plug into the back of a double wall plate in the "homerun" room, and the double wall plate has a special cable to the unit. Also, our last house had the Amp/Receiver in a closet, and it continually overheated. Just a consideration. BDPECK

Some costs will depend on how much you're willing and able to do on your own. I put these layouts on a 16x22 grid (interior--if 16x22 is the exterior footprint adjustments will be needed), to help you see how everything will fit. You already know m/l what it will look like to add an island to the existing kitchen, so the kitchen is in the new addition, which will bring it closer to Sophie's estimate. 1) If the PR is new, it will be easier to relocate it (unless you're on a slab), so I put in on a short hallway off the kitchen, but closer to the front entry. Next to the garage entry is a walk-in pantry, which is also near the fridge. The pantry and PR extend to the LR wall. There is no island, but there are multiple prep spaces with window views. 2) Table and island with prep sink. Trash has been moved to the corner of the island, to be convenient to prep, cooking, and clean-up zones. Might be congested if you get a lot of traffic from the deck entry. 3) PR in addition, with DR in former kitchen. Fridge and wall ovens could be m/l switched, and the storage area could become the pantry, which would be better for prep functions, but would put the fridge far away from garage entry and LR.

this room has similar windows to yours. look at how nice the darker paint color on the wall sets them off. Perhaps you could do just the living room area walls a darker shade.bring in some drapery panels. you really need to get a media console for under the tv. if you can't afford to buy a new one, look on craigslist or yard sales for a vintage credenza, buffet or dresser, and paint it white. (or if in good shape, and walnut, leave it natural), see how this one is pictured? :get a tall plant for the corner, place a chair next to it and your tv, the media console (heck, even Ikea has ones you can use) and then look at how they have those white drapes. that will make that part of your room look fine. here,,,console, art, plants, chair lamp, pouf,,,just try and find things like this that go with your decor. your pillow are sad. can anyone sew? if not, just get some pillow covers for the ones your have. the cost is 10-15 bucks. or spring for some new, colorful pillows. get a tall plant to put in the corner near your desk. you need some life. to the left of it, look at garage sales or craigslist for a larger book shelf. Paint it a glossy white or whatever color you have in there as an accent. Learn how to DIY better yet, you have the perfect little nook area for a built in desk/shelving. this is super easy to build, would look great, and offer you way more storage as a work space area. just look up, "built in desk nook' or 'built in desk area'. you could even find a second hand desk, paint it, and build shelving around it. The dining room needs a large piece of art in place of where the mirror is. find a canvas art piece (or paint your own) that you like that eats up a good portion of that wall. put the mirror somewhere else. as of right now, you have no life or movement in your rooms, and very little color. look at pictures of rooms you like and see what you can use in your own rooms.