PM2, Wow. I brought up my googlemap of nurseries, and all of them are a distance from 90...even Andrew's Greenhouse and Bay State Perennials (both in amherst). (not sure if they are *true* destination nurseries, especially now) Suggestions: (*relatively* close) is Variegated Foliage in Eastford, CT. Logees Greenhouse in Danielson, CT, and Quacking Grass Nursery in Brooklyn, CT ARE destination nurseries, but lead you farther off your trail...the good news, is that they are close to each other. Ah, boston...it's so nice to have all resources right at your fingertips...wish all locations were like that...:P Here is a link that might be useful: Variegated Foliage

Here's how my relationship with a garden center works: an on-site consultation is $75 (split with the nursery) which is applied towards any installation work they do with the nursery. This is a really important thing, because I've learned that you get a LOT of tire kickers and brain pickers through a nursery. I had one woman want me to come out and tell her where to place the two flats of annuals she bought with a Groupon and she was FURIOUS that there was a charge to come out. Seriously. That consultation buys you my eyes and a conversation. I use my judgement; if it's a small, quick planting screen or something I'll figure it out on the spot and quote it out, but anything more involved I don't draw a thing without a design fee. Once I sell an install the nursery then pays me a percentage for the sale and to manage the install. Usually that involves laying the job out and talking through the plan with the guys, although there have been more complex jobs. And there was the time I got to stand in the November rain with the crew, the homeowner, and the fire department after someone slammed a pick through a gasline. The bottom line is they're providing you with a lead source, which is great. Just don't forget that you're providing them with an opportunity to get a lot more exposure and sales. Get paid.

Roo, I recently went to our local decorator showhouse and they had a room with a car theme so here are some ideas: The neatest thing I saw was an oval mirror with a black frame with matchbox cars glued to the frame to look like a racetrack. They also had valances and a bedskirt made from pices of (what looked like) felt with pictures of various license plates. It looked like they used photo print material and ironed it onto the pieces of felt. They had a seat from the back of a van as seating (it was kind of neat, and kind of odd simultaneously - if that makes sense.) They also had 1 wall covered in maps as the theme had a travel element to it as well. I know these are not exactly baby oriented but if you decide to go with cars, the ideas might get you thinking. I do think the oval mirror was so cute and could be cheap and easy and would be okay for a baby too. Pam

anything besides gray! you could a dark charcoal or even a soft black, (on that window wall. or maybe even that ceiling!) and bring in lots of artwork for the wall. maybe some hanging plants since you have such a tall ceiling. (love the floors) bring a cool chandelier kind of like here would look great w/the brick wall. you could do hte other walls in a soft gray, or just the white accent with colors, art see how they did the black wall w/their wallpaper? brought in a colorful rug find a vintage over-dyed rug: You could layer rugs like this: other ideas: Dark charcoal walls, wood accents, lots of texture and animal prints this darker blue/gray would look nice w/the brick. bring in the other items you mentioned peacock. Since you have such tall ceilings, think about doing the ceiling in a darker color, like the peacock find a vintage dresser, paint it peacock, and use it for your changing table here's a gray one against a brick paper love the crystal knobs too. I'd like this w/the black/white decor