timber I saw that! That's what sort of got me going - then I saw this pic on the Schoolhouse site. One of the kitchens in the Willow entry are the same backless stools in gray, in Martha's kitchen. :-) I LOVE the Giannetti design ones - but I think they might be too much, plus they're WAY out of the budget. Those lyon stools with backs are only $70 each!!!! Palimpsest, maybe you're just telling me what I want to hear, but thank you for your input. :-) I really value your opinion on here. (not that I don't value others, of course!) Aww timber thanks for asking about kitty. This is the first really warm day we've had, so she and I are sunning on the deck, which she loves. :-) She isn't looking too hot (has a cancerous bone tumor growing on her jaw, poor baby) but she seems pain free and happy. she scared me earlier in the week when we got some blood, but it seems to have stopped. I think it's b/c her upper teeth were poking her lower gum, which is pretty deformed now. So sad. Yes!! The sink got installed, everything turned out OK. DH is at the house now, likes the island as is (I assume you saw that post) so it's staying. Whew, one less thing to worry about. :-) I am still waiting for him to send me pics. *tap* *tap* *tap* I should have just posted this pic to begin with - GC still has to do filler piece between sink and cabinet doors. (among other things LOL.)

blfenton, I am sorry I missed your question about the lumbar pillows. They are IKEA pillows, and they are slip covered in that pattern, so it worked out well for us. I attached a link to the pillows--they come in several fabric covers and are $19.99 each. On our banquette, we have five right now. I also wouldn't want to have a narrow table, as I don't care to knock knees with anyone. Our table is 43"X 54" oval and has two leaves to lengthen it. The butcher block (and cushion) overhangs the cabinets a little bit, so that our legs aren't hitting the drawers or hardware below. I have sat on benches where the hardware was kind of in the way, and I kept hitting it with my calves, so I kept that in mind when designing this particular bench. I think having it done with springs and upholstered like real furniture as circuspeanut suggests would be optimal for seating. I would have loved that! I am certainly not skilled in that area and haven't the money to have it professionally done, so we went the budget route. One of the most beautiful dining rooms I have seen had a loveseat set in a bay window, with the table pulled up with chairs in contrasting fabrics. It looked elegant, yet totally comfortable--a place you would love to sit with the girlfriends over coffee and treats gabbing for hours. *sigh* Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA lumbar pillows

Hi again Erina -- When it comes to getting it "right" it's all about testing colors and seeing how YOU feel with them! So much of this comes down to finding a color(s) that work with your home + how you live in it + your innate preferences. [This gets more complicated if you live with someone who has different preferences!] I absolutely think you should explore the blush/pink idea. But I think we've all been there when we can envision something in our head and then have to go to Plan B when our sample is way off and it's not really a matter of choosing a close sibling. So I like to have backups in mind. ;) It's a little funny because a lot of the other color suggestions I have seem to be in line with the art over your sofa (from what I can see of it). The first one is actually for: the 2 blushes/pinks (the medium terracotta and the lighter warm blush) AND the medium taupe color (but is it more or less your current DR color?) ...and I think you could use 2 of the 3 in your LR/DR vs just a single shade for both Here's another example of a taupe (see ceiling!) Here are a few possibilities (grey and cognac already mentioned upthread) -- slate-y blue-grey (you could go with a lighter shade) and butter yellow (I know you nixed the deeper blues upthread but the warm medium blue IS lighter and brighter so I mention it just in case, ha!) Here's a golden brown -- you'd have to evaluate against your floors: Here's that butter yellow and pale blue-grey again in a better example of the colors currently in your rooms (I don't think you're wanting a leaf green but it's here for you if you need it)

I think it would depend on the couch in question. In general used uphostered furniture is a huge bargain. I think if one goes to the home and inspects in person, one would get a good idea of the kind of household it was. If is is stained or odiferous, then don't buy it. In general - not always - a good quality sofa is simply more comfortable to sit on. And often the fabrics used are more beautiful. That of course depends on the sofa. Of course it is easier to go to IKEA and order a sofa versus taking some time to track down used sofas which may or may not pan out. You probably wouldn't be able to take home a sofa the same day unless you were incredibly lucky in terms of finding a used style you like. I would assume that these sofas are place holders while you wait for the sofa . you actually want to come into inventory.