Thanks, Bellsmom! I wish I could do that myself. I have MBR pics, but they're espresso maple in a dark bathroom. They're also a neat combination of cabs. :) And everyone for the compliments! I'm really happy with how they're coming out. It might take me forever to paint or stain, but in the meanwhile everything's going in them instead of boxes piled against the wall. I actually find the skinny, 4-drawer drawers useless. That's why I originally ordered 3-drawer. My plan, someday, is to do what I did with the (extra) cabinets in my MBR. I took out two drawers and one set of drawer glides. I cut out the face frame and put in a single deep drawer. Like the big ones on the 3-drawer. Then, I attached the drawer fronts back onto the big drawer so it looks just like it started. Deeper drawer are much more functional than 2.5" deep drawers. Now I can put stuff actually in them. With 18" cabinets, the drawers can only be 15" deep. Need all the space I can!

You are in a difficult situation indeed. I understand what you are going through. My husband and I have a son together. He also has a daughter from a previous marriage and I have a son from a previous marriage. The situation you describe sounds like mine in that my husband shows his biological son an enormous amount of love and my other son nothing. There is basically no interaction at this point between the two. He use to discipline my son, but I felt it was done unfairly so that has stopped. Now we are at the point where he nit picks about every little thing my son does, but not to him...to me. It is sooo annoying. It has weakened our relationship as husband and wife, but at least my son is not constantly hearing the complaints. I must say though that my husband's nit picking has made me more critical of my sons behavior. I feel like I am riding him harder over insignificant stuff so I don't have to listen to my husbands complaints...I keep telling myself I need to stop this. My husband, for the most part, is good to me and our son. My other son is 12 and very into school, friends, and basketball. I try to do extra stuff for him when I can to make up for the fact that he doesn't have a dad and his step-dad wants nothing to do with him. My dad (his grandpa) is also a wonderful role model and strong male figure in his life. He spends a lot of time with him. Is it possible for you to find your other son another strong male role model? Like a grandfather, a friend, or join a big brother big sister group? Maybe that would help him and allow you to stay with your husband. You also must consider your other children too. What effect will it have on them if you take them away from their father?

Rob...please post it! blfenton...for you... Here's a railing for one of the houses I designed. My DH made it. Note: the base board went in later & the stairs are carpeted. The wood under it is mahogany/salvaged out of a bank demo. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ladypat......For you...my lower patio....

Arcy - I 100% want a custom gate like that. My children are small enough to fit limbs and heads through the spindles. They don't, but they could. 5 1/4" between spindles and 6 1/4" open between treads (yikes). We plan on more children so it would be a continuing problem... Thanks for bringing up the cost/aesthetics/value balance. Good thought Patricia - thanks for thte thoughts. The problem is there aren't a lot of specialists in my area, just a lot of GCs and new build developers. Other pros in the area seem to be geared toward commercial projects as well. I do need to know how much my problem COSTS before I can budget for it hah. A handrail seems easy enough though. Lorraine - I do have the kid stuff underneath the stairs - out for the world to see. I'm definitely leaning toward a redo.