Gorgeous sconce Kate -- Thanks for posting the maker. I also did some quick Googling and found that Restoration Hardware now has some Crystal and Nickel sconces. Not that lovely, but also probably not that pricey... Here is a link that might be useful: Direct link to subject sconce

After looking at your new color mock-up, I like the existing warm wall color better. I like the wood ceiling as well. Would not fool around with changing that. The element that you can't change on a buget is the tile floor. So make sure you pick a color that goes with it. I would look at greens and grays. Definitely paint the fronts and the base of the cabinet the same color. Good luck.

Jeri, me too! Thanks for the kind words, everybody: I'm glad you all like the photos. Vaporvac, that's a particularly handsome compliment. Carol, I'll pass on your thanks to DD. Kim, that occurred to me, too, and I posted the photo of AJ on HMF. I agree that there are far too few full-plant photos there. 'Archduke Joseph' actually isn't all visible in the picture: it continues on past the persimmon and climbs onto the end of the wisteria pergola behind the tree. Huge. The quality of the flowers has been excellent, though the flush is fading now. AJ benefits, I think, from its position under the terrace where I keep my potted plants: they get watered during the summer, and AJ likely profits from the runoff and from the potting soil that inevitably gets scattered about. @K S, about the rose for your friend, what about 'Cl. Mme. Caroline Testout', or 'Awakening' (sport of 'New Dawn')? Both are at least mildly fragrant, reflowering, pink and handsome, and determined varieties. A different style of rose, bright pink, fragrant, that will climb if given support, is the Hybrid Musk 'Vanity'. This will make a contained climber, but has an open, angular form. Or--still speculating--'Noella Nabonnand': tall, leggy, sprawling, with abundant spectacular large blooms of extremely vivid fuchsia, though actually there's not a word in English to describe NN's unique hue. This last might require summer heat. It certainly offers color. @slumgullion, I think it's a matter of degree. Our clay takes fingerprints. I'm still trying to come up with the courage to think of modifying our soil to a degree that Teas will be able to grow there: it will require terracing and quantities of organic amendment and sand. Idem for Hybrid Musks, a class I love, but that struggles in our heavy ground. I bought a load (three cubic meters) of sand a few months ago; now it's just a question of hauling it around and adding it where needed. Sand is heavy! P.S. @K S, oops, just noticed the "cupped". 'Awakening', then, which has a particularly handsome bloom form.

I think ceiling height is very much a personal preference thing. I also can't stand 8 foot ceilings. I need a 9-ft ceiling minimum for it to feel a little bit more open. I've had 18 ft living rooms and I think 12 ft is the sweet spot.  I personally wouldn't go over 10 ft in the bedrooms and other smaller rooms,  but to teach their own.  One recommendation is to consider dropping the shower ceilings to 9 or 10 ft.  That will help to keep you a bit warmer so steam can build up.  I can't imagine showering in a large shower that had 11 or 12 ft ceilings.  But that's just my preference.