For me it's less painful to pay more for things that show than things like pipes and wiring hidden in walls. Okay, there are exceptions to every rule. Toilets are never fashion statements. Spending money on them is like flushing fashion money down their drains.



On the other hand - the one with new hangers - built-in closets can be fashionable. Storage was a problem, but it's always been a problem. My dear husband is a saver. Build it and he will come - and fill the drawers and shelves. Right now the only empty storage space is the refrigerator's vegetable drawer.

Because of my allergies the carpeted space was replaced with hardwood floors. I love their brighter look. I love how easy they are to clean. I love my floors so much I feel bad about walking on them.

I feel terrific, however, about the paint colors. The Butter Yellow downstairs and in the upstairs hall transitions well with the Silver Spruce in the two bedrooms. Unfortunately, the Silver Spruce didn't transition well with the white and navy blue in the master bathroom. Because transition was needed, I replaced our yellow bed set with a blue and white one, which meant I had to replace the yellow cushions on the chaise with blue; and because there was yellow in the television cabinet - but no blue - the television cabinet had to be repainted. Basically, I re-remodeled our bedroom.

I hadn't planned to replace the kitchen window shade. It wasn't the same blue as the kitchen tile; but it wasn't spend-more-money different either - until Martha Stewart's spirit stained it with a tsunami of soapy, dish water. Now we have chrome blinds that exactly match the chrome appliances - but because it took twelve days to get them installed, I think a certain blinds company should change its name.

Last but not least, we replaced the 70's-looking, wood front and back doors with glass doors. Although part of me still worries about the security of glass doors, most of our neighbors in the building have them. Wouldn't it be conceited of me to think burglars would pick our house to burglarize?