Um... There were symptoms last year before the kitchen remodel, but the CO alarms were in the fall. There is a gas water heater in a closet set into the wall with an exterior door. I think it has it's own flue straight up. The heater serviceman did check it, and the exhaust pipe and thought that wasn't the problem. There's another gas water heater in a shed behind my studio, separate building, completely not part of the main house. There are gas starters in the fireplaces that I've never used. The gas dryer only gets used an average of 6 times per month--but not since last April until a couple of weeks ago because of the remodel. It's been unhooked in the dining room. Not a factor when the alarms went off. I added the vent hood in the old kitchen, but wasn't cooking much in the year before the remodel for various reasons. The new hood is twice as powerful, and goes in next week. There might have been some insulation added in the attic when I bought the house. I change out a couple of windows in the kitchen during the rough construction last Spring. I think some gaskety things were added to the french doors in the dining room and living room, but they're still not 100% airtight. During the construction there has been plastic sheeting over the whole dining room opening and the kitchen door, isolating the back of the house. The air intakes are in the middle, but on the main house side. I was told that the volume of my house meant that make up air wasn't required for the new hood. I hope that's true, or I'm going to be having to open a window, because that's how the room was created. The CO problem has nothing to do with the new, not installed, hood, however. The only thing going during the time when the alarms went off was the water heater. The only cooking appliance during that time was a microwave in the front of the house.

Hi all, I first want to thank you all so much for your comments and observations. The insight and knowledge on the GardenWeb forums is tremendous and I learn so much. Before I forget, Paul (paul4x4), you commented on the size of the bricks in the living room fireplace. I don't have any idea if the fireplace or chimney was altered. I do know that my chimney guy said that the fireplace/chimney is not large enough to be safe for wood burning--and that it is unlined, so that we should not burn wood in it without having a liner put it. Something about the fact that burning wood would send flames too high into that chimney. I have an update to respond to tzmaryg's comments about what's behind the radiator. Due to a leak in another part of the hot water heating system, the system had to be drained and I took the opportunity to have the plumbers also disconnect the radiator and move it out so I could get behind there. First, there was a plywood-like panel covered with the light color wallpaper that I had removed from the rest of the wall. This panel was just nailed into the white wood of the mantle surround on one side with small nails, so I took those out and pulled the panel away. Here are photos of what I found behind it: Long view--see that dark round-ish patch in the center of the peeling wallpaper? That's a 5" hole going into the chimney!: Close up of hole: Looking through the hole into the chimney: Needless to say, seeing an empty hole going into the chimney sort of freaked me out--even if it has been there for quite a number of years. This chimney takes the gases from the boiler. I had the chimney guy out today to seal it up. If it was a stovepipe for smoke going into the chimney, is it weird that the wallpaper looks like it would have been tucked up right against the pipe at the time? In the close up pic, you can see how the wallpaper goes right up to the edge of the hole. tzmaryg, I was *so* hoping to see some decorative tile behind the plywood panel. :-) Thanks again to all for your input!

Wow! Thanks so much for the great ideas! I never thought about using such bright colors like that DE green hour or blue for the door. I would have never thought of it myself...and I really like it! I love pops of color but i’m always scared to take the leap! Not sure why. Lol I guess it’s cause it’s our first place and it feels risky, but in the end I really should just think of it as paint. I can always change it up! Thanks for paint color suggestions as well, sometimes it’s overwhelming to see so many colors. It’s nice to know what has worked for others who’s homes have the same color palette! I really love the dark trim ideas (for now, our windows have a light color screen over them, but the window itself is actually a dark brown/bronze) and landscaping ideas- I never thought something as simple as deepening flower beds would have such a dramatic effect! Thanks Dig Doug! Our flower beds are pretty shallow and rectangular, the curved beds are a fabulous idea! NHbabs and debbie1000 I totally agree about the tree between the windows and the narrow walkway (its mix matched half with river rock half smooth concrete), they are definitely on the ‘to do’ list. emmarie- I love your idea of the trim on the left window, I agree it needs some bulking up to match the others. I really like your post idea, and i know it’s hard to see from my photo, but it’s acually a brick wall. Right now removing is probably more than we’d like to do, but it would definitely give it a more open feeling. Love your rendering makes my house look cute! Definitely has me thinking about that blue door color! I’m not able to upload more pictures of the house since I’m currently on a trip, but when I get back I’ll upload more, but I can’t say THANK YOU enough. The pictures you all posted definitely have my creative wheels turning! I feel like I now have some direction in looking up design ideas. We’re not in a huge rush to redo our home, but i’ll definitely keep everyone posted with picture updates as we make changes here and there so you can see how we implemented your ideas and suggestions. Thank you again for taking the time to help us out! I really didn’t think i’d have this many people respond in just one day. You guys are AMAZING!!

Well, I think the brownish residue I mentioned (calling it 'problem 1') is sizing, because I just saw this on Hunker.com "Wallpaper hangers apply sizing to painted walls before hanging the wallpaper, because it makes installation easier and also facilitates in future removal of the wallpaper. While the wallpaper may be easier to remove on a sized wall, the glue residue and sizing itself can be very difficult to remove. If you're left with brown residue on the wall despite scrubbing and sanding, that's the sizing. " That sounds just like what I'm dealing with, although I have no idea why it was just under one wall and not 3. Perhaps the original owners wallpapered only one side of their room? (owners #2 just wallpapered all 3) ...and fortunately that article mentions that I can paint over it without removing it. Which is good, because I had almost given up. And I think the other grey/white plaster must be skim coats put down as part of owner #2's wallpaper. Is it ok just to scrape this skim coat off?