olldcan, did you used to be a big rig driver? how do you know all these details about the wheel cover thing-a-ma-jigs?

astraea...aren't they incredible? the hardware.

judyg, are you here today? got a question. do a lot of interior designers use etsy?

creeser, i know you've probably seen these before, but i had these 2 saved on the computer...
one is called cyrus and one is gilbert, i think.

MP - Once in a discussion someone mentioned buying expensive brass draw pulls, and for the heck of it, I counted all of them in my kitchen .. and it would have cost something like $2,500 just for the cabinet hardware .. ouch!! Swarovski crystal would be even more expensive .. no sea horses for me I guess!

When we built our rustic home we initially looked at Rocky Mountain Hardware but the prices were astronomical. We went with some black mushroom type knobs and coordinating twisted iron pulls from Top Knobs for a fraction of the cost. My only splurge on hardware were large handles for our refrigerator panels that look like twigs.

oh i know astraea....when i saw these knobs yesterday, i thought how great it would be to do on a dresser or a nightstand with one drawer in it. that might be feasible for a lot of people. i am always contemplating building and revamping furniture and things to resale. sooo, when i see these kinds of options out there, i am loving it!

Here's the brand we used...lots of fun, natural shapes.

I find that some draw pulls are more prone to catch on pockets & other things, when you walk by, and if you're wearing rings. Have to remember to balance appearance with practicality!

Well that image was pretty worthless. :( I'll try again. The hardware company is called Modern Objects.

michi, did you have to have them custom fitted for the frig? Or did you have an artist make them?

MP, they make large pulls specifically for panel-ready appliances. The ones I chose look more like twisty vines. I'll try to post a pic.

Here's a photo of my refrigerator pulls. They are about 15.5 inches long and they are incredibly sturdy.
They suit the lodge look I have going on in my house.

the reason i asked is because there is an ironsmith about an hour away that makes some really nice custom pieces for people... does your frig have wooden doors?

Yes, the refrigerator is a side by side cabinet depth Kitchen Aid with knotty cherry panels to match my kitchen cabinets. My dishwasher is also a panel-ready model.

Just wondering how many of you ladies read Consumer Reports (or their website), when selecting major appliances?

I try to astraea, but for me local service trumps Consumer Reports. I once special ordered a Thermador oven and had to jump through hoops just to get an element replaced. My brand choices are pretty limited in our small community but at least I know that the serviceperson will show up and stand by the product if I purchase what's offered locally.

I read CR, but take their recommendations "under advisement". I've seen them list a particular brand/model as #1 one year, and the next year that brand isn't even good enough to test .. after people trusted them to buy it! I also find that just because a manufacturer does a good job with one type of appliance, other types of appliances might not be as good. They rated Bosch dishwashers #1; I have a Bosch washer & dryer, and would never recommend that washer again!

I am a complete freak about reading reviews about any major purchase before buying!

I love them michi! and I love that they are staggered! awesomeness!

you guys...i'll be leavin work in a sec and spending time with the man...so talk monday for sure, maybe not tamale! hope everyone has a great sunday!!!! :)

@astrea. CR does not seem to be the best resource anymore. Maybe because the Internet offers so much information?? The last time I tried to use CR, I got frustrated and gave up. That would not have been the case five years ago.

At some point a few years ago, they decided to make most of their website "subscription only", and that was in addition to having a subscription to the magazine. I resent that they're making subscribers pay extra for the website, and I refuse to pay for it.

I found that for a long time they had a bias against high-end brands, even when their ratings are supposed to be on performance. For the longest time, they either didn't include brands like SubZero & Thermador on their ratings, or rated them poorly. The SubZero in my other house was installed in 1987, and was going strong when I sold the house in 2008, with only 1 service call for the ice maker! Ditto for my Thermador cooktop.

