Loving the gathered possibilities—in keeping with the themes, additions could be an English silver sugar shaker, porcelain egg coddlers (either all white or traditional with the metal tops), or interesting Pots de Crème.

I agree with the grooved shelf. Glass is often grooved with no chipping issues, and you don't always have to use the grooves, but it would be a nice option to have. I had 2 parallel grooves made on my glass shelves to accommodate different sized plates/platters, or stand one plate in front of another.

Mtn, I’ve recently encountered someone who only uses a debit card.

There was a discussion recently on NextDoor, for our area with two gas stations (same company) where cards were compromised. One was pump purchase, the other inside. Someone in the banking industry said to only use a debt card at a bank ATM or at a store to get cash back. Never use anywhere else, because if it gets compromised, you have given access to your bank account. Most banks do not cover this type of risk.

Disclaimer: I have not had a debit card since they first came out, but it seemed he knew what he was talking about. YMMV

Now, back to our schedule programming...

Actually, not true. But don't take it from me.

"Let's say you lost your debit card or it was stolen. If you notify your bank or credit union within two business days of discovering the loss or theft of the card, the bank or credit union can't hold you responsible for more than the amount of any unauthorized transactions or $50, whichever is less."

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (.gov)

This is really the same rule as credit cards IIRC. Fraud is not really your problem, it is the banks, and rightly so. You are paying them fees etc because a bank is supposed to protect your money, whatever product(s) you use.

Yes, you should try to avoid making yourself vulnerable to fraud but your financial risk is very low.I will add that my Amex has been compromised 2 or 3 times over the years, and my DH's once I think. They have never charged us $50 and I have never heard of anyone being liable for the $50. I think the policy is simply designed to make you want to report the fraud.

Mtn's right. Debit cards are riskier and have less fraud protection than a credit card. I keep reminding my kids about that since they seem to use their debit cards frequently. A debit card also does nothing for your credit score - that's not an issue for me but my kids are in their 40's and still need to be concerned about their rating. .Debit cards may also incur a 'hold' on your funds.

A little confused, as that is not what I said? Though I usually like posts that start with "Mtn's right." LOL.

I am specifically disagreeing with this: if it gets compromised, you have given access to your bank account. Most banks do not cover this type of risk.

There are reasons to use a CC over a DC IMHO, but that is not one of them. Purchase protection is.

As for credit scores, it is important when you are starting out to have a CC in addition to a DC to establish credit. By one's 40s access to credit is not usually an issue. And, all else equal, using a DC would reduce your CC utilization rate, which is accretive to your FICO score.

Ok, I have those exact lamps!! I looked very hard at the website you posted, mtn, and they look identical. Mine are white. They have a nice heavy base and the charge lasts a long time. They also dim if you hold your finger on the top instead of tapping to turn it off, which is really nice. I bought mine to use when we entertain outdoors at night to illuminate the table so I only charge them up when I know I am going to use them.

Oh, and definitely did not pay what you did…I feel fairly certain I got them on A. But I swear they are same!

I use a debit card attached to an account with limited funds. What I love is that every purchase is sent automatically to my cell phone as soon as the transaction is done. I buy groceries and before I get to the car I have a text notification. No fraudulent transactions will get past my review.

What I love is that every purchase is sent automatically to my cell phone as soon as the transaction is done.

My Amex does that too. But honestly, again, let the bank worry about fraud. It costs them a lot more than it does you. IME they are quite good at detecting it.

We're in agreement Mtn. - I was just adding another comment about debit cards to the discussion. DH's AmEx has been compromised several times, mine only once - each time they caught it quickly and notified me by text and phone.

They also dim if you hold your finger on the top instead of tapping to turn it off, which is really nice

That was something I have seen on the ones in restaurants, and a feature I wanted as well. I looked around a bit, and the white and black ones seemed to sell for less, though I am sure the ones I ordered are not brass. Fingers crossed they are ok!

I ordered one of the lamps in black, for my foyer. We have only an OH fixture there, and sometimes I just want a little bit of light when people are coming in the front door, not a blast of OH light (the OH light is not on a dimmer; I guess we could change that).

