hvtech42: "The funny thing is that not a single Samsung model was rated 'excellent' for gentleness by Consumer Reports, whereas LG, Whirlpool, Electrolux, and GE all managed to earn that score on at least one of their models despite not having a 'diamond' drum." Hvtech24, I once was a huge supporter of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. I personally knew the late Prof. Colston Warne, who founded the organization, and I treated the detailed tests results in the CU publications as if they were engraved on the tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain. Even today, I do not question CU's objectivity. But I gave up completely on CU several years ago, for one reason: Repeatedly and consistently, they ask the wrong questions. The reports will give you honest answers to the wrong questions, but if the wrong question has been asked, the answers are irrelevant. I have not read the report to which you allude, and therefore cannot comment on what went into CU's blanket assessment of "gentleness." It may mean nothing more than that one machine has a preprogramed cycle for "hand wash" and another does not; you tell me. But I can tell you -- keeping it strictly to laundry appliances -- that CU blackballs any clothes dryer from a Recommended Rating if the door of the clothes dryer is hinged at the bottom (hamper door) instead of at the side. CU automatically gives every dryer that has a hamper door a Not Recommended Rating. Yet we -- our laundry appliances are in the basement which has an old poured concrete floor that is impossible to keep clean -- look for a hamper door as the number one criterion in a dryer purchase, because the hamper door catches articles of wet laundry that fall during the transfer from the washer to the dryer before they can hit the dirty floor. Back to the washing machine: we encounter less pilling and broken fibers in our washed laundry since we replaced our former front loading Frigidaire (= Electrolux) washing machine with our current Samsung. That is OUR experience, but it may have nothing at all to do with CU's evaluation of "gentleness."

ILR - to receive an email notification that you have a message on Houzz.... go to the top right of the page, click on Your Houzz then click edit profile then click advanced settings then click customize my email settings below scroll to User Notifications, someone messages me and choose every time You will be able to read the message within your email or click a link to take you to Houzz messages to read there. if you read it only in your email it will show as unread in your messages until you open it there. Houzz has the worst, clunkiest user interface for a website that is 'such a major player'

We just bought a new condo and have mostly furnished with West Elm. There was a holiday weekend with 30% off everything and if we opened a credit card, we also go 20% back in gift cards. It was an amazing deal and we’ve been pretty happy. The bad news is that 2 pieces we purchased were damaged and needed to be returned and exchanged. We’re currently waiting for an area rug. We have a store about 10 miles away which is nice but we’ve had to go back and forth so many times that it’s getting ridiculous. So overall I have mixed feelings about West Elm, but if you’re just buying rugs, you should be OK.

I am just so obsessed with this look and all the products in it. Would love to know if anyone here has comments on any of the pieces in the photo - most of of what I've read is very positive in terms of the quality but new to the brand and would love any specific feedback on these pieces/fabrics before taking the plunge. My good friend owns a large Jones sectional in Oyster Linen and its very comfortable gorgeous but thats my only in person exposure to the brand. They have a pop up show house in NYC/TriBeCa in August which I'm hoping to attend but kind of don't wait till then to place my order and besides not even sure what products will be on display there! Any thoughts on Perry Chairs in Nubuck, Muir Sectional Sofa, Morro Large Table and Mott Stool in Shearling. TIA!