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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/a-pool-in-progress/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: A Pool in Progress">A Pool in Progress</a></h2> <p class="post-author">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/dreamhome/" title="Posts by Alison Davis and Paul B. Brown">Alison Davis and Paul B. Brown</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/05/greathomesanddestinations/tile.jpg" alt="INSERT DESCRIPTION"/><span class="caption">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.luvtile.com/tiles/tile.cfm?ID=523">Bic-Blue tiles</a> Paul and Alison chose to line the pool are six-by-six inches each.</span></div> <p>One of the many things we’ve learned about building a house is that everything takes longer than we think it will (or should). So, when it came to picking out the decorative tile border that will be visible just above and below the waterline in our pool, we figured it would eat up another hunk of time we didn’t have.</p> <p>And we had reason to be leery.</p> <p>John had recommended <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.luvtile.com/">Luv-Tile Enterprises in Sarasota</a>, but when we explored their Web site, nothing really jumped out. We decided to wait until we were in Anna Maria. </p> <p>And so during our last trip down, we drove south to Sarasota and, in an industrial neighborhood, found the building, which looked exactly like what it is, a warehouse. We anticipated we were about to lose another couple of hours of our lives. True, we had never picked out pool tile before — we have never owned a pool — but given our experience with everything else on our house project, we assumed it would take longer, and probably cost more, than expected. </p> <p>How long did it actually take to pick out the tile? <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/a-pool-in-progress/#more-234">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-234"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/a-pool-in-progress/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on A Pool in Progress">Comments (37)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_234" id="emailThis_234" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" 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value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F03%2F05%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Ftile.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22INSERT%20DESCRIPTION%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EThe%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.luvtile.com%2Ftiles%2Ftile.cfm%3FID%3D523%22%3EBic-Blue%20tiles%3C%2Fa%3E%20Paul%20and%20Alison%20chose%20to%20line%20the%20pool%20are%20six-by-six%20inches%20each.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOne%20of%20the%20many%20things%20we%E2%80%99ve%20learned%20about%20building%20a%20house%20is%20that%20everything%20takes%20longer%20than%20we%20think%20it%20will%20%28or%20should%29.%20So%2C%20when%20it%20came%20to%20picking%20out%20the%20decorative%20tile%20border%20that%20will%20be%20visible%20just%20above%20and%20below%20the%20waterline%20in%20our%20pool%2C%20we%20figured%20it%20would%20eat%20up%20another%20hunk%20of%20time%20we%20didn%E2%80%99t%20have.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAnd%20we%20had%20reason%20to%20be%20leery.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJohn%20had%20recommended%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.luvtile.com%2F%22%3ELuv-Tile%20Enterprises%20in%20Sarasota%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20but%20when%20we%20explored%20their%20Web%20site%2C%20nothing%20really%20jumped%20out.%20We%20decided%20to%20wait%20until%20we%20were%20in%20Anna%20Maria.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAnd%20so%20during%20our%20last%20trip%20down%2C%20we%20drove%20south%20to%20Sarasota%20and%2C%20in%20an%20industrial%20neighborhood%2C%20found%20the%20building%2C%20which%20looked%20exactly%20like%20what%20it%20is%2C%20a%20warehouse.%20We%20anticipated%20we%20were%20about%20to%20lose%20another%20couple%20of%20hours%20of%20our%20lives.%20True%2C%20we%20had%20never%20picked%20out%20pool%20tile%20before%20%E2%80%94%20we%20have%20never%20owned%20a%20pool%20%E2%80%94%20but%20given%20our%20experience%20with%20everything%20else%20on%20our%20house%20project%2C%20we%20assumed%20it%20would%20take%20longer%2C%20and%20probably%20cost%20more%2C%20than%20expected.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHow%20long%20did%20it%20actually%20take%20to%20pick%20out%20the%20tile%3F%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F03%2F05%2Fa-pool-in-progress%2F%23more-234%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Paul%20and%20Alison%20pick%20out%20tile%20to%20line%20the%20pool.%20"/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080305"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis%20and%20Paul%20B.%20Brown"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="dtIG237qmcnPXwzCJO05uw"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F03%2F05%2Fa-pool-in-progress%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share234" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist234', 'share234');" id="sharebox234"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist234"> <li 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class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <p>Minutes after my optimistic blog post on Friday, when I thought we really could make an April completion date, the phone rang. It was Peggy Edwards, the lighting consultant from LyteWorks in Bradenton.</p> <p>She was not calling with good news.</p> <p>It turns out a couple of the outside sconces we chose <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.forecastltg.com/index.jsp?&A=6&B=20&ITEM=1484">for the lanai</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.forecastltg.com/index.jsp?&A=6&ITEM=1090">the front porches</a> have large wall plates, which are too big to be installed next to the shutters.</p> <p>“The second problem,” Peggy added, “is that, even if the lights fit, they’re not immediately available. They’re on back order.” She said some of the ceiling fans we wanted were on back order, too.</p> <p>Back order was not an option. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/a-little-wrinkle/#more-233">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-233"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/a-little-wrinkle/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on A Little Wrinkle">Comments (69)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_233" id="emailThis_233" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F03%2F03%2Fa-little-wrinkle%2F"/> <input 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value="%3Cp%3EMinutes%20after%20my%20optimistic%20blog%20post%20on%20Friday%2C%20when%20I%20thought%20we%20really%20could%20make%20an%20April%20completion%20date%2C%20the%20phone%20rang.%20It%20was%20Peggy%20Edwards%2C%20the%20lighting%20consultant%20from%20LyteWorks%20in%20Bradenton.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EShe%20was%20not%20calling%20with%20good%20news.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20turns%20out%20a%20couple%20of%20the%20outside%20sconces%20we%20chose%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forecastltg.com%2Findex.jsp%3F%26%23038%3BA%3D6%26%23038%3BB%3D20%26%23038%3BITEM%3D1484%22%3Efor%20the%20lanai%3C%2Fa%3E%20and%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forecastltg.com%2Findex.jsp%3F%26%23038%3BA%3D6%26%23038%3BITEM%3D1090%22%3Ethe%20front%20porches%3C%2Fa%3E%20have%20large%20wall%20plates%2C%20which%20are%20too%20big%20to%20be%20installed%20next%20to%20the%20shutters.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%26%238220%3BThe%20second%20problem%2C%26%238221%3B%20Peggy%20added%2C%20%26%238220%3Bis%20that%2C%20even%20if%20the%20lights%20fit%2C%20they%26%238217%3Bre%20not%20immediately%20available.%20They%26%238217%3Bre%20on%20back%20order.%26%238221%3B%20She%20said%20some%20of%20the%20ceiling%20fans%20we%20wanted%20were%20on%20back%20order%2C%20too.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBack%20order%20was%20not%20an%20option.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F03%2F03%2Fa-little-wrinkle%2F%23more-233%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> 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<li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'lighting', 'March 3, 2008', '233');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'lighting', 'March 3, 2008', '233');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'lighting', 'March 3, 2008', '233');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'lighting', 'March 3, 2008', '233');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'lighting', 'March 3, 2008', '233');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_29">February 29, 2008, 4:17 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/whats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: What’s New at 92 North Shore Drive">What’s New at 92 North Shore Drive</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/29/greathomesanddestinations/house529.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">A vinyl trellis has been installed on the underside of the roof deck. (Photo: Amy Harris) </span></div> <p>Yesterday afternoon Amy Harris, John’s new assistant, e-mailed me some new photos of the house. This morning I called John and got the story behind the pictures, as well as other reports on progress: </p> <p>Interior painting is “90 percent done,” he said. There is still a bit of finishing work — tape removal and other odds and ends. </p> <p>The wood floor is being installed in the great room and foyer. It will be finished by the end of the day on Tuesday. I am very pleased with the way the floor looks in the photo. It’s just as I imagined it would be — very cool and light. </p> <p>The roof deck is complete. John has lined the underside with a vinyl trellis and added railing where the deck meets the roof. I think it helps make the deck look more anchored. </p> <p>Railings have been installed on the back deck and on the back porch, which has been screened. This is very exciting to me, since the porch is my favorite part of the house. I can’t wait to sit there and drink mint juleps. </p> <p>It all sounds as though it was going smoothly, doesn’t it? <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/whats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2/#more-232">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-232"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/whats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on What’s New at 92 North Shore Drive">Comments (48)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_232" id="emailThis_232" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F29%2Fwhats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20What%E2%80%99s%20New%20at%2092%20North%20Shore%20Drive"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F29%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fhouse529.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EA%20vinyl%20trellis%20has%20been%20installed%20on%20the%20underside%20of%20the%20roof%20deck.%20%28Photo%3A%20Amy%20Harris%29%20%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EYesterday%20afternoon%20Amy%20Harris%2C%20John%E2%80%99s%20new%20assistant%2C%20e-mailed%20me%20some%20new%20photos%20of%20the%20house.