I agree, you almost cannot have too many sources of light in a room. I just love little pools of light around a room. And yes I think nearly every switch we have is a dimmer. Our new apt has switches I've not used before. They have a dimmer, but they also don't turn off immediately. When you turn the light off, it take several seconds to slowly go dark. I am probably explaining it incorrectly but it is so civilized. Might be good for a front hall. Not good for surprise parties maybe.

Mtn, I know what you mean. We have those type of lights on our front porch. Which are on the same bank of switches as the front hall, now that I think of it. That could be easy to change over, I would think, when the electrician shows up to install our new dining room lights.

Like I said, I haven't had a debit card in 30+ years. Thanks for adding to the convo.

Our CC has been compromised several times over the past 40+ years, and we have never owed anything either. I also get text alerts for charges of any amounts.

"I" once ordered a pair of these from Bergdorf's. $1382.71. I immediately called the CC company, then I called Bergdorf's and they cancelled the order. Some dude in Brooklyn did not get his fugly shoes.

I wish I had a place for one (or a pair) of the lamps. Would come in handy if no plug nearby.

Allison, are you sure you didn’t order those shoes? They are sooooo you! 😁

LOL, Allison, they look like shoes for inmates.

I decided to buy two because that way one can always be charging. Same thing with our Dyson batteries.

The ones I ordered had black, white, and gold. They came in a set of two. It would be interesting if you ordered both and could compare. I was pleasantly surprised with mine.

Mtn, I do the same with Dyson batteries. LOL

The shoe order was 7yrs ago. Bergdorf customer service gave me the address they were going to. It was a very large brick apartment building in Brooklyn.

I also ordered two of the gold lamps from the same site and just hope they are quietly gold and not gaudy, iykwim. I wish someone would make actual brass lamps of that type and style. Was a little put off by the disingenuous add ons for usb-c charging cables and outlet adaptors. We don’t need them but I imagine plenty of people order assuming one comes with the lamp.

Fingers crossed these lamps are up to snuff!

Susan Blakey from 'une femme d'un certain age' posted this morning about her cordless LED lamps that she ordered from Amaz. They look very much like those posted here.

https://unefemme.net/what-i-love-this-week-at-home-and-head-to-toe.html?utm_source=Une+Femme&utm_campaign=43c6d0a3e8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_00482ff391-43c6d0a3e8-298395789

and her lamps:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5CS8Y1B?psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=unefemmedunce-20&linkId=701e7f678318266763e6744848e88f5f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

OMG if you go to that webpage there are sooooo many choices. Mine are 4" so not the same. No idea which of these many very similar options is the best. Looks like quite a slog figuring it out!

I'm pretty sure I would like these lamps just to insert here and there without regard to outlets and plugs. I wish they had a black base with a gold shade. They look almost too good to be true.

They have become very common at restaurants, so I assume they are not expensive and work as designed. We shall see!

I've been eyeing these cordless lamps for a long time. I don't have a specific spot but I love them. And would be handy to take outside for the table when making s'mores in the summer.

One more word about debit cards vs credit cards -- while they both have protection, if your bank account is drained because your debit card was compromised, you have no money for a couple days until bank refunds you. Happened to a friend. With credit card, you just never pay the fraudulent amount. My AmEx has been compromised several times. The only real annoyance is having to memorize a new card #.

And would be handy to take outside for the table when making s'mores in the summer.

Some are specifically made for outdoors (less corrosive, heavier weight)

I have the 2-pack Amazon lamps that maire_cate posted above. Love them! So versatile and I've used them all over, and the charge lasts forever with the way we use them. I currently have one on our bathroom counter so my husband can use that if he gets up in the middle of the night instead of turning on a real light. I also have one on a shelf in our walk in closet. I sometimes put them on the kitchen counter or island, and I take them with us when we visit my sister's beach home - they haven't had it long and don't have lamps on all the nightstands yet, so I can easily take my own. They are great on our deck in the summer. We have string lights, but it's nice to have the glow on our table top, too. EDITED TO ADD: The only downfall is that they don't have a timer or remote.

Good news - my counters are in and I luvvv them. B/S goes in Thursday.

Bad news - I won't have enough height on my OTR shelf for this lamp. I need a shorter one. The schematic I had from my counter/backsplash guy was out of date.