Grrruuuuuuuuuuuuph!!!!! S&*tty mood happening here. B neighbours have been away and left their pool filter running all night. It is illegal to run them after 10pm here but they have been getting away with it for a few years, because normally no one can hear it, so in their mind that's ok. Well with the extremely hot weather this week the water level has dropped so the filter has been making the most horrible noises and I got no sleep Wednesday night, then a relly who was popping in turned the filter off to resolve the problem, so yesterday the people come home, turn the filter on and we copped all the noise again last night. Asked the woman would they please fix it and stop running it at night especially if they were going away. Did she get it??? NO. All I got was it has never happened before and how were we to know the extreme conditions were going to happen, nothing was their fault, I had to accept extenuating circumstances. I just screamed at her "What part of breaking the law don't you understand????" and stormed off. These are the ones whose 16 year old has wild parties - has had since he was 14 - major drinking, the works. Alcohol is illegal under 18 here, should have thrown at her that obviously as they regularly supply alcohol to minors they obviously consider the law doesn't apply to them. Boy, am I hopping mad!!!!

Sounds like I had better stay away from design dilemmas. Bobbi that guy has two posts re his lounge room and they just went on and on and obviously he has still done nothing. He doesn't even use the room!!!! Of course so many people suggested grey and he carried on he hated grey but then realised how much grey he actually had in his house, even the outside is painted grey and it has gone on from there. Couldn't help but throw the grey thing at him.

Loved the black tree one - sometimes I have to wonder are we the weird ones and everyone else is normal???

Take a look at this one https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-decorating-this-record-cabinet-dsvw-vd~300980 is this for real or someone with too much time on their hands. If you move a lot why the heck would you keep buying stuff.

I feel a serious need to belt someone!!

roo, want me to come over there and kick their a**es for you? Cause I will do it, I will!

Record cabinet, seriously? That thing wouldn't hold 10 DVD's!

What happened to creeser??? I found the PERFECT sunburst for her!

Roo, go right ahead and kick something. It's not what is happening; it is that we can't fix it. Dealing with ignorant people is the worst as they NEVER GET IT! Put a porcupine in their pool!

mp, just got back on. I use etsy often. Some of the pillows are wonderful. Often I'll come across a fabric that I recognize as high end and I would have to buy several yards to get it. I think they scour the internet for good deals. Additionally, I don't sew (even a button), so I would have to hire out. You also can put in a product name and often find just what you are looking for.

My daughter is a marathoner and I buy these disks for her necklace. I'll post some links for you to look at,

Girls, thank you for the good wishes for Cutie Pie. All is well right now and he is back in rhythm. Taking meds to keep his heart beat in sync. If that doesn't work he will have another ablation (his third).

THE COOLEST BRACELETS http://www.etsy.com/people/joolzhayworth

FOR MY MARATHONER http://www.etsy.com/shop/My3GemzJewelry?ref=seller_info

ONE OF MANY SHOPS FOR PILLOWS http://www.etsy.com/shop/thislittlehome?ref=seller_info

MY RECENT BABY GIFT http://www.etsy.com/listing/94231665/baby-and-toddler-girl-white-linen-dress?ref=pr_shop

judy, give CP a kiss from us. A porcupine! What a great idea!

You can't buy from etsy unless you have a paypal acct, right?

Calming down, thanks for letting me vent. It isn't so much ignorance with people, it is their narcissism, they can't see beyond themselves, their lives, their wants. Have another great neighbour who has also fallen out with this one next to me and I can usually do a dance on her front doorstep but she is also away.

Think I'll go find my snake and put it in the pool.

Judy - Glad all is well with CP, that sort of thing is such a worry. We just have to be so grateful for modern technology, 50 years ago there would have been nothing. Makes you wonder what the next 50 will bring, technology seems to breed technology so things keep moving ahead faster and faster.

I reckon we have lived through the best years of development ever. We have known the simple and basic and now we are learning things that weren't even science fiction when we were born. Don't think there was such a thing a science fiction. The best part is that we would be the only generation that really knows how to appreciate it. Today's X,Ys and Zs take it all for granted and consider it their right.

