Mmmmm...Margaritas sound good! I have always said where there's a will there's a way, I think you are on track to make something very cool for your pool! I have amazed myself at the things I can do when I set my mind to it (many times encouraged by someone telling me it can't be done) My first concrete adventure: In second grade, I decided our secret fort in the woods needed a swimming pool, so we stock piled soda cans filled with water in the fort, we dug a fairly big hole with play shovels, and I convinced my babysitter that I had to bring a bag of concrete mix to school for a project, she helped me set it against the side of the building and I almost got away with the plan, but I was caught dragging the bag across the playground at recess and I guess the powers that be didn't really think a pool in the woods was a good idea! Thanks for the cuttings offer, but I am still struggling to get anything to grow roots from cuttings, despite studying up on it and trying every which method. I haven't given up totally, right now I am still nursing one last rose cutting, a couple of vitec (sp?) and 6 lavender cuttings, but I am not very optimistic given how many before them have bit the dust. As you may be able to tell in my "citrus in tufa" pic on the container site, I broke down and bought myself a bougainvillea in a hanging basket. Cant wait to see what you create for your card table! Nik

Some friends of mine back in IN did what you're suggesting and love it. They had their concrete entryway done over with the overlay to look like brick and it's incredible. We have an old concrete patio that we're going to redo (one of these years) in the overlay, using a stone finish. We thought about putting a layer of decking on but the look doesn't match our yard and it's too thick. The overlay is not very thick -- I don't remember specs but I can't imagine it would be much thicker than flagstone. We only have a few inches clearance between our current patio and the door sill and that's plenty of room for the new surface. I've seen samples of the product and it looks incredible, and care is supposed to be a dream. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any bad experiences with this. See link for photos but I can assure you the finished product looks much better than the photos can show. In case you can't tell, I'm hooked on this idea :) Here is a link that might be useful: concrete overlay

I have the Cambridge sofa in vintage black. After 3 years it was saggy on one side and had lost quite a bit of leather on the seating area so I contacted them and they replaced it. The new one looks better but they went from a 98" sofa to an 8ft one but when measuring it, it actually measures smaller than 8 ft. I also have noticed that when someone gets off it, the other person can feel it, almost like it's not level or build strong enough, it goes up and down. Hard to explain but we're small people. I actually preferred the saggy, missing leather to the new version. If you can find anywhere else to get what you want in a sofa, do it. Restoration Hardware may look pretty but it's not well made unfortunately.

"Because cement (or concrete) tiles are porous like natural stone it's generally a good idea to seal them so they are more resistant to staining. A sealer is a liquid applied to cement tiles (and porous natural stones) to help prevent staining from water and oils". "For ongoing maintenance, clean regularly and mop with clear water or a neutral detergent. If necessary, buff tiles with a white pad. It is important to remove abrasive grit that may cause wear." So. If you are NOT into maintenance for any natural, or porous or high care/maintenace surface of any or every kind? You need the man made mimic of whatever it is. Just don't expect it to look like the coveted natural counter/table/ floor/bacsplash etc.. It will look a nice version of whatever it IS and nothing wrong with that approach. Alllll if this stuff is like linen shirts in your closet. If you hate wrinkles, detest ironing, enjoy a wrinkle free look all the time? Don't buy 100% linen. It is allll the same type of thing : )