Well, I guess I won't be joining you ladies. I haven't traded with anyone in the group before. Sandy has sent me something, and I've been in a swap group with Hazelnutbunny, but haven't swapped with either of them personally (at least I don't think I sent Sandy anything in trade for what she so graciously sent me - if I did Sandy, let the other Carol know)....so.....I have a proposition..... Since I really want to be in on the cookbook/food/goodies swap and join you fun sounding bunch of ladies, does anyone want to swap with 2 people? The one you get from the swap and with ME? THEN I will have a recorded swap with a group member and I can join you! Woohoo! Just think - double your pleasure, double for fun, with lots of stuff, lots of stuff, yum yum yum! lol If no one wants to - or if the hostess would prefer that I don't crash her reign - I'll understand, tuck my tail between my legs and start chanting 'no one loves me, everyone hates me, i'll just go eat worms!'....and sit in the corner for a while. Someone asked me where I work....I'm an LPN in a Veteran's Hospital, and yes, I have had plenty of things happen while I've been here. Especially since I went to the psych ward about 5 years ago. My first 12 years I spent on med/surg.....some good things happened there too. Like the night this really crotchety old coot got ticked off about something. I was in his room and he grabbed his urinal to empty it and left the room. I called after him that he had a bathroom there in his room, and he kept walking. The charge nurse was standing at the counter on the OUTSIDE of the nurses station, she had just reached over the counter and answered the phone. As I stood at his door calling to him, he walked passed her and without missing a step, raised his urinal and emptied down her back! Since she was someone I not only wasn't friends with, I actually couldn't stand her - I thought this was too too funny. She did not share my opinion. Oh, by the way, he was on the medical floor because he had gotten sick while on one of the psych wards....go figure! Maybe he thought she had moles/voles. LOL. Well, will get out of here for tonight. I still have cartoon to send out to soldiers, clothes to fold for my grandaughter that is going home tomorrow (sniff sniff) and have to be to work in 5 hours. Woe is me! Have a great day everyone Carol B

It's a great idea but I dont think my washer/dryer will fit. They are huge front loaders- 36 inches deep and prob 32-36 across. They are only a few steps away in the KITCHEN- ugh! However, we dont have anywhere else to put them- basement is totally finished and upstairs is sort of small. But if anyone see's something I am not considering along those lines, def worth considering! The software is chief architect 9.0- its only about 50 dollars and is supposedly easy to use but it does take a little trial and error. Some people are really good with it. I'm a hack. Heading off to houzz now....thanks!

Interestingly, blue has cycled back into popularity, so your door doesn't look dated, but maybe a slightly different shade of blue would look more up to date - not sure. Or a sophisticated gray - young buyers would love it. I would remove the storm door - which DOES date the house. Put a fresh coat of paint on the shutters, use the replacement roof as a bargaining tool with the buyers. Let them mention it, agree to replace, and allow them to choose the color. Put a nice seating arrangement on the porch and some planters. I would put some money into renovating the landscaping. I would consider getting rid of the some of the large shrubs in front of the house. The plant on the right side of the sidewalk looks terrible right now. Unless it looks super wonderful when it leafs out, maybe that's not what you want there. Drive around to some builder's model homes and look at their landscaping for ideas. The cupula over the garage is darling. Maybe you could put copper siding on it? Prettier mailbox and street numbers? Prettier light fixture? Stagers tell us that potential buyers spend a few minutes at your door as the real estat agent is opening the box to get to your keys.

Thanks all, sorry about the vague description - not really sure what to call it that we are after. I guess images like this represent more or less what we are after in terms of color and decor: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b6/af/0e/b6af0e77b74d7c9587dee75d9dfaa22b.jpg Definitely digging what lefty47 mentioned. I keep leaning more towards a steam punk look but I can see the hesitation when I show my wife some photos. The house is pretty bare right now, the downstairs area which you see there is the space we are more concerned with. The top photo shows a living room closest and formal dining area towards the front door there. The other photo is obviously the kitchen area. As far as how many use the space, its my wife, two boys and myself. That's pretty much it really. Thanks again.