Love, love, love that baby dress, and I love that off shade of pink too.

roo, I think the snake is a great idea!!!

o.k it's been 6 hours since we've heard from creeser, don't supposed she's in the slammer waiting to be bailed out.....

m.p I'm a wealth of useless info. With my three boys learning to drive and smashing up on a regular basis, you'd be surprised the amount of 2 sided tape used in a vehicle. I've spent many hours at pick-a-part trying to help them fix there rides. I'd love to drive big rig, just once.... Wheel cover thing-a-ma-jigs turned upside down would make a great fruit bowl don't ya think or a jelly mould, wonder what kenworth looks like inverted....

michi, those handles are sweeeeet :)

judyg, that dress is beautiful. My granddaughters 1st birthday is coming up and that would be perfect in pink for her, thanks.

roo, judyg has the best idea, the porcupine is an excellent neighbourly gesture, if I can catch him where shall I ship him to.

roo, your roof is hilarious :) houndstooth, chevron, with so many options it'll be hard to decide!!!
What's a gal to do?

Olldcan - he falls into my too cute category (I don't have to live with him). Some funnelwebs might be good too, they love pools, don't know if the snake would eat them though. I could also feed my 10 kookaburras something disagreeable and send them to sit in the gum tree that overhangs their pool.

Now I have your attention, too, why do you get up at 2AM?????

Bobbi, that record cabinet holds her cookbooks!!!

I thought houndstooth appropriate as it has been a conversation du jour here.

By the way, did you check out that website I sent you for getting rid of pocupines?

OMG how quick is Aja!!!! Now I am really laughing.

All our staff has caught the flu so I'm covering most of the missed shifts at our gas/convenience store. I usually don't work there, I like to be the boss and so does hubby soooo......

Maybe throw a chocolate bar in the pool. Now I have to look up funnelwebs to see what the heck your taking about.

Hello google?

THE RAVENS WIN! THE RAVENS WIN! HOLY MOLEY, THE RAVENS BEAT PEYTON MANNING! The Niners are losing, however :((

Aja? Huh?

Sorry, olldcan, you must have missed our chat the other day on spiders. Funnelwebs are our most dangerous spider and their venom is deadly. We do have an antivenom but you have to be pretty quick. They can live in pools irrespective of salt or chlorine for up to 3 days.

If you knew the sons and their mates, they are more likely to throw a chocolate bar. I prefer 10 kookaburras with upset tums.

Bobbi, cool it you will burst your fuffle valve.

Check the continuing story of the chandelier.

here you go bobbi

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/need-help-with-choosing-new-chandelier-dsvw-vd~261703

Ah, the chandelier Design Dilemma. Glad you told me to check the END of the thread! Tee hee.

ez, seriously! Who is this Karen person?

Did you read the really intent post she put on? I'm sure I saw somewhere she was an Aussie so I carefully explained it all to her but don't think she got it at all, wanted to know why Aja was wasting our time.

Bobbi - I will stay off the main threads - in Strine (Aussie slang) a female is a shiela and a nice person or thing can be grouse, ripper, you beaut or bonzer. Bonzer is more appropriate for a woman because it can also include their looks as well as their personality.

I had to laugh at you asking ORANGE CAMERA if she painted her walls orange and if she took pics. Think about it.

Thanks, roo! I get the orangecamera thing, now, but not then!!! And I think her really intent post must have been deleted, all I'm seeing is her comment about reporting us to Houzz. Did you see her profile pic? Looks like a high school graduation picture. She's young. She has time. She'll learn.

Bobbi - her original post is still there. Look for the 2 photos of the Taj Mahal and it is 9 comments below them - right above where Aja posts the Taj Mahal again and asked for help with kerb appeal.

Definitely a kid, and doesn't have a clue so I don't think she is hanging onto an old photo.

Did you see that fab Sydney kitchen in this week's updates. My kind of kitchen with things hidden away. Couldn't resist having a shot at the lack of granite - I'm naughty, I know, but this is more typical of our style of kitchens.

Got it, thanks! I added a suggestion of Elvis on black velvet for her decor!!!! The ultimate in tacky :))

No, I missed that Sydney kitchen, send me a link when you have a chance, please?

I opened OLLD 1/13!!!

Did you have me open this just to tell me that!!!!!

If anyone read that whole discussion through, before commenting, they would have realized it wasn't serious. Who could mistake the Sistine Chapel for a Chagall? Or not recognize the iconic White House in Washington, D.C., or the Sydney Opera House?

Astraea - shhhhhh ............. I have a horrible feeling we are a dying breed.