The fennel must smell amazing too! Isn't fennel pollen a delicacy in Italian cuisine? I heard it was really easy to make, and with all the fennel growing wild around here, I often think of trying it out!

Here's a sneak peek of my new sunroom/gameroom. It's a dark, dark blue. It was supposed to be a dark charcoal grey, but the paint chip didn't show how much of a blue undertone it had. I like it though. I'm dying to use the Pergo Blueprint laminate and this might be my chance.

Thank you all for the advice--and encouragement. Groveraxel and Beverly--I really appreciate the mockups! Decoenthusiast: your information on sizing is especially helpful--just what I was looking for. I'm definitely going to get out my blue painters tape, that will help me visualize what size might look best. For now, I'm going to keep looking for the "perfect" rug. I'm in no hurry to replace the current rug, as I really like it for summer. Hard to see in the photos, but it has narrow silver ribbons running thru the warp--I like the little bit of sparkle. Thanks again--I'll be back for more advice, I'm sure!

Even in a mid-term furnished rental I'd have no mysteries in appliances. Don't assume everyone is familiar with what you are familiar with, especially if you plan to be open to renting to foreigners. Very frustrating to not be able to figure out how to turn on TV. or how a recliner works, outdoor fire goes on (and off!) I think your fireplace/bbq options should be ones you provide after you interview the tenants. not ones embedded into your design. (Personally I would never bbq in a rental, or use the fireplace.) If I had poured concrete furniture I would not only want optimal seat cushions, I would create a way to be able to secure cushions to the back, rather than put loose pillows on the bench. In your design it appears it would be a simple thing to drive several very long pegs/hooks into the beds so it is possible to loop and secure one long back cushion or several individual ones so they lay flat against the concrete as back cushions, I would make sure the bottom of the back cushion doesn't reach the bench itself, but leaves room to put a bench cushion under it, on the bench but shoved back far enough that touches the concrete back, and has slipped under the back cushion Basically these kinds of suspended cushions, but with longer loops/eyes/hooks to secure to something you've created to hold the loop.