I work for a geothermal air conditioning company in Florida and I would highly recommend the product. They can easily be retrofitted into older homes and will probably take up much less space than your current unit. They also are quieter, have better humidity control, cut the electric bill in half, and more. Also, there is a 30% tax credit based on the installed cost of a geothermal system, so when you couple that with the energy savings you actually will start making money off of it after about 5 years. Best of luck to you! Here is a link that might be useful: Egg Geothermal Systems

I know this is a good 5 years later, but I was wondering if you still live in this house because it sounds like the exact description of the house I live in. We bought it in 2009. The rooms in the house and the layout is my exact house except the larger room upstairs is a parlor connecting to a smaller bedroom, and the living room is actually a dining room and the downstairs bedroom was never a bedroom but a parlor. They used it as a bedroom after they turned the downstairs bedroom into a bathroom and large gentlemen's closet. Anyways, I hope you get this because even if it is a different house, I would like to know what you decided! We are trying to figure out exterior colors at the moment. As far as I know the house has always been white, but it has such beautiful molding and gingerbread trim that I need ideas on accent colors for a white house.

I doubt she is pregnant. Anyway, you will LOVE having two cats cause it's so much fun to watch them play, and it's so sweet to watch them cuddle. Usually, the younger the new kitten is, the easier it is for him/her to get along with the resident cat. I introduced a 5-month old kitten to my cat (after having the vet check her out and give her a clean bill of health), and it took only 24 hours for them to be friends. I didn't really hover too much over them; I just let them sort it out between themselves. The first 24 hours wasn't that fun, but it wasn't too bad either. Also, don't feel bad if once they're introduced they become friends and ignore you! The ignoring part is just short-term. It happened with mine for about the first month they were in a "honeymoon period" and didn't come to me for any affection! Once the novelty of each other wore off, they were back to their loving selves with me. LaurieF's recommendation for the L-Lysine is a good one. It works amazingly on cats with upper respiratory infections caused by the herpes virus (which a large majority are). I would give it to both cats. I think you're correct to wait a little while to spay the new kitten, until she's settled in. But don't wait too long. I had mine spayed at about 6 months. As was pointed out in another thread (I think by Meghan), every time a female cat goes into heat increases her risk of breast cancer later in life by a very large percentage. I am so glad you have another cat in your life. And I am sure Dustin is too.

I think you have a real handle on what you want but a decision this big needs people you don't know and never will's opinion. Support and agreement is good and these folks know there stuff but it's your place you will live there. You never mentioned budget but for the kitchen I don't believe your prices include labor, electrical and plumbing, do they? I do know some people that paid more for the kitchen remodel around here that you can buy a simple tired home for. 12X14 sunroom. I was in the sunroom business and didn't want one for my home, sweltering in summer and stone cold in winter. Yes you can heat and cool them and watch those utility bills skyrocket. They look to be initially inexpensive but once you factor in added utilities it is more cost effective to extend with traditional construction with a large focal window. They will tell you they will appreciate the value of your property greater than traditional construction but now that they have been in fashion for a while they can actually be a deal killer. We are looking at homes and don't want anything to do with a sunroom. Glass is glass, the greatest heat loss is through the glass in a home, until they invent a high insulating glass that is affordable that is simply a fact. R-3 per pane, maybe, you do the math. Full thermal break or not. No one would build a room and put in R-6 of insulation in a wall. Sorry I know you are focused on the kitchen but thought I might give you my spin on sunrooms.