Funny, I have thought of hitting the dumpsters behind thrift shops for broken dishes and pottery (since they won't just sell a box full to me) but never worked up the nerve. Never saw any signs though.

It's not really the point that they can't be removed, it's just to me you shouldn't take old goodies like that to make something to put outside because things outside don't usually last forever. Many of the vintage and antique items of today are just being thrown away and damaged. People do not appreciate anything old and want all new! So one day, everything old will be gone and we all know that much of the crap they make today won't last like the goodies from a hundred years ago! I won't even use the chipped and rusted granite pieces because much of mine looks like that. I don't care because that shows they were used and have a history. That is what makes them more interesting to me!

Potential indeed! :) I *love* the house and yard - I really need to post the "after" pictures, because we have spent every day since Sept. 11 (our closing date) cleaning, painting, etc. - it is really looking good. In fact, new furniture arrives today for the living room, so we'll finally have a place to sit besides lawn chairs! LOL And yes, Jan - that is a great little enclosed porch. Some of the screens are out because of prior owner's dog, but we will fix those. And, I found the most perfect glider/bench on Craigs List that I purchased for that space (photo link below), so now we can sit out there and watch the world go by. I am really loving the new space - just needs some good junk! :) Here is a link that might be useful: Glider Bench for enclosed porch

DO THE CREAM FRENCH COUNTRY ISLAND LOOK, DO THE CREAM ISLAND!! I cannot repeat enough ahhahah. I could have written your opening page and for a minute I wondered if it was me talking ahhaha. We just completed our custom build. Kitchen designer talked me out of cream kitchen with cherry island (gut now says wish I had gone that route) it is such a light and bright feel all around. We did cherry cabs with chocolate glaze and although they are rich, elegant and beautiful they match the wood floor dead on too- it is rather dark at times. We almost went with a black island and I think it would have felt soooo cave like although I do love black islands, not with dark cherry cabs (sorry everyone) and a wood floor - too dark. I wanted to do a french country island and again KD discouraged me as my island is very small and literally talked me into the same island cab as the surrounding and I would have sooo much loved the cream island better. Moral - trust your instinct and ignore these persuasive kitchen deisgners who say "trust me on this one, do....". It is YOUR kitchen and noone elses. We did Giallo Ornamental granite and I LOVE it for lightening everything up with the Wow factor but if I were to do it over I would either definitley do the french country island hands down or do the reverse of all of it ( cream surrounds with dark island). Other poster is right, although my wood maple floor is beautful I am a SLAVE to it and would NEVER do it again that dark as every dog paw print shows as does every crumb or juice spill that my 3 young boys spill on it. I can even see if the dog leaves a water drool on it..UGH > I literally clean them EVERY SINGLE DAY and could vacuum twice a day. NEVER AGAIN! Hope that helps and good luck during this stressful but exciting time.