%20This%20morning%20I%20called%20John%20and%20got%20the%20story%20behind%20the%20pictures%2C%20as%20well%20as%20other%20reports%20on%20progress%3A%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EInterior%20painting%20is%20%E2%80%9C90%20percent%20done%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.%20There%20is%20still%20a%20bit%20of%20finishing%20work%20%E2%80%94%20%20tape%20removal%20and%20other%20odds%20and%20ends.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20wood%20floor%20is%20being%20installed%20in%20the%20great%20room%20and%20foyer.%20It%20will%20be%20finished%20by%20the%20end%20of%20the%20day%20on%20Tuesday.%20I%20am%20very%20pleased%20with%20the%20way%20the%20floor%20looks%20in%20the%20photo.%20It%E2%80%99s%20just%20as%20I%20imagined%20it%20would%20be%20%E2%80%94%20very%20cool%20and%20light.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20roof%20deck%20is%20complete.%20John%20has%20lined%20the%20underside%20with%20a%20vinyl%20trellis%20and%20added%20railing%20where%20the%20deck%20meets%20the%20roof.%20I%20think%20it%20helps%20make%20the%20deck%20look%20more%20anchored.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERailings%20have%20been%20installed%20on%20the%20back%20deck%20and%20on%20the%20back%20porch%2C%20which%20has%20been%20screened.%20This%20is%20very%20exciting%20to%20me%2C%20since%20the%20porch%20is%20my%20favorite%20part%20of%20the%20house.%20I%20can%E2%80%99t%20wait%20to%20sit%20there%20and%20drink%20mint%20juleps.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20all%20sounds%20as%20though%20it%20was%20going%20smoothly%2C%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20it%3F%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F29%2Fwhats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2%2F%23more-232%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Alison%20gives%20an%20update%20on%20construction%20progress."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080229"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="kKFCA1112B2wmgee1MiFYg"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F29%2Fwhats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share232" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist232', 'share232');" id="sharebox232"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist232"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'construction-progress', 'February 29, 2008', '232');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'construction-progress', 'February 29, 2008', '232');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'construction-progress', 'February 29, 2008', '232');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'construction-progress', 'February 29, 2008', '232');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'construction-progress', 'February 29, 2008', '232');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_27">February 27, 2008, 4:31 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/planning-the-office/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Planning the Office">Planning the Office</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/pbrown/" title="Posts by Paul B. Brown">Paul B. Brown</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="standard190 left"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/27/greathomesanddestinations/desk190.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">This style desk has too many drawers.</span></div> <p>One of the reasons I am more than happy to have “just” a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/images/2007/11/28/greathomesanddestinations/mproom.jpg">13-by-9-foot office</a> is that I don’t work the way most people do.</p> <p>For one thing, I don’t have face-to-face meetings on my turf. I have probably met with clients in my office four times in the last 15 years. So there is no need for a table and chairs. And since I don’t have staff, I don’t need a place for them to sit when they stop by. </p> <p>In addition, 98 percent of the stuff I need is on my computer, so I don’t have to file much. And I plan on storing office supplies and whatever papers I do need on a series of wire shelves inside the office closet. So I don’t need cabinets or wall space for shelves. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/planning-the-office/#more-231">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-231"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/planning-the-office/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Planning the Office">Comments (29)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_231" id="emailThis_231" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F27%2Fplanning-the-office%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20Planning%20the%20Office"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22standard190%20left%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F27%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fdesk190.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EThis%20style%20desk%20has%20too%20many%20drawers.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOne%20of%20the%20reasons%20I%20am%20more%20than%20happy%20to%20have%20%E2%80%9Cjust%E2%80%9D%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2007%2F11%2F28%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fmproom.jpg%22%3E13-by-9-foot%20office%3C%2Fa%3E%20is%20that%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20work%20the%20way%20most%20people%20do.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFor%20one%20thing%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20face-to-face%20meetings%20on%20my%20turf.%20I%20have%20probably%20met%20with%20clients%20in%20my%20office%20four%20times%20in%20the%20last%2015%20years.%20So%20there%20is%20no%20need%20for%20a%20table%20and%20chairs.%20And%20since%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20staff%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20need%20a%20place%20for%20them%20to%20sit%20when%20they%20stop%20by.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20addition%2C%2098%20percent%20of%20the%20stuff%20I%20need%20is%20on%20my%20computer%2C%20so%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20to%20file%20much.%20And%20I%20plan%20on%20storing%20office%20supplies%20and%20whatever%20papers%20I%20do%20need%20on%20a%20series%20of%20wire%20shelves%20inside%20the%20office%20closet.%20So%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20need%20cabinets%20or%20wall%20space%20for%20shelves.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F27%2Fplanning-the-office%2F%23more-231%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Paul%20finds%20the%20perfect%20desk%20for%20his%20office."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080227"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Paul%20B.%20Brown"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="n/LNLAPnWJeeVwic7FGw2g"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F27%2Fplanning-the-office%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share231" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist231', 'share231');" id="sharebox231"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist231"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'furniture', 'February 27, 2008', '231');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'furniture', 'February 27, 2008', '231');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'furniture', 'February 27, 2008', '231');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'furniture', 'February 27, 2008', '231');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'furniture', 'February 27, 2008', '231');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_25">February 25, 2008, 4:47 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/to-pave-or-not-to-pave/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: To Pave or Not to Pave?">To Pave or Not to Pave?</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/dreamhome/" title="Posts by Alison Davis and Paul B. Brown">Alison Davis and Paul B. Brown</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <p>John had warned us that the City of Anna Maria would require that our new driveway allow for sufficient rainwater drainage. But until last week, we hadn’t realized that the drainage solution would cost us $3,395 above the cost of building the driveway. That was the estimate from Adkins Contracting, a city-approved firm that installs drainage pipe.</p> <p>Here is the back story: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/to-pave-or-not-to-pave/#more-230">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-230"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/to-pave-or-not-to-pave/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on To Pave or Not to Pave?">Comments (47)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_230" id="emailThis_230" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F25%2Fto-pave-or-not-to-pave%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20To%20Pave%20or%20Not%20to%20Pave%3F"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cp%3EJohn%20had%20warned%20us%20that%20the%20City%20of%20Anna%20Maria%20would%20require%20that%20our%20new%20driveway%20allow%20for%20sufficient%20rainwater%20drainage.%20But%20until%20last%20week%2C%20we%20hadn%E2%80%99t%20realized%20that%20the%20drainage%20solution%20would%20cost%20us%20%243%2C395%20above%20the%20cost%20of%20building%20the%20driveway.%20That%20was%20the%20estimate%20from%20Adkins%20Contracting%2C%20a%20city-approved%20firm%20that%20installs%20drainage%20pipe.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHere%20is%20the%20back%20story%3A%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F25%2Fto-pave-or-not-to-pave%2F%23more-230%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Paul%20and%20Alison%20discuss%20how%20to%20pave%20the%20driveway.%20"/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080225"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis%20and%20Paul%20B.%20Brown"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="PD8VuaVDQHm9TolSIeUEyg"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F25%2Fto-pave-or-not-to-pave%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share230" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist230', 'share230');" id="sharebox230"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist230"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'driveway', 'February 25, 2008', '230');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'driveway', 'February 25, 2008', '230');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'driveway', 'February 25, 2008', '230');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'driveway', 'February 25, 2008', '230');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'driveway', 'February 25, 2008', '230');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_22">February 22, 2008, 3:36 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/let-there-be-light/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Let There Be Light">Let There Be Light</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/22/greathomesanddestinations/main.jpg" alt="\"/><span class="caption">The interior of LyteWorks, a store in Bradenton, Fla.</span></div> <p>One of the things Paul and I did while we were in Florida a couple of weeks ago was select lighting fixtures — all of them — for the house.