We used to have tiled counters in the bathrooms. Hated hated hated it. Cleaning the grout is a pita with soap scum and toothpaste getting into it. Pink or toothpaste on your lightly colored grout is not really trendy nor will it ever be.

woo hoo, I made it. It was the most involved foodstuff I have ever attempted. It's cooling now on a rack-still in the pan, hope that's ok? I just never had enough time, nor the inclination when I finally had the time, to make or bake anything this involved. But I thought my family would really enjoy it for Tgiving. we are not a dessert family but this apple cake sounded so good and looked so good. And dd will be home for the holiday and hopefully we will have a couple of foreign student/relatives of dil here for the celebration so this time I will have an 'audience' for good stuff to eat. I know you guys are wonderful cooks and I so appreciate your sharing your recipes and comments. Thanks, Ruthanna, again. P.s. now have 3 cans of evap milk and I will frost half of it at another time. Frosting/icing could be a turnoff for some of my goofy relatives.

Robin_D, you are our inspiration kitchen! Was this really a budget kitchen? Gorgeous. We love the dark oak cabinets. Would you mind sharing details about the cabinet maker, stain, etc. Thank you!

Last kitchen. The upper cabinets on either side, plus a full drawer base held most of my clutter. The bulletin board was great for invitations, photos, appointment reminders. I had a large calendar on the desk, and plenty of outlets for charging. Like the first photo, my new desk area is almost identical with the exception of the drawers base. It's mot as large and I miss those larger drawers. however, I do have a huge corner cabinet off to the left, in addition to the two that flank the shelves that are used for junk. The trick to organization is the baskets. I don't have a bulletin board over this desk because the electrician put the phone jack and electrical outlet right over the desk. Instead, I put a large board in the laundry room. One tip that I have used in my last two homes. Don't settle for a normal desk piece, and don't let the cabinet guys hang it to low if you are a tall person. I got a unit that has a taller drawer. The standard units are not deep enough to hold today's phone books. Because I am taller, I wanted more knee room under the desk. I did the same with my bathroom vanity. Higher and taller drawer. You can also run your desk unit the same height as your base units and use a stool under the desk, instead of a chair. I've done that before! Bath