Green Designs, Thank you so much for your idea. I had not thoought of doing it that way but, it does seem much more attractive than just a straight roof from the right! I tried to draw a shed roof coming from the right and ending at the left side. I thought about taking out the brick wall and adding two posts on either side with a short rail fence between the posts and leaving an entryway of 6-8 feet in the center. I hoped that fences and posts would be decorative enough that the long roof would not look to bad. I really hate to ask this, but is there anyway, you could draw that option for me? I just need to visualize it and as a retired school teacher, I have NO talent in design! Sierraeast, I will check in porches and decks to see what advice I was given there. Thank you both, AnnCarolyn

Hi Belle and thanks for the wb! That's good to know about the flat round brush. I don't have any of those and have been thinking I needed to get some. Your comment about the video reminded me of this video, which shows an even simpler way (though the guy is kind of creepy, IMO): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDm6fIPJRE I used to ink schematics on 30x40 mylar sheets at Boeing, and we had rulers that had cork strips under them, and also ones with slightly elevated metal strips on the sides that do the same thing. I still have them, but never thought about running a paint brush along them. I think they're not high enough, but they worked great with a rapidagraph. You could also tape pennies to the bottom. But I like what that guy does on that video -- so easy! Thanks about the mistakes not being so noticed. I keep reminding myself of that. I'll try not to stay away so long. I just don't do decorative painting as often as many of you. I sort of mix creative projects. I'll make a post showing you the last one I did. ~~ Bebe, I've been reusing the tape like you suggested. Works great until the edges get a little wavy with dried paint... but then, I'm working with latex at the moment just striping the inside sides of the toy box, so it would probably be better with acrylic -- not such quick buildup. Still, I've gotten far more mileage out of my tape than I would have, thanks.

I agree you should get what you love, and I also agree you should prepare for the future, which you are doing with the shower. I'd recommend putting the grab bars in now, not waiting until you "need" them. You could slip tomorrow and break a hip. That's not the time you want to go out shopping for grab bars. I'm only 55, but I have severe rheumatoid arthritis that was diagnosed when I was 2 years old. I'd love to take a bath, but haven't been able to for about 2-3 years now. I use a shower chair in the shower. I couldn't use the chair mdln posted because it doesn't have arms. My balance is too off and I'd be terrified sitting down and standing up from it. I also couldn't use the two aids pictured above that are to help people with disabilities get in and out of the tub; I'm not saying they're bad products; I'm sure they help a lot of people! But it really depends upon what kind of disability you have and how severe it is. The one thing that came close was the photo of the claw foot tub with the big grab bars. One thing you could do to help you plan is to visit a small, independent drug store that carries aids for ADLs (activities of daily living), and ask them to show you what they've got. You can explain your thinking and they will be thrilled to show you everything! There are literally hundreds of aids on the market for assisting people with their ADLs...for instance, I have a form thingy that I put my sock over and then, using long cloth strips, I can put my foot in it, pull on the cloth until the form comes out, and voila! I put on my own socks! Most of the people who own small independent drug stores are really nice people who really care about their customers. I'm not saying you have to prepare for Armageddon, but it would be nice to kind of know what's out there for when the time comes down the road. As for floors, I've read hundreds of people, just on these gw forums that either despise or passionately defend every material out there. If correctly installed, just about any floor you choose should last a long, long time. But if you have a major leak or water disaster, no floor on earth will live through it. So get what you love! :-) I've thought a lot about these kinds of questions because I bought a house in October and am going to spend the next 3 years or so remodeling from top to bottom. I'm trying to use universal design concepts everywhere, particularly the kitchen and at least one bathroom. I use a walker now, and it's highly likely I'll be in a wheelchair sooner or later. I can only afford this remodel once. It will need to last me the rest of my life, so I need the house to be able to accommodate me come what may. That's also why I've agonized so much over things like wall color and back splashes and lighting fixtures--I don't get a do-over. I'd better get it right the first time and still love it in 30 years. To be perfectly honest, I genuinely think your bathroom would look fantastic with the tub your DH wants and the design elements and colors you want. I think it would be unique and special to both of you because you gave him the gift of the tub, and he gave you the gift of everything else. I hope this helps! :-) Here's the type of sock aid I use:

We've only been living with the Karndean a couple months, but thus far I couldn't be happier with it. We've installed it throughout our second floor and plan to also use it when we remodel our first floor. I now it was more than the Modin base. I can't remember exactly what I paid, but I know it was costlier than the Modin base. I maybe paid somewhere around $4.30 a square foot. Right now it seems to me that the 40mil wear layer on the Modin Signature is overkill (I have the original product with the 40 mil installed in a basement). The Karndean I bought has a 15 year commercial warranty; that's good enough for me.