</p> <p>And we did this in one afternoon at a store in Bradenton, Fla., called LyteWorks. John sends his clients there a lot. </p> <p>Although Paul and I had not done any research ahead of time, we were confident in our ability to get it all done in one visit. After all, we’ve bought plenty of lighting fixtures in our time, though never 50 all at once! <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/let-there-be-light/#more-229">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-229"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/let-there-be-light/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Let There Be Light">Comments (31)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_229" id="emailThis_229" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F22%2Flet-there-be-light%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20Let%20There%20Be%20Light"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F22%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fmain.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%5C%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EThe%20interior%20of%20LyteWorks%2C%20a%20store%20in%20Bradenton%2C%20Fla.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOne%20of%20the%20things%20Paul%20and%20I%20did%20while%20we%20were%20in%20Florida%20a%20couple%20of%20weeks%20ago%20was%20select%20lighting%20fixtures%20%20%E2%80%94%20all%20of%20them%20%E2%80%94%20for%20the%20house.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAnd%20we%20did%20this%20in%20one%20afternoon%20at%20a%20store%20in%20Bradenton%2C%20Fla.%2C%20called%20LyteWorks.%20John%20sends%20his%20clients%20there%20a%20lot.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAlthough%20Paul%20and%20I%20had%20not%20done%20any%20research%20ahead%20of%20time%2C%20we%20were%20confident%20in%20our%20ability%20to%20get%20it%20all%20done%20in%20one%20visit.%20After%20all%2C%20we%E2%80%99ve%20bought%20plenty%20of%20lighting%20fixtures%20in%20our%20time%2C%20though%20never%2050%20all%20at%20once%21%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F22%2Flet-there-be-light%2F%23more-229%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Alison%20and%20Paul%20chose%20all%20the%20light%20fixtures%20for%20their%20house%20in%20an%20afternoon."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080222"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="oibOHEJT1p9xISzEm3B/Ww"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F22%2Flet-there-be-light%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share229" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist229', 'share229');" id="sharebox229"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist229"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'lighting', 'February 22, 2008', '229');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'lighting', 'February 22, 2008', '229');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'lighting', 'February 22, 2008', '229');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'lighting', 'February 22, 2008', '229');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'lighting', 'February 22, 2008', '229');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_20">February 20, 2008, 4:32 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/up-on-the-roof-at-last/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Up on the Roof, at Last">Up on the Roof, at Last</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/pbrown/" title="Posts by Paul B. Brown">Paul B. Brown</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/20/greathomesanddestinations/view.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">Water views can be seen from every angle on the roof deck.</span></div> <p>Our house is exactly 3,002 square feet “under air.” (Meaning enclosed and air-conditioned.)</p> <p>When we went to down to Florida I was mostly interested in the part that was in the air: the roof deck.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, given my obsession with it, it was the first thing I checked out when we reached the house. And I can give you my reaction in exactly six words. </p> <p>I am a happy, happy boy. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/up-on-the-roof-at-last/#more-228">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-228"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/up-on-the-roof-at-last/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Up on the Roof, at Last">Comments (65)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_228" id="emailThis_228" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F20%2Fup-on-the-roof-at-last%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20Up%20on%20the%20Roof%2C%20at%20Last"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F20%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fview.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EWater%20views%20can%20be%20seen%20from%20every%20angle%20on%20the%20roof%20deck.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOur%20house%20is%20exactly%203%2C002%20square%20feet%20%E2%80%9Cunder%20air.%E2%80%9D%20%28Meaning%20enclosed%20and%20air-conditioned.%29%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWhen%20we%20went%20to%20down%20to%20Florida%20I%20was%20mostly%20interested%20in%20the%20part%20that%20was%20in%20the%20air%3A%20the%20roof%20deck.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ENot%20surprisingly%2C%20given%20my%20obsession%20with%20it%2C%20it%20was%20the%20first%20thing%20I%20checked%20out%20when%20we%20reached%20the%20house.%20And%20I%20can%20give%20you%20my%20reaction%20in%20exactly%20six%20words.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EI%20am%20a%20happy%2C%20happy%20boy.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F20%2Fup-on-the-roof-at-last%2F%23more-228%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Paul%20climbs%20up%20to%20the%20top%20of%20the%20roof%20deck%20for%20the%20first%20time."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080220"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Paul%20B.%20Brown"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="gG4HyAln631LSHjNBLeTMQ"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F20%2Fup-on-the-roof-at-last%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share228" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist228', 'share228');" id="sharebox228"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist228"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'roof-deck', 'February 20, 2008', '228');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'roof-deck', 'February 20, 2008', '228');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'roof-deck', 'February 20, 2008', '228');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'roof-deck', 'February 20, 2008', '228');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'roof-deck', 'February 20, 2008', '228');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_19">February 19, 2008, 3:56 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/four-more-weeks-of-winter-and-six-more-weeks-of-construction/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Four More Weeks of Winter (and Six More Weeks of Construction)">Four More Weeks of Winter (and Six More Weeks of Construction)</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <p>I think I’ve been fairly patient through this process of construction, but last week I hit a wall. </p> <p>After Paul and I went through the house, we were standing on the deck in the Florida sunshine and I thought, “Why aren’t we done yet?” </p> <p>I asked John the next day when the house would be completed — which I define as the city issuing a certificate of occupancy, meaning we can move in — and he said, “April.” This is a month later than we had originally anticipated.</p> <p>“Not April,” I said. “No.” </p> <p>“No?” he replied, looking amused. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/four-more-weeks-of-winter-and-six-more-weeks-of-construction/#more-227">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-227"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/four-more-weeks-of-winter-and-six-more-weeks-of-construction/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Four More Weeks of Winter (and Six More Weeks of Construction) ">Comments (46)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_227" id="emailThis_227" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" 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<input type="hidden" name="description" value="Alison%20gives%20a%20list%20of%20what%20is%20left%20to%20be%20done%20on%20the%20construction%20of%20her%20house."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080219"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="w6bSlKkmILm9ZZMbVd5akg"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F19%2Ffour-more-weeks-of-winter-and-six-more-weeks-of-construction%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share227" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist227', 'share227');" 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/struggling-with-snafus/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Struggling with Snafus">Struggling with Snafus</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/15/greathomesanddestinations/roof.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">Though the underside of the roof deck is unfinished, we’ve worked out a solution.</span></div> <p>While Paul and I are mostly really happy about the house, there are a couple of things that are not working.<br/> <strong><br/> The Roof Deck</strong></p> <p>Looking back at the house plans, we recently noticed that <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/images/2007/07/30/realestate/frontelevation.jpg">the front elevation</a> was drawn as if the viewer was 15 feet off the ground, looking straight at the house. This point of view gives the impression that the roof is built up to the underside of the deck. The reality is that when looking at it from the ground, you can’t see the roof, but you can see the unfinished bottom of the roof deck. And because of this, the roof deck kind of looks like a spaceship alighted on our roof. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/struggling-with-snafus/#more-226">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-226"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/struggling-with-snafus/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Struggling with Snafus">Comments (85)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_226" id="emailThis_226" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F15%2Fstruggling-with-snafus%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" 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value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F15%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Froof.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EThough%20the%20underside%20of%20the%20roof%20deck%20is%20unfinished%2C%20we%26%238217%3Bve%20worked%20out%20a%20solution.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWhile%20Paul%20and%20I%20are%20mostly%20really%20happy%20about%20the%20house%2C%20there%20are%20a%20couple%20of%20things%20that%20are%20not%20working.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0AThe%20Roof%20Deck%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELooking%20back%20at%20the%20house%20plans%2C%20we%20recently%20noticed%20that%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2007%2F07%2F30%2Frealestate%2Ffrontelevation.jpg%22%3Ethe%20front%20elevation%3C%2Fa%3E%20was%20drawn%20as%20if%20the%20viewer%20was%2015%20feet%20off%20the%20ground%2C%20looking%20straight%20at%20the%20house.