Thanks all. Breezygirl, I did indeed see them in person, and that is what made us start thinking seriously about them....but being the type of folks that think too much before making a decision(!), the one thing that concerned us was dirt tracking and sticking inside those thin raised linear areas....I worried about just what staceyneil mentioned - having to get down on all fours with a scrub brush to clean them well(not going to happen in our house!). Well, will do more looking and touching.........

Hi canicci, our house is pretty new, built in 1996, I believe. We live in New Hampshire. Many of the homes around here have a Colonial look from the outside -- 2 stories, shutters, steep roof, center entrance, etc. But like many builder's grade homes, the interior had no architectural interest -- minimal crown molding, skinny baseboard moldings and trims, that swirly stuff on the ceilings. Over the years, little by little we've tried to upgrade the finishes and add architectural interest. Previously, we didn't use our dining room at all. It got the best sunlight in the whole house, but it was too small and closed in by a pocket door, not inviting. It became a dumping ground. We decided to knock down the wall, increase the size of the dining room and add an arch, making it open to the kitchen. We eat dinner in there every night, and now I'm looking for a larger square or round table so that we'll be able to seat 8. I adore the bungalow style! Do you have any photos of your home that you could share? If you could also post your current layout including the kitchen, dining room, family room and surrounding areas, I bet you could get lots of great suggestions about ways to achieve to open up your dining room while preserving that wonderful bungalow style. I just noticed that you asked me about Crown Point's pricing on the other thread. It's hard for me to give you a price point since there are so many variables. I would say that they are on the higher end, though. They will give provide you with a design at no charge, so why not get a free estimate? They are located about 2 hours from me, so it was very easy for me to work with them. I do know that they have had quite a few West Coast clients and others all around the country. I can't say enough about their attention to quality and customer service, but there are so many choices out there including local cabinetmakers. Looking forward to reading more about your renovation, Erika

Make sure you look for a water resistant laminate because most laminates don’t like water. We were looking at AtroGuard laminate by Lamett, but have since decided to install SPC (stone polymer composite) rigid plank SuperCore flooring from WeShipFloors.com. It’s not bothered by moisture and humidity, and living in Mississippi that’s a real plus. With the laminate we would have to run dehumidifiers 24/7 to maintain the 40-60% humidity to keep it happy during the summer and humidifiers in winter to maintain the humidity during cold weather when the heat has to be on. Most of the water resistant laminates are surface water protected for up to 72 hours, but if water gets under it the floor can be ruined. The Flooret Modin SPC plank has some colors you might like and so does SuperCore. It’s definitely worth reading up on the newcomer SPC since it can take temps much higher than LVP and WPC (wood polymer composite) vinyl plank flooring and is much more stable in sunlight. I also suggest you read a lot about laminate since you stated you are looking for flooring that will be durable with water. IMHO, the SPC flooring will fit your needs better. There are some companies that have a tile look SPC if that interest you. It may take some research to find them, but they’re out there. Good luck in your flooring search. I really suggest you do some reading on both types of flooring and then decide what you think will work best on a concrete slab in Florida that needs to stand up well to water with humidity, kids and a dog in the picture.

I and my husband painted the entire interior of our home with Behr “off white” Ultra Scuff Defense Stain Blocker and Primer; matte for ceilings and walls, satin for doors and moldings. We took our time. Lots of prep work too: we repaired all cracks and nail pops, sanded and primed those areas, washed and rinsed all areas. Very time consuming but worth it! I even received a 10% military discount at Home Depot for the paint and supplies, as I am a retired US Air Force Captain. The paint was easy to apply, great coverage, no odor, no issues. I have used BM and SW paint in the past, and love the Behr! People who see my home like the “off white”. It looks great all hours of the day. Best of luck on your journey.