You are in over your head with that want list. Hire a pro. What you are describing wanting done isn't gonna be DIY friendly. Plus dealing with lead? And you need to change your expectations about an old home's character lines and wrinkles or you'll go broke and drive yourself crazy

Using the mirror over the mantel is not where I'm headed - that picture is about 15 years old! A friend on another board came up with a suggestion at the same time I was thinking of it myself. See the white mirror above? Notice how the bottom piece of trim extends out on 3 sides - ALMOST LIKE A SHELF !! That's what my piece needs - I think - and it should be pretty easy to add. Wha'd'ya think? At this point I'm leaning towards cleaning it up and not painting it - there is one other small piece that I'd like to use in the room with the similar wood tones so I think they'll relate well. syllabus that's a really interesting idea - I'm going to have to flip a photo to get a visual. The bookcase you're seeing in the reflection is black - must be the sun glare looking blue. But that's one of the pieces up for repainting so it may not stay black.

I have White Dove on all of the woodwork and ceilings throughout my house. It is definitely warm, but works as well with all of the cool colors in the bedrooms as it does with the reds and golds in the living areas. I recommend White Dove to a lot of my clients as well. IMO it is versatile yet dependable. Good choice! Nicole

Pbear,you have expressed my same concerns. I had every permutation going with soapstone and wood counters, but now think my 8' ceiling will also make it too heavy. I saw a lovely kitchen in a home for sale yesterday with a sort of china white (maybe darker) cabinet color, kashmir or bianco romano counter, perhaps a crema marfil small subway marble backsplash, and a honey colored oak floor. Very pretty, but worried maybe a tad bland. It was very monochromatic, but calming. Other than soapstone, I really love marble counters, but thought what I saw was a possible alternative to the look. Anybody have pictures with the kashmir type of granite and off white cabinets? I have searched here and found almost nothing. A also saw in a May Traditional home magazine a BM color on the cabinet called misty air used with a gray mystic stone backsplash. However the counters were stainless with a zinc edge (too cold for me). Any thoughts on using kashmir granite counters with misty air cabinet color and gray mystic stone backspash?