We don't have ours covered and it hasn't been a problem. We have had ours about 4 years. I built a table to go along with the kitchen. I designed and built the structures and my husband helped me with the hardie board and securing, squaring the structures to the deck. We did all of it besides the granite and 90% of the stone work (only because we needed to meet a deadline). Sink is just a hose hookup for quickly rinsing hands and not for food prep. Not sure how to get the pictures smaller.

Heard back from Lutron: Thank you for your interest in Lutron products. We do have several low-voltage controls that could control your magnetic and electronic low-voltage transformers. Some of our most popular dimmers are the Diva and Maestro lines. Diva MLV model numbers can be found here; Diva ELV model numbers can be found here. Maestro MLV model numbers can be found here; Maestro ELV model numbers can be found here. Unfortunately, there is currently no industry standard for the manufacturing of LEDs and the performance will vary with different dimming controls. We have not tested the LED fixtures you inquired about, so we are not able to guarantee a dimming solution for them. I suggest contacting the manufacturer to see if they can give you a dimmer recommendation based on their compatibility testing.

Nosoccermom, People believe that home prices always go up in the long run, and they are generally right, because of inflation and population growth. Home prices have been going up each month for 70 months now; before the crisis they had gone up 182 months in a row. But I would say that most people at those price points do not necessarily buy a home for the economic rationale. They want the freedom to do with it as they wish, and in most cases higher end buyers are going to renovate. I would also venture to say that whoever is renting it at 9k/mo is just trying to cover some carrying costs while they wait for a sale; high end properties can take along time to sell. It is not like I would expect to rent it at that level indefinitely. One additional reason to buy in Fla. is to shelter assets from potential creditors. Not my area of expertise but I believe they have an unlimited homestead exemption? Which would mean that you could go bankrupt or be sued but no one could take the equity in your home. The "foreigners parking money" thing is popular but i think that is really buyers speculating on appreciation. Most foreigners park money in Treasuries, which far more liquid, with no carrying costs, and safe!

As the owner of two cats, both prolific pee-ers (can't figure out correct spelling or perhaps not a real word), I was thrilled to discover Sustainably Yours Cat Litter with odor control. I used to use WBCL, but once I tried Sustainably Yours I switched and never looked back. It is more expensive per bag, but it goes so much further because it clumps so much "tighter". I know some people complain of their cats' tracking the litter away from the litter box and I had that problem too, but I just got extra large litter mats to put under my boxes and have found that, by the time my cats reach the end of the mats, the litter has mostly fallen off their paws. As an added bonus for all decor obsessed cat owners, the Sustainably Yours which is crystal white, is actually quite pretty in it's unsoiled state! BTW: I do find the "plus" formula much more satisfactory at odor control than the original formula.