OK news - so many good places to use these lil' lamps

Just saw these and thought of your little shelves. HERE

ETA: ALSO

Ohh those top ones are gorgeous. Is the bottom a UK mustard jar?

I am packing up all my little goodies to try on site tomorrow when the B/S and shelves are in.

It occurred to me that that the look I am going for is almost as if this were a bar and not a kitchen. Maybe since you can't see the range (or the MW!) , and because it is so small, it has that vibe to me. I initially thought that I wanted to repeat the blue/white in the K decor. But I am currently thinking I want to keep the K in neutrals --- white, black, gold, silver, wood tones, baskets and the olive wall.

You could just start eating a lot of Amarena Cherries

Are they good?

YES they are. They are not as ”candied” as Luxardo, but they are very nice.

Ohh yum. I used to have them with plain greek yogurt until I realized that was not really a healthy breakfast. 🐷

LOL, i guess it depends on how much yogurt vs how many cherries? I think I need to try these.

Someone gave me this in a cheese basket as a hostess gift and I have been enjoying it on toasted sourdough. There may also have been some butter involved in the toast.

Sueb, I never thought of using them as anything but a cocktail garnish. Same with Luxardo cherries. Although I suppose either would be tasty over ice cream.

Bb, haha, it wouldn’t have occurred to me to use them as a cocktail garnish. These cherries are in a fairly heavy syrup. My brain processes them as dessert.

I have really only had them as part of a charcuterie board with cheese or hard kinds of bread.

The cherry talk is interesting, but I am (not so) patiently waiting for pictures of the counters!!

Jsk, they are not done yet. Well the counters are done but BS not yet.

Have you gotten your lamps? I am still waiting for mine :( Now that I have seen so many different types I wish Ihad bought ones with a round base.

Not yet. I have so many packages coming and some of them don't really indicate who the sender was!

I prefer the square, a bit different.

I was at Target today and saw these and thought of your kitchen shelf! (Well, and mine too, but you’ll have yours sooner). I thought they were pretty and PS less than 4” deep.

https://www.target.com/p/milk-glass-bath-canister-with-metal-lid-hearth-hand-with-magnolia/-/A-89182901?preselect=88503587#lnk=sametab

Also, etsy has about a bazillion vintage mustard jars/crocks. I have a few scattered around the house mostly to hold pens and pencils. I might need this for my kitchen.

Love the lioness!

I have packed up boxes of my doodads from above and may spend a day or two trying thigns out! I don't think I need to buy a thing.

I love lions. It's why I root for the Detroit Lions, except when they're playing the 49ers.

Ohh those top ones are gorgeous. Is the bottom a UK mustard jar?

Yes.

I knew you had things to try, but did not realize you didn't want to pull any blue into the kitchen.

So…how high are you hanging your shelf over the stove, Mtn? Of course I’m asking because I suddenly realized that’s a decision that’s coming up for me. Found some pics online of varying heights, between two cabinets, which is my situation and yours, if I’m remembering correctly.

I think I like it best in the last two pics, maybe an inch above the bottom of the cabinet. What say you, kitchen advisory board?

I washi-taped a ”shelf” over my stove. Please ignore my boldly visible toaster oven. Also, the shelf will be white/gray marble, not black.

Sueb, FWIW, I like all of the pictures you posted except the one where the shelf is dead-even with the bottom of the cabinets. I prefer the ones where the shelf is a little higher than your washi tape, but either is good.

Sue, if memory serves, the bottom of my shelves will be 21" above the counter, and 3" above the bottom of the cabinet. That leaves about 12" above the shelf, minus the thickness of the shelf.

In my case, it was driven by the need to accommodate my faucet sprayer, which is 18.75" high, with a little clearance so it doesn't look squished. I copied the height for the range shelf. My range shelf is 4" deep. My sink shelf is 6" deep. I used cardboard templates to eyeball it.

HTH

PS I agree I dont care for it lined up with the cabs.

LOL I am watching a recent Homeworthy episode (“moody colonial” in LA) and look what she has on her patio table. She said ”everyone should have them.” Has she been eavesdropping on us?

PS I really like the house so far.