Thank you all for your suggestions and pictures. billl - good point about the dust collecting strips - I agree either against the wall or room for cleaning between. enduring - thanks for the link, although I think my architects violated most of the suggestions - they seem to be more form over function - but it's only the powder room - our bathrooms were designed and built in 1939 - so of course they violate most of the suggestions too. Good luck with your reno pricklypearcactus - I'm meeting with the GC and finish carpenter to discuss a built-in. I was thinking if it had 3 drawers and feet instead of the standard cabinet doors, it would look more like furniture even if it is built in. In the case that I go with RH - how do you like the quality? kfhl - thank you so much for pointing out the baseboard issue. I completely forgot that. mydreamhome - it's a renovation, but we're bumping into what was our original attached garage. Unfortunately the plumbing is already installed. But, give that the door hinge is on the opposite side of your hinge, I think you'll never see in the room from the entry - only from the mud room. nini - lovely vanity and I absolutely love the black granite w/white bowl look - but it would end up being the fanciest piece of furniture in our entire house :) Does the black granite show a lot of waterspots?

The color of my new dining room is 'French Bulldog' black, the runner for the stairs was chosen specifically because the dogs like to guard (I use that term very loosely) from the landing and we have coordinating beds scattered throughout the house. My pimped out minivan is black with a personalized Frogdog plate and Harley is the poster child for the labels on our homemade wine. So I guess the answer is a resounding yes. I'm the neighborhood dog freak - love these pictures, but always, always have a soft spot for the short noses - especially that little black pug!

If furniture and trim had to match, there wouldn't be one room in our house that a decorator would find acceptable!! We've lived in St. Paul, MN and now outside Chicago and one of the things we've always required is unpainted woodwork...and we're old home people. We have cherry and oak, We have mahogany and oak. We have 3 colors of wood in our kitchen. Because your wood is, to me, a richer color, I would not go with light or pastel type colors, though. I'd suggest middle of the road type colors.

I'm just trying to keep a more traditional look. My home is a 1920's brick bungalow. I've always thought I would keep the original hardwood floors and have a subway tile backsplash, but...the kitchen floor was in really bad shape. We were unable to save it and couldn't find 1-1/2" wide unfinished red oak strip flooring to match it (and the rest of the first floor), so we put in a slate/quartzite tile in instead. I'm still open to subway tile (and still love it), but frankly, I'm getting tired of seeing it everywhere and was trying to think of other options. I'm loving the hand-glazed tiles lately, maybe crackle glaze, in a 3x6 subway or 4-6" square. Also considering laying the square tile in a diamond pattern. Just trying to get my head around other ideas that would still be appropriate for my home. The floor is rather colorful, so I'd like to keep the backsplash simpler, but with some shine, to contrast with the matte counters and tile floor. I appreciate all your input.