Yes, the info is outdated. Also, clerks in paint stores will still recommend painting one wall at a time by cutting it in and then rolling it out while the cut-ins are still wet. They are outdated too. I'm a fast painter. If I cut in a 12 foot wall, some of those cuts are too dry to roll over by the time I get about halfway done with rolling the wall. Honestly, I think you have about 3 minutes before they are too dry. If you can cut-in a whole wall and roll it out in 3 minutes, you are good and fast! Of course this depends on humidity, temperature, etc., and adding Floetrol will always give you more open time, but that's just the general idea. Most paints used to be a vinyl and acrylic mix. Those didn't dry as fast as the paints we are seeing all over now that are 100 percent acrylic. The hatbanding effect can also come from rolling over a dry cut-in line, but I have not seen that happen for some time. It probably only happens with certain products and I guess I stay away from them and use what I know works. Usually if I cut-in a whole room, the cut-ins are ready to be painted over within an hour or so after. Just make sure they are not tacky at all. You can do both coats in one day easily. The best thing to do is read the can to find out what the manufacturer recommends for recoat time and again make sure the walls are not tacky at all before recoating...usually most brands can be recoated in 4-6 hours. My normal pole for rolling normal walls is the 2' to 4'. You want to spread the paint on and then on your final pass roll from ceiling to floor. Don't stop in the center of the wall and change directions.

First of all, I hope you enjoy your new house. I'd make a point of meeting all your new neighbors. Ater you've been there a few months, in a gentle way try to identify those with common interests in improving the neighborhood and workt together. After all, everybody has a resale interest sooner or later. Perhaps people have lived there a long time and no longer see it as it is, or they are older and some limitations as far as upkeep. Perhaps you'll be just the right spark of change. Meanwhile, keep in mind that an over-improved (i.e. extra fancy phyiscal amenities) house for the neighborhood is always more of a resale risk than a super well-maintained house and put your near-term energy and dollars in maintenance (and community action) instead. Unless you need to sell again in just a year or twos I wouldn't worry too much. A lot can happen to a neighborhood when even a few people take a chance and buck the trend. Don't we always admire the lucky folks who buy in a not-so-fashionable neighborhood and then ride the wave upward? You could just be ahead of the crowd. Molly~

Why can't you keep the plant by the door/glass for the southern balcony? Other options can include asking friends/family to take care of the tree in the Winter and get it back in the Summer.... or some nurseries will take your trees for a small fee and keep it in their greenhouse. Depending on your work, maybe you can take plants to work? I'm not in your situation but with my type of job, I can easily find multiple places to store figs or citrus during Winter... Some are just above freezing, others are about 10-15C with massive windows. Just think outside the box and don't be embarrassed to ask people for help... or get a different apartment :p

Another vote for Colette, she is gorgeous. I don’t know about base life. Bathsheba is also beautiful but Austins dont last very long as cut roses here