OnePlan Yes - a rug would help enormously - I'd go for a pale colour !

PartyIdea Pros Exactly! That is one of the reasons I really like the idea of metal backsplashes - so easy to clean even in the most well used kitchen. I found a few more pictures ( http://fauxtintiles.com/metal-and-faux-tin-backsplash-ideas/ ). I really like that the tin backsplashes make even nondescript kitchens pop.

eztia The County Extension Office of your state university will have a list of plants that are native to your area. These plants should need little to no water once they are established (usually one growing season). Learn what plants are native to your area, and which ones grow best in sun and in shade.

Go to your local plant nursery (not national chain). The horticulturalist on staff will be able to answer all of your questions.

Have fun planning! :)

Sweet Caroline Garden Design I would paint the body of the house a sage green and trim a medium tan. A new mustard colored door and window boxes filled with annual colorful flowers. I'd remove current handrail and install a thick wrought iron black one and stain the steps a deep brown to match the roof. I would go with a flagstone walkway and run a picket fence set back a foot on each side and plant cottage garden flowers there. Remove all the grass and plant low growing evergreens, ornamental grasses, low growing shrub roses and add a bird bath and bird house for interest. A trellis or two on the left side with a climbing rose or vine to block out neighbor's view. Can you park your car elsewhere or is that driveway on the right the only place you have ? Here's an example of the colors :
and a doodle I made of my ideas.

Sweet Caroline Garden Design Can you stand one more, Stacy? You can actually have a tree if you wish -as long as it's a small one . Japanese maples are good choices as well as the dogwoods or redbuds. Plant it closer to the front and then layer with rose shrubs, boxwood, and other blooming shrubs . Instead of the planter boxes a row of small clipped boxwood would look good with the cottage theme.

Patti I have white cabinets in my new house..almost they are sitting in the garage waiting on corrections on the mudding/sanding of ceiling:( I am going with a butcher block island and black on the other cabinet tops. My problem is the floor...havent decided on the color i want to go with concrete stained because of my alergy's and 3 Belgians and 2 cats...just dont want to deal with carpet or wood floors:(

Sharon McLeod I'm with judyg. Quartz all the way!! Fabulous colours available, and never having to seal (or worry)!! What more can you ask for?

I do think soapstone is a lovely stone, but the colour is limiting, and many people prefer the high shine of granite / quartz. If it were MY kitchen - quartz!

marjie1059 I chose granite though that was not my original intent. I have cherry cabinets with cosmic gold granite (really more like cosmic black) and although I didn't think I wanted a dark counter (more light for me, please!), it is perfect for my kitchen.
Yes, absolutely look at the slabs in the warehouse. Never choose based on the little samples in the store. It is worth the drive and the time to see the slabs--they are all so different!
Manmade material always is a repeated pattern. Granite is God-made and unique--no other slab of cosmic gold is quite like the ones that are in my kitchen, and I never tire of looking at the variations and the uniqueness of the counter.
Any problem with water spots or streaks is quite minimal. I love being able to put something hot on it.
Yes, wood is lovely and i have seen some truly amazing wood counters (not butcher block). That or soapstone would be my second choice--and I am afraid that the kind of wood counter I had in mind would be prohibitive because of the price. (Could be wrong on that, though.)

Patti we are building a house next store to where we live now...and have not decided to try and sell or rent this house out.we do not have any mortage payments on this home and We are right next store so we would beable to over see a few things, but we are not handy in the maintance dept..so I am very interested in this blog.

mimola My husband and I live in upstate NY. We had always talked about owning a second home in FL and in 2009 when the RE market tanked, we decided we should see what we could find, although we were 8 or so years from retirement. We found a town on the Gulf Coast that we loved (Dunedin) and looked at all kinds of real estate - condos, single family houses, etc. Decided we were not the 55+ community types, wanted a yard, but didn't like the idea of having a single family home sitting empty for part of the year. Our realtor came up with the idea of a duplex where we could rent out one unit, thereby having someone living on the property and helping to pay the mortgage, while we could keep the other unit for ourselves. We found a 3 BR ranch in a desirable neighborhood and excellent condition that had an attached mother-in-law 1 BR apartment in back and took the plunge. So far, It has been wonderful! We get down there for getaways when we can and eventually we'll become snowbirds, taking the main house for ourselves and using the apartment for visiting family or friends, or renting it out short term or long term if we need or want the income. I agree with every single recommendation in the article and as I read it, was relieved to realize we had done those things. Here's my advice (much of it echoing the article and previous comments) if you are interested in doing something similar: 1) Educate yourself as much as possible. "Real Estate Investing for Dummies" and "The Second Homeowner's Handbook" a well as other resources exposed us to many important points we wouldn't have thought of on our own. 2) Be absolutely positive that you're buying in a desirable neighborhood. 3) Unless you live nearby and are handy with time, money, and skills, buy a property that needs little to no work. 4) Be able to pay the mortgage even if the property goes unrented. 5) Interview property managers extensively. Check their experience and references, talk in depth about how they will search for and qualify tenants, and go with someone you really trust and communicate well with. We could not do this without our terrific property manager. We've had two tenants so far, both excellent, and each time the property rented within a few days of being advertised. We have an in-depth lease, reviewed by the property manager's legal counsel. Think of things that could happen and cover them in the lease. That's a lot better than trying to deal with problems later. Our lease even includes such things as who parks where when the apartment is occupied and the fact that both parties get to pick fruit from the citrus trees. 6) As the article said, build a professional team. While the house had been totally refurbished just prior to our buying it, the apartment needed work and we didn't know anyone in the area (this was before we hired the property mgr) so we used Angie's List to find an excellent contractor, plumber, electrician, etc. 7) Maintain a friendly but business-like relationship with your tenants. Even though we live side by side when we are in town, they are the year-round tenants and we respect that. I.e. when we are there we don't act like we own the place (even though we do.) It's their home. By the same token, even though they know our names and could easily get our contact info, all communication about the property such as maintenance issues or other requests go through the property manager. Five years ago I wouldn't have dreamed that we'd be second home owners and landlords, but I'm thrilled that we are and that it's gone so well.

Megan Koopman By the age of 30 I owned 5 rental homes, all single family residents and all in Phoenix, AZ. The best thing about Arizona is that it is a landlord state. What that means, courts will normally rule in favor of landlords vs renters. Most of the laws are written to benefit landlord, within reason. California is not a landlord state. Check the laws for your state before buying or converting rentals. We had a rough real estate market the last few years with most of our properties dropping at least 50% in value, however rental income during this time fluctuated either not that all or $100/month. My trick for being a landlord for 10 years, buy new homes (less than 5years old), low maintenance places, 12 month leases, and be very picky on the renters. Times are hard like last year when 2 rentals rent vacant and we still had to pay mortgage for 2 months without the income. It is always a business for me. I have become friends with several of my tenants but if they were 5 days late on rent, I still sent them eviction notices. If you give people ANY wiggle room, they will use you and take advantage of this. Be stern, they will appreciate it if they are good people. I had to hire a property manager as I recently moved out of state. That's much nicer on us. We have mortgages on all properties which will be paid off by our tenants over the 30 year term with little money out of our pocket, we will own all our houses out right and be ready to retire! Anyone can do it that thinks like a business person.