Another thing Squirrel, My bedroom's paint color is not as deep and pretty as your beautiful virtual. The paint color varies. Sometimes it is a happy color and when the sun enters the room with all the blinds open, I like the color then. Other times it is a lemony color that I always wish would be a tad deeper like your picture with a tad less lemon in it. I guess paint colors look different in different lighting and pick up what is around them also. I am learning so much about decorating. The Linen blind color gets more brown in it at night (it is a pretty color in the day time more creamier and not so dark with the ash color in it) and in my mind clashes with the paint color at night so I want the blinds covered at night so despite loving this treatment for the day time, I would want two sheers on each window to be able to open them up during the day time and close them at night and for coverage since one sheer will not cover the duet 3/4 size pleats. Most likely these sheers will have to be semi-sheers for more coverage (that is why I looked at the Sensations Crinkle Sheers and the Emma Lace Sheers since I did not like how the regular sheers I bought home covered my Duet blinds so poorly). The white Emma lace really covered the windows the best but the white was a little bright that maybe is not showing up in the pictures despite how pretty it is. The Sensations has a nice soft white but I still am thinking of putting a lace valence on the door since I love the Emma valence and pattern. But this wonderful picture has given me ideas for my balcony door and that I am so happy about. Thank you.

@ sena01 - Thanks for the personal experience with this kind of thing. It always helps hearing from people who have been there. And for your vote! @island - Aunt lives between Naples and Ft. Myers. I haven't been down there yet, but it sounds beautiful. The pics are great. They have a floorplan I would love, with the whole house centered around the back in a big U. That would so not work in Alaska, given you need every inch of sun here you can get. But, I just love that kind of floorplan. Now that I understand what you are liking, I can mock some things up. I do want to make the point, though, that those 18" cabinets are slightly over 1/2 the size of the 30" uppers. Isn't that what you said you preferred? @mpagmom - Well, I gotta say, that's a pretty cool sink. I don't know how hard it would be to find a sink like that or how much it would cost. Also, not sure if it really works with what I am doing here? I can sure look into it, though. I assume you are talking about the greenish kitchen when you say dark gray? That is a nice kitchen. You know, Marcolo used those exact words on me - "think slate". I'm just not really finding one I like - except the one on the back of that peninsula in the pic I posted again above. And, my neighbor friend directly across the street has a slate BS and I don't really want to do the same thing... Good question, Deedles. I know we don't have any current problems with that, but the cabinets are raised up. I want whatever is in the punch bowl, though. Monday morning or not. My partner mocked up what it might feel like at the sink last night by clamping up a board. I'm not having any problems with it, being short. He wasn't loving it. We are going to leave it up for a while and see how it feels over time.

Yes, I custom designed a mock Roman shade for my mother based on a totally function Roman shade that I made for myself (see 4th pic below). She loved the way it looked pulled up, so here are pictures: Not yet installed, still lying on the floor (approx. 16" long): Sorry for the poor lighting where it was installed. It is hanging about 8" higher than the window frame, barely covering the top moulding: Another one for my mother in a different room and different fabric: This was the her inspiration shade which is a fully functional Roman shade covering a window about 65" tall and 29" wide frame to frame: I used Simplicity pattern #9986, but had to adjust for a smaller width and longer length. You could also Google "mock roman shade" to see other styles. It will depend on the ACTUAL shade you choose and then design one to match how it looks pulled up.

Thanks, everyone - great feedback.... gmp3 - I am planning on white countertops everywhere but the island where I plan to have gray. I will definitely use brushed nickel or chrome - more modern bar pulls most likely. I think that will help modernize the kitchen. herbflavor - I agree that the ceiling needs more structure and presence. I have a lighting designer working on a plan which will involve a series of semi-flush mounts and I also plan to add a much more substantial ceiling moulding. I hadn't thought about adding beams b/c we have one oddly positioned beam that needs to stay in place (for now). And definitely window treatments! debrak2008- thank you! The entire kitchen is about 18 years old, so in person it looks more dated than it looks in the photos - plus I really need to make it mine. cilantro - I think the fridge does look dated, though I don't feel that way about all wood paneled fridges. However, I also don't hate it, and thought a good first step would be to change to more modern pulls. Plus there is a second smaller sub-zero that can't be seen in the photos I posted - it is also paneled and for some reason looks nicer given its immediate surroundings. So I will live with the paneling for now. As for the Marmoleum, I have researched it like crazy and had read Rhome's threads and as many other GW threads as I could find. I will only install sheet Marmoleum for that reason, and I will only use Marmoleum if I can find an excellent installer (I posted a separate thread about that a few days ago). I just saw some great looking vinyl in a higher end home, so your comments are well taken. youngdeb - the white quartz I have in mind is Cambria Newport which is a warm white with a very subtle pattern. I am super excited about the prospect of warm white countertops and a great backsplash. The two contenders for the island top are Caesarstone Pebble and Cambria Devon - both lovely, soft grays. We are on the same wavelength. And yes on the Marmoleum - I am anxiously awaiting the samples I ordered. Papering the butler's pantry is a fabulous idea!!! That is right up my alley - and a perfect way to given the butler's pantry its own identity I am choosing paper for a powder room and bedroom next week, and will start looking. Thanks so much! Ellendi - thanks for your comments and encouragement that I am on the right track!