%20This%20point%20of%20view%20gives%20the%20impression%20that%20the%20roof%20is%20built%20up%20to%20the%20underside%20of%20the%20deck.%20The%20reality%20is%20that%20when%20looking%20at%20it%20from%20the%20ground%2C%20you%20can%E2%80%99t%20see%20the%20roof%2C%20but%20you%20can%20see%20the%20unfinished%20bottom%20of%20the%20roof%20deck.%20And%20because%20of%20this%2C%20the%20roof%20deck%20kind%20of%20looks%20like%20a%20spaceship%20alighted%20on%20our%20roof.%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F15%2Fstruggling-with-snafus%2F%23more-226%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Alison%20describes%20problems%20with%20the%20roof%20deck%20and%20the%20guest%20bathroom."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080215"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="lZ0lesvtYO+vUbHK0myn/w"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F15%2Fstruggling-with-snafus%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share226" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist226', 'share226');" id="sharebox226"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist226"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'roof-deck,bathrooms', 'February 15, 2008', '226');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'roof-deck,bathrooms', 'February 15, 2008', '226');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'roof-deck,bathrooms', 'February 15, 2008', '226');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'roof-deck,bathrooms', 'February 15, 2008', '226');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'roof-deck,bathrooms', 'February 15, 2008', '226');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_13">February 13, 2008, 4:54 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/10-things-we-love-about-our-house/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: 10 Things We Love About our House">10 Things We Love About our House</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/dreamhome/" title="Posts by Alison Davis and Paul B. Brown">Alison Davis and Paul B. Brown</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/13/greathomesanddestinations/facade529.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">Shutters were added recently. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/13/greathomesanddestinations/facade1000.jpg">Enlarge this image. </a>(More photos: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/13/greathomesanddestinations/shutters.jpg">Shutters</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/13/greathomesanddestinations/pool.jpg">Pool</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/13/greathomesanddestinations/rafters.jpg">Rafters </a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/13/greathomesanddestinations/spiralstair600.jpg">Spiral Staircase</a>)</span></div> <p>Yesterday, we spent the morning lingering over breakfast outside at the Rod and Reel restaurant on Anna Maria.</p> <p>This morning, we took the world’s most obnoxious yellow Labrador retriever on what can only be described as a two-mile forced march through the sleet and freezing rain pummeling the Northeast.</p> <p>The only thing getting us through this horrible weather is memories of our trip.</p> <p>These are our first impressions. Obviously, we’ll be talking about all of this in more detail in the days ahead — along with the (very few) things we are unhappy about. But we couldn’t wait to give you the overview. So here goes: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/10-things-we-love-about-our-house/#more-225">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-225"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/10-things-we-love-about-our-house/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on 10 Things We Love About our House">Comments (46)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_225" id="emailThis_225" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2F10-things-we-love-about-our-house%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%2010%20Things%20We%20Love%20About%20our%20House"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Ffacade529.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EShutters%20were%20added%20recently.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Ffacade1000.jpg%22%3EEnlarge%20this%20image.%20%3C%2Fa%3E%28More%20photos%3A%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fshutters.jpg%22%3EShutters%3C%2Fa%3E%20%7C%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fpool.jpg%22%3EPool%3C%2Fa%3E%20%7C%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Frafters.jpg%22%3ERafters%20%3C%2Fa%3E%20%7C%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2Fspiralstair600.jpg%22%3ESpiral%20Staircase%3C%2Fa%3E%29%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EYesterday%2C%20we%20spent%20the%20morning%20lingering%20over%20breakfast%20outside%20at%20the%20Rod%20and%20Reel%20restaurant%20on%20Anna%20Maria.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThis%20morning%2C%20we%20took%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20most%20obnoxious%20yellow%20Labrador%20retriever%20on%20what%20can%20only%20be%20described%20as%20a%20two-mile%20forced%20march%20through%20the%20sleet%20and%20freezing%20rain%20pummeling%20the%20Northeast.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20only%20thing%20getting%20us%20through%20this%20horrible%20weather%20is%20memories%20of%20our%20trip.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThese%20are%20our%20first%20impressions.%20Obviously%2C%20we%E2%80%99ll%20be%20talking%20about%20all%20of%20this%20in%20more%20detail%20in%20the%20days%20ahead%20%E2%80%94%20along%20with%20the%20%28very%20few%29%20things%20we%20are%20unhappy%20about.%20But%20we%20couldn%E2%80%99t%20wait%20to%20give%20you%20the%20overview.%20So%20here%20goes%3A%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2F10-things-we-love-about-our-house%2F%23more-225%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Paul%20and%20Alison%20give%20their%20first%20impressions."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080213"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis%20and%20Paul%20B.%20Brown"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="Q1yH11zHuWahDSARKPkwFA"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F13%2F10-things-we-love-about-our-house%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share225" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist225', 'share225');" id="sharebox225"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist225"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'construction-progress', 'February 13, 2008', '225');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'construction-progress', 'February 13, 2008', '225');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'construction-progress', 'February 13, 2008', '225');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'construction-progress', 'February 13, 2008', '225');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'construction-progress', 'February 13, 2008', '225');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_11">February 11, 2008, 4:48 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/less-is-more/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Less is More">Less is More</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <p>Greetings from Anna Maria Island, where the sun is shining, a gentle breeze is blowing and the temperature is hovering in the high 70s. (To those Northeastern readers in the deep freeze, sorry to rub it in!) </p> <p>Our weekend has been jam-packed with tasks, and it’s been great to be able to check them off of our to-do list, but before enumerating them I’d like to talk about the landscape plan.</p> <p>We just met with Ray, our landscape designer, a couple of hours ago at the house. We walked around the property and discussed our options. </p> <p>The first thing we asked about was, of course, money. It turns out that the plan Ray sent us has a $22,000 price tag. I have no point of reference on the cost of turning a patch of dirt into a lush garden, so although this sounded high, I didn’t go into sticker shock. That said, I still found it higher than I’d hoped. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/less-is-more/#more-224">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-224"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/less-is-more/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Less is More">Comments (99)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_224" id="emailThis_224" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F11%2Fless-is-more%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20Less%20is%20More"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cp%3EGreetings%20from%20Anna%20Maria%20Island%2C%20where%20the%20sun%20is%20shining%2C%20a%20gentle%20breeze%20is%20blowing%20and%20the%20temperature%20is%20hovering%20in%20the%20high%2070s.%20%28To%20those%20Northeastern%20readers%20in%20the%20deep%20freeze%2C%20sorry%20to%20rub%20it%20in%21%29%20%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOur%20weekend%20has%20been%20jam-packed%20with%20tasks%2C%20and%20it%E2%80%99s%20been%20great%20to%20be%20able%20to%20check%20them%20off%20of%20our%20to-do%20list%2C%20but%20before%20enumerating%20them%20I%E2%80%99d%20like%20to%20talk%20about%20the%20landscape%20plan.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWe%20just%20met%20with%20Ray%2C%20our%20landscape%20designer%2C%20a%20couple%20of%20hours%20ago%20at%20the%20house.%20We%20walked%20around%20the%20property%20and%20discussed%20our%20options.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20first%20thing%20we%20asked%20about%20was%2C%20of%20course%2C%20money.%20It%20turns%20out%20that%20the%20plan%20Ray%20sent%20us%20has%20a%20%2422%2C000%20price%20tag.%20I%20have%20no%20point%20of%20reference%20on%20the%20cost%20of%20turning%20a%20patch%20of%20dirt%20into%20a%20lush%20garden%2C%20so%20although%20this%20sounded%20high%2C%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t%20go%20into%20sticker%20shock.%20That%20said%2C%20I%20still%20found%20it%20%20higher%20than%20I%E2%80%99d%20hoped.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F11%2Fless-is-more%2F%23more-224%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Alison%20and%20Paul%20meet%20with%20the%20landscape%20designer."/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080211"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="Qm+lBVbntM2wQFexLUv2TQ"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F11%2Fless-is-more%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share224" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist224', 'share224');" id="sharebox224"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist224"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'landscaping', 'February 11, 2008', '224');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'landscaping', 'February 11, 2008', '224');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'landscaping', 'February 11, 2008', '224');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'landscaping', 'February 11, 2008', '224');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'landscaping', 'February 11, 2008', '224');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_8">February 8, 2008, 4:44 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/heading-south/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Heading South">Heading South</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/pbrown/" title="Posts by Paul B. Brown">Paul B. Brown</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <p>We leave for Florida today to make the final round of construction decisions. </p> <p>To get a head start, I gave our builder, John, a call. We still have to resolve the issues Alison mentioned earlier in the week; things like pool tiles and landscaping. But I figured Johnny would have other things for us to decide as well, and we could think about them on the plane ride down.</p> <p>This is going to be our last trip down, before the house is completed next month — we hope. And we want to get everything squared away before we come back Tuesday morning.</p> <p>“So, Johnny, what else do we have to do?” <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/heading-south/#more-223">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-223"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/heading-south/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Heading South ">Comments (11)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_223" id="emailThis_223" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2Fheading-south%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20Heading%20South"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cp%3EWe%20leave%20for%20Florida%20today%20to%20make%20the%20final%20round%20of%20construction%20decisions.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETo%20get%20a%20head%20start%2C%20I%20gave%20our%20builder%2C%20John%2C%20a%20call.%20We%20still%20have%20to%20resolve%20the%20issues%20Alison%20mentioned%20earlier%20in%20the%20week%3B%20things%20like%20pool%20tiles%20and%20landscaping.%20But%20I%20figured%20Johnny%20would%20have%20other%20things%20for%20us%20to%20decide%20as%20well%2C%20and%20we%20could%20think%20about%20them%20on%20the%20plane%20ride%20down.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThis%20is%20going%20to%20be%20our%20last%20trip%20down%2C%20before%20the%20house%20is%20completed%20next%20month%20%E2%80%94%20we%20hope.%20And%20we%20want%20to%20get%20everything%20squared%20away%20before%20we%20come%20back%20Tuesday%20morning.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CSo%2C%20Johnny%2C%20what%20else%20do%20we%20have%20to%20do%3F%E2%80%9D%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2Fheading-south%2F%23more-223%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Paul%20and%20Alison%20head%20to%20Anna%20Maria%20for%20the%20weekend%20to%20check%20out%20the%20house.%20"/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080208"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Paul%20B.%20Brown"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="rbmugBXC+E/I8qMZKu6Oiw"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2Fheading-south%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share223" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist223', 'share223');" id="sharebox223"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist223"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', '', 'February 8, 2008', '223');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', '', 'February 8, 2008', '223');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', '', 'February 8, 2008', '223');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', '', 'February 8, 2008', '223');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', '', 'February 8, 2008', '223');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_7">February 7, 2008, 4:13 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/construction-progress-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Construction Progress">Construction Progress</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="full-width"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/07/greathomesanddestinations/2.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">The back porch and lanai are coming along. (Photographs: Kristi Droppers)</span></div> <p>My friend, Kristi Droppers, was recently down in Florida and stopped by the house to check it out. She also took a few pictures. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/construction-progress-2/#more-222">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-222"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/construction-progress-2/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Construction Progress">Comments (43)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_222" id="emailThis_222" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2Fconstruction-progress-2%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20Construction%20Progress"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22full-width%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2F2.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EThe%20back%20porch%20and%20lanai%20are%20coming%20along.%20%28Photographs%3A%20Kristi%20Droppers%29%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMy%20friend%2C%20Kristi%20Droppers%2C%20was%20recently%20down%20in%20Florida%20and%20stopped%20by%20the%20house%20to%20check%20it%20out.%20She%20also%20took%20a%20few%20pictures.%20%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2Fconstruction-progress-2%2F%23more-222%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> <input type="hidden" name="description" value="Three%20recent%20photos%20of%20the%20house%20show%20a%20new%20coat%20of%20paint%2C%20the%20rear%20elevation%20and%20the%20side%20of%20the%20house.%20"/> <input type="hidden" name="pub_date" value="20080207"/> <input type="hidden" name="author" value="Alison%20Davis"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsection" value="Real%20Estate"/> <input type="hidden" name="nytdsubsection" value="Great%20Homes"/> <input type="hidden" name="encrypted_key" value="noZamK/O5b/iTPpoJxutLQ"/> <input type="hidden" name="encryption_partner" value="about"/> </form> <a class="post-email" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2Fconstruction-progress-2%2F"><strong>E-mail this</strong></a> </li> <li id="share222" class="share"> <a onclick="javascript:showHideShareTool('sharelist222', 'share222');" id="sharebox222"> Share</a> <ul class="hide" id="sharelist222"> <li class="delicious"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'construction-progress', 'February 7, 2008', '222');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'construction-progress', 'February 7, 2008', '222');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'construction-progress', 'February 7, 2008', '222');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'construction-progress', 'February 7, 2008', '222');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'construction-progress', 'February 7, 2008', '222');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_6">February 6, 2008, 4:03 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/its-a-jungle/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: It’s a Jungle">It’s a Jungle</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <div class="standard190 left"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/06/greathomesanddestinations/06land190.jpg" alt=""/><span class="caption">A landscape design for 92 North Shore Drive. (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/06/greathomesanddestinations/06landB.jpg">Enlarge this image.</a>)</span></div> <p>My gardening experience is limited to what grows best in the Northeast; when it comes to what might grow well in a subtropical climate, I have no idea. That is why, in December, when were down in Anna Maria, we met with Ray Waldin, a landscape designer John recommended. </p> <p>We talked to Ray in general terms, telling him how we liked palms especially, and how we wanted landscaping that would create a sense of serenity and lushness. We also (obviously) wanted plants that would do well in the warm and humid climate. </p> <p>It’s been a couple of months, but this morning, finally, we received a potential design. I was really excited to see the plan when I opened the envelope, but as I flipped through its pages, my anticipation waned. I realized I had no idea of whether what I was looking at was good, bad or even ugly. Here are my questions:</p> <p><strong>How Much? </strong></p> <p>Granted, in December, we had not discussed budget, as we wanted to give Ray the opportunity to think about what we were asking him to do without any limits. </p> <p>But, of course, the question of cost was the first thing that came to mind. At this point in the project, money is really tight. So if this plan is $1 million — yes, I exaggerate — it’s going to be much less attractive than if it’s $100 (again, I embellish). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/its-a-jungle/#more-221">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-221"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/its-a-jungle/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on It’s a Jungle">Comments (73)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_221" id="emailThis_221" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F06%2Fits-a-jungle%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Dream%20Home%20Diaries%3A%20It%E2%80%99s%20a%20Jungle"/> <input type="hidden" name="full_text" value="%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22standard190%20left%22%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F06%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2F06land190.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22%22%2F%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22caption%22%3EA%20landscape%20design%20for%2092%20North%20Shore%20Drive.%20%28%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2008%2F02%2F06%2Fgreathomesanddestinations%2F06landB.jpg%22%3EEnlarge%20this%20image.%3C%2Fa%3E%29%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMy%20gardening%20experience%20is%20limited%20to%20what%20grows%20best%20in%20the%20Northeast%3B%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20what%20might%20grow%20well%20in%20a%20subtropical%20climate%2C%20I%20have%20no%20idea.%20That%20is%20why%2C%20in%20December%2C%20when%20were%20down%20in%20Anna%20Maria%2C%20we%20met%20with%20Ray%20Waldin%2C%20a%20landscape%20designer%20John%20recommended.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWe%20talked%20to%20Ray%20in%20general%20terms%2C%20telling%20him%20how%20we%20liked%20palms%20especially%2C%20and%20how%20we%20wanted%20landscaping%20that%20would%20create%20a%20sense%20of%20serenity%20and%20lushness.%20We%20also%20%28obviously%29%20wanted%20plants%20that%20would%20do%20well%20in%20the%20warm%20and%20humid%20climate.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%E2%80%99s%20been%20a%20couple%20of%20months%2C%20but%20this%20morning%2C%20finally%2C%20we%20received%20a%20potential%20design.%20I%20was%20really%20excited%20to%20see%20the%20plan%20when%20I%20opened%20the%20envelope%2C%20but%20as%20I%20flipped%20through%20its%20pages%2C%20my%20anticipation%20waned.%20I%20realized%20I%20had%20no%20idea%20of%20whether%20what%20I%20was%20looking%20at%20was%20good%2C%20bad%20or%20even%20ugly.%20Here%20are%20my%20questions%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHow%20Much%3F%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EGranted%2C%20in%20December%2C%20we%20had%20not%20discussed%20budget%2C%20as%20we%20wanted%20to%20give%20Ray%20the%20opportunity%20to%20think%20about%20what%20we%20were%20asking%20him%20to%20do%20without%20any%20limits.%20%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBut%2C%20of%20course%2C%20the%20question%20of%20cost%20was%20the%20first%20thing%20that%20came%20to%20mind.%20At%20this%20point%20in%20the%20project%2C%20money%20is%20really%20tight.%20So%20if%20this%20plan%20is%20%241%20million%20%E2%80%94%20yes%2C%20I%20exaggerate%20%E2%80%94%20it%E2%80%99s%20going%20to%20be%20much%20less%20attractive%20than%20if%20it%E2%80%99s%20%24100%20%28again%2C%20I%20embellish%29.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F06%2Fits-a-jungle%2F%23more-221%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> 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href="javascript:blogPostShare('delicious', 'design,landscaping', 'February 6, 2008', '221');">Del.icio.us</a></li> <li class="digg"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('digg', 'design,landscaping', 'February 6, 2008', '221');">Digg</a></li> <li class="facebook"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('facebook', 'design,landscaping', 'February 6, 2008', '221');">Facebook</a></li> <li class="newsvine"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('newsvine', 'design,landscaping', 'February 6, 2008', '221');">Newsvine</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="javascript:blogPostShare('permalink', 'design,landscaping', 'February 6, 2008', '221');">Permalink</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </div> <div class="blog_post home uncategorized "> <div class="post-info"> <small class="post-date2" id="day_4">February 4, 2008, 12:46 pm</small> <h2 class="post-title2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/are-we-done-yet/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Are We Done Yet?">Are We Done Yet?</a></h2> <p class="post-author2">By <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/author/adavis/" title="Posts by Alison Davis">Alison Davis</a></span></p> </div> <div class="post-content2"> <p>What I should have done yesterday was make progress on all the decisions that still need to be made on our house.</p> <p>As soon as I woke up, I should have made a list of all the things that have to be done.</p> <p>But I didn’t. I taught my son Sam how to make a goat cheese omelet.</p> <p>At the least, I should have looked at pool tiles. John was kind enough to direct us to a <a href="www.luvtiles.com">web site</a> where there is lots of inspiration. But every time I visit the web site, there are so many choices that my head starts spinning.</p> <p>Instead, I went to the grocery store, for chips and salsa and frozen appetizers.</p> <p>When I got home, instead of trying to pick paint colors, I researched colleges with my son Nick, the high school senior, who is at work on the last applications.</p> <p>As long as I was sitting at the computer, I should have gone on some web sites to order furniture. In a month, we’re going to have a completed house with no furniture. After all, I’ve seen a lot of things I like at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.potterybarn.com/">Pottery Barn</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.crateandbarrel.com/">Crate & Barrel</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.roomandboard.com/">Room & Board </a>and other web sites. I should just take the plunge and order something.</p> <p>But I didn’t. Instead, I make guacamole, heated pigs in blankets and hot wings, put out raw vegetables with ranch dressing dip, and sat down with some hungry folks to watch a football game.</p> <p>Why did I do everything yesterday except tackle my daunting list of house stuff? Maybe I’m suffering from Chronic Home Building Syndrome (CHBS). We broke ground six months ago, and I am worn out from the process. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/are-we-done-yet/#more-220">Read more …</a> </p> </div> <div class="post-tools"> <ul id="post-tools-220"> <li class="comments-tool"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/are-we-done-yet/#comments" class="post-comment" title="Comment on Are We Done Yet?">Comments (37)</a></li> <li class="email-tool"> <form method="post" name="emailThis_220" id="emailThis_220" style="display: inline;" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/mem/emailthis.html"> <input type="hidden" name="type" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F04%2Fare-we-done-yet%2F"/> <input type="hidden" name="title" 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value="%3Cp%3EWhat%20I%20should%20have%20done%20yesterday%20was%20make%20progress%20on%20all%20the%20decisions%20that%20still%20need%20to%20be%20made%20on%20our%20house.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAs%20soon%20as%20I%20woke%20up%2C%20I%20should%20have%20made%20a%20list%20of%20all%20the%20things%20that%20have%20to%20be%20done.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBut%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t.%20I%20taught%20my%20son%20Sam%20how%20to%20make%20a%20goat%20cheese%20omelet.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAt%20the%20least%2C%20I%20should%20have%20looked%20at%20pool%20tiles.%20John%20was%20kind%20enough%20to%20direct%20us%20to%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22www.luvtiles.com%22%3Eweb%20site%3C%2Fa%3E%20where%20there%20is%20lots%20of%20inspiration.%20But%20every%20time%20I%20visit%20the%20web%20site%2C%20there%20are%20so%20many%20choices%20that%20my%20head%20starts%20spinning.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EInstead%2C%20I%20went%20to%20the%20grocery%20store%2C%20for%20chips%20and%20salsa%20and%20frozen%20appetizers.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWhen%20I%20got%20home%2C%20instead%20of%20trying%20to%20pick%20paint%20colors%2C%20I%20researched%20colleges%20with%20my%20son%20Nick%2C%20the%20high%20school%20senior%2C%20who%20is%20at%20work%20on%20the%20last%20applications.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAs%20long%20as%20I%20was%20sitting%20at%20the%20computer%2C%20I%20should%20have%20gone%20on%20some%20web%20sites%20to%20order%20furniture.%20In%20a%20month%2C%20we%E2%80%99re%20going%20to%20have%20a%20completed%20house%20with%20no%20furniture.%20After%20all%2C%20I%E2%80%99ve%20seen%20a%20lot%20of%20things%20I%20like%20%C2%ADat%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.potterybarn.com%22%3EPottery%20Barn%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crateandbarrel.com%22%3ECrate%20%26%23038%3B%20Barrel%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roomandboard.com%22%3ERoom%20%26%23038%3B%20Board%20%3C%2Fa%3E%C2%ADand%20other%20web%20sites.%20I%20should%20just%20take%20the%20plunge%20and%20order%20something.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBut%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t.%20Instead%2C%20I%20make%20guacamole%2C%20heated%20pigs%20in%20blankets%20and%20hot%20wings%2C%20put%20out%20raw%20vegetables%20with%20ranch%20dressing%20dip%2C%20and%20sat%20down%20with%20some%20hungry%20folks%20to%20watch%20a%20football%20game.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWhy%20did%20I%20do%20everything%20yesterday%20except%20tackle%20my%20daunting%20list%20of%20house%20stuff%3F%20Maybe%20I%E2%80%99m%20suffering%20from%20Chronic%20Home%20Building%20Syndrome%20%28CHBS%29.%20We%20broke%20ground%20six%20months%20ago%2C%20and%20I%20am%20worn%20out%20from%20the%20process.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fdreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F02%2F04%2Fare-we-done-yet%2F%23more-220%22%3E%28more%26%238230%3B%29%3C%2Fa%3E%0A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A"/> 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title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29">« February</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="6" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03" title="one post">3</a></td><td>4</td><td id="today"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td><td>7</td><td>8</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>12</td><td>13</td><td>14</td><td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>16</td><td>17</td><td>18</td><td>19</td><td>20</td><td>21</td><td>22</td> </tr> <tr> <td>23</td><td>24</td><td>25</td><td>26</td><td>27</td><td>28</td><td>29</td> </tr> <tr> <td>30</td><td>31</td> <td class="pad" colspan="5"> </td> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200802" style="display:none"> <caption>February 2008</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/30">« January</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03">March »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="5" class="pad"> </td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/01" title="one post">1</a></td><td>2</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08" title="one post">8</a></td><td>9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/13" title="one post">13</a></td><td>14</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/15" title="one post">15</a></td><td>16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>17</td><td>18</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td>21</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22" title="one post">22</a></td><td>23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29" title="one post">29</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="1"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200801" style="display:none"> <caption>January 2008</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/31">« December</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/01">February »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/04" title="2 posts">4</a></td><td>5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td>10</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td>19</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20</td><td>21</td><td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23" title="one post">23</a></td><td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td> </tr> <tr> <td>27</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/28" title="one post">28</a></td><td>29</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/30" title="one post">30</a></td><td>31</td> <td class="pad" colspan="2"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200712" style="display:none"> <caption>December 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/30">« November</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/02">January »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="6" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/03" title="one post">3</a></td><td>4</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/10" title="one post">10</a></td><td>11</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>16</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/17" title="one post">17</a></td><td>18</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td>20</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21" title="one post">21</a></td><td>22</td> </tr> <tr> <td>23</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/24" title="one post">24</a></td><td>25</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/26" title="one post">26</a></td><td>27</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/28" title="one post">28</a></td><td>29</td> </tr> <tr> <td>30</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/31" title="one post">31</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="5"> </td> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200711" style="display:none"> <caption>November 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31">« October</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/03">December »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" class="pad"> </td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/01" title="one post">1</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/08" title="one post">8</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td>10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>18</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td>20</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/21" title="one post">21</a></td><td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/23" title="2 posts">23</a></td><td>24</td> </tr> <tr> <td>25</td><td>26</td><td>27</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/28" title="2 posts">28</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/30" title="one post">30</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="1"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200710" style="display:none"> <caption>October 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/28">« September</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/01">November »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="1" class="pad"> </td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/01" title="one post">1</a></td><td>2</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/03" title="one post">3</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/08" title="one post">8</a></td><td>9</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/10" title="one post">10</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td>13</td> </tr> <tr> <td>14</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/15" title="one post">15</a></td><td>16</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/17" title="one post">17</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td>20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>21</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/22" title="one post">22</a></td><td>23</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/24" title="one post">24</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/26" title="one post">26</a></td><td>27</td> </tr> <tr> <td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td>30</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31" title="one post">31</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="3"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200709" style="display:none"> <caption>September 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/31">« August</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/01">October »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="6" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td><td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/10" title="one post">10</a></td><td>11</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/13" title="one post">13</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>16</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/17" title="one post">17</a></td><td>18</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/21" title="one post">21</a></td><td>22</td> </tr> <tr> <td>23</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/24" title="one post">24</a></td><td>25</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/26" title="one post">26</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/28" title="one post">28</a></td><td>29</td> </tr> <tr> <td>30</td> <td class="pad" colspan="6"> </td> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200708" style="display:none"> <caption>August 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/30">« July</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/04">September »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" class="pad"> </td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/01" title="one post">1</a></td><td>2</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/03" title="one post">3</a></td><td>4</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td>7</td><td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/10" title="one post">10</a></td><td>11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>12</td><td>13</td><td>14</td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/17" title="one post">17</a></td><td>18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>19</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td>21</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/22" title="one post">22</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/23" title="one post">23</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/24" title="2 posts">24</a></td><td>25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>26</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/30" title="one post">30</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/31" title="one post">31</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="1"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200707" style="display:none"> <caption>July 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/29">« June</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/01">August »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td>7</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td>10</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/13" title="one post">13</a></td><td>14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td>19</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td>21</td> </tr> <tr> <td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/23" title="one post">23</a></td><td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td>28</td> </tr> <tr> <td>29</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/30" title="one post">30</a></td><td>31</td> <td class="pad" colspan="4"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200706" style="display:none"> <caption>June 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/30">« May</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/02">July »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="5" class="pad"> </td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/01" title="one post">1</a></td><td>2</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td>7</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/08" title="one post">8</a></td><td>9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/13" title="one post">13</a></td><td>14</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/15" title="one post">15</a></td><td>16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>17</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td>19</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td>21</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/22" title="one post">22</a></td><td>23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td>30</td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200705" style="display:none"> <caption>May 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/30">« April</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/01">June »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td>5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td>10</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td>19</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/21" title="one post">21</a></td><td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/23" title="2 posts">23</a></td><td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td> </tr> <tr> <td>27</td><td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/30" title="one post">30</a></td><td>31</td> <td class="pad" colspan="2"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200704" style="display:none"> <caption>April 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/30">« March</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/02">May »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td>7</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/10" title="one post">10</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/13" title="one post">13</a></td><td>14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td>19</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td>21</td> </tr> <tr> <td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/23" title="one post">23</a></td><td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td>28</td> </tr> <tr> <td>29</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/30" title="one post">30</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="5"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200703" style="display:none"> <caption>March 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/28">« February</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/02">April »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td>10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>18</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td>20</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/21" title="one post">21</a></td><td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/23" title="one post">23</a></td><td>24</td> </tr> <tr> <td>25</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/26" title="one post">26</a></td><td>27</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/28" title="one post">28</a></td><td>29</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/30" title="one post">30</a></td><td>31</td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200702" style="display:none"> <caption>February 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/31">« January</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/02">March »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td>3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/09" title="one post">9</a></td><td>10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td>17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>18</td><td>19</td><td>20</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/21" title="one post">21</a></td><td>22</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/23" title="one post">23</a></td><td>24</td> </tr> <tr> <td>25</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/26" title="one post">26</a></td><td>27</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/28" title="one post">28</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="3"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200701" style="display:none"> <caption>January 2007</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/29">« December</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/02">February »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="1" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/02" title="one post">2</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/03" title="one post">3</a></td><td>4</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/05" title="one post">5</a></td><td>6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/08" title="one post">8</a></td><td>9</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/10" title="one post">10</a></td><td>11</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/12" title="one post">12</a></td><td>13</td> </tr> <tr> <td>14</td><td>15</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/16" title="one post">16</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/17" title="one post">17</a></td><td>18</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/19" title="one post">19</a></td><td>20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>21</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/22" title="one post">22</a></td><td>23</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/24" title="one post">24</a></td><td>25</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/26" title="one post">26</a></td><td>27</td> </tr> <tr> <td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td>30</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/31" title="one post">31</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="3"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200612" style="display:none"> <caption>December 2006</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/11/30">« November</a></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/02">January »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="5" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td>2</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/04" title="one post">4</a></td><td>5</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/06" title="one post">6</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/07" title="one post">7</a></td><td>8</td><td>9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/11" title="one post">11</a></td><td>12</td><td>13</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/14" title="one post">14</a></td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/15" title="one post">15</a></td><td>16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>17</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/18" title="one post">18</a></td><td>19</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/20" title="one post">20</a></td><td>21</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/22" title="one post">22</a></td><td>23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>24</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/25" title="one post">25</a></td><td>26</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/27" title="one post">27</a></td><td>28</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/29" title="one post">29</a></td><td>30</td> </tr> <tr> <td>31</td> <td class="pad" colspan="6"> </td> </tbody> </table> <table class="calendar" id="cal_200611" style="display:none"> <caption>November 2006</caption> <thead> <tr> <th abbr="Sunday" scope="col" title="Sunday">S</th> <th abbr="Monday" scope="col" title="Monday">M</th> <th abbr="Tuesday" scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th abbr="Wednesday" scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th abbr="Thursday" scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th abbr="Friday" scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th abbr="Saturday" scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th></tr></thead><tfoot><tr class="buttonrow"><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="left"></td><td class="pad"> </td><td class="pad" colspan="3" align="right"><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/04">December »</a></tr></tfoot><tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" class="pad"> </td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5</td><td>6</td><td>7</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>12</td><td>13</td><td>14</td><td>15</td><td>16</td><td>17</td><td>18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>19</td><td>20</td><td>21</td><td>22</td><td>23</td><td>24</td><td>25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>26</td><td>27</td><td>28</td><td>29</td><td><a href="/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/11/30" title="2 posts">30</a></td> <td class="pad" colspan="2"> </td> <tr><td class="pad" colspan="7"> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div>  <div id="side_search"> <form id="side_searchform" method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.dblogs.nytimes.com/">  <div id="side_searchAd">  <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <noscript> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=cookie&pos=Position1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_remote.html?type=noscript&page=blog.nytimes.com/dreamhome&posall=TopAd,Position1,Top5,SponLink,SFMiddle,Box1,Box3,Bottom3,Right5A,Right6A,Right7A,Right8A,Middle1C,Bottom7,Bottom8,Bottom9,Inv1,Inv2,Inv3,tacoda,SOS,ADX_CLIENTSIDE&pos=Position1&query=qstring&keywords=?"></a></noscript> </div>  <h4><label for="s" id="searchLabel">Search This Blog</label></h4> <input type="text" name="s" id="s" size="20"> <input name="search" id="search_button" value="Search" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/common/search.gif" type="image"> </form> </div> <div id="blog_sidebar">  <div class="side_index"> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/ref/topnews/blog-index.html" title="Go to Blog Index Page">All NYTimes.com Blogs »</a></p> </div>  <div class="side_tool"><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024if_/http://greathomesanddestinations.nytimes.com/+include/indexIframe.aspx" allowtransparency="true" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" id="ccolSearch"></iframe></div> <div class="side_tool"><h4>About Dream Home Diaries</h4>They've found an idyllic tiny town in Florida, they've bought a piece of land and now <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/paul-b-brown/">Paul B. Brown</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/alison-davis/">Alison Davis</a> are setting out to build their dream house. How hard can it be, they wonder, even though they live 1,500 miles away, they've never built a home before and they don't know anything about architects, builders, local zoning laws or financing? On this blog for <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/pages/realestate/greathomes/index.html">Great Homes</a>, they recount their successes and failures and will chronicle their adventures to come.</div>  <div class="side_tool"><h4>Recent Posts</h4><ul class="recentposts"> <li><span>March 5<br/>37 comments</span><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/a-pool-in-progress/" title="View post A Pool in Progress">A Pool in Progress</a><br/><p>Paul and Alison pick out tile to line the pool. </p> </p></li> <li><span>March 3<br/>69 comments</span><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/a-little-wrinkle/" title="View post A Little Wrinkle">A Little Wrinkle</a><br/><p>Alison picks out alternative lighting fixtures for the lanai and front porch. </p> </p></li> <li><span>February 29<br/>48 comments</span><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/whats-new-at-92-north-shore-drive-2/" title="View post What’s New at 92 North Shore Drive">What’s New at 92 North Shore Drive</a><br/><p>Alison gives an update on construction progress. </p> </p></li> <li><span>February 27<br/>29 comments</span><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/planning-the-office/" title="View post Planning the Office">Planning the Office</a><br/><p>Paul finds the perfect desk for his office. </p> </p></li> <li><span>February 25<br/>47 comments</span><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/to-pave-or-not-to-pave/" title="View post To Pave or Not to Pave?">To Pave or Not to Pave?</a><br/><p>Paul and Alison discuss how to pave the driveway. </p> </p></li> </ul> </div>  <div id="blog_sidead">  <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <noscript> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=cookie&pos=SFMiddle"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_remote.html?type=noscript&page=blog.nytimes.com/dreamhome&posall=TopAd,Position1,Top5,SponLink,SFMiddle,Box1,Box3,Bottom3,Right5A,Right6A,Right7A,Right8A,Middle1C,Bottom7,Bottom8,Bottom9,Inv1,Inv2,Inv3,tacoda,SOS,ADX_CLIENTSIDE&pos=SFMiddle&query=qstring&keywords=?"></a></noscript> </div>  <div class="side_tool"><h4 class="left">Monthly Archives</h4> <div class="selector"> <select name="archive_chrono" onchange="goToURL2(this); 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color:#004276">pool</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/propane" title="propane (2)" style="font-size:85%; color:#004276">propane</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/property-tax" title="property tax (3)" style="font-size:91%; color:#004276">property tax</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/renovation" title="renovation (3)" style="font-size:91%; color:#004276">renovation</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/retirement" title="retirement (1)" style="font-size:80%; color:#004276">retirement</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/roof-deck" title="roof deck (7)" style="font-size:112%; color:#004276">roof deck</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/sarasota" title="Sarasota (5)" style="font-size:101%; color:#004276">Sarasota</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://dreamhome.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/weather" title="weather (3)" style="font-size:91%; color:#004276">weather</a>  </div> </div>  <div class="side_tool"><h4>Blogroll</h4><ul class="blogroll_list"> <li class="odd"> <h5>All About Anna Maria Island</h5> <ul class="side_list_items"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.agnelliconstruction.com/" title="Our builder's company">Agnelli Construction, Inc.</a> Our builder's company</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.amichamber.org/" title="Business on the island">Chamber of Commerce</a> Business on the island</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.cityofannamaria.com/" title="Our future town's official Web site">City of Anna Maria</a> Our future town's official Web site</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.flagulfislands.com/" title="Tourism on Anna Maria Island">Florida's Gulf Islands</a> Tourism on Anna Maria Island</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://annamaria.net/Weather/forecast/" title="What's the weather like down there?">Forecast</a> What's the weather like down there?</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://amisland.com/photosite/" title="Beaches on the island">Photo Gallery</a> Beaches on the island</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.islander.org/" title="Local newspaper">The Anna Maria Island News</a> Local newspaper</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://anna-maria-island.beachdirectory.com/" title="Other than 92 N. Shore Drive (which is our future address)">Where to Stay</a> Other than 92 N. Shore Drive (which is our future address)</li> </ul> </li> <li class="even"> <h5>Inspiration for Home Building</h5> <ul class="side_list_items"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.coastalliving.com/" title="Ideas for homes on the water">Coastal Living</a> Ideas for homes on the water</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.cottageliving.com/" title="Interior inspiration for cottage-style houses">Cottage Living</a> Interior inspiration for cottage-style houses</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.hgtv.com/" title="Resources for the home and garden">HGTV</a> Resources for the home and garden</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.housingzone.com/probuilder/" title="What the pros are talking about">Professional Builder</a> What the pros are talking about</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.taunton.com/inspiredhouse/" title="Decorating ideas">Taunton's Inspired House</a> Decorating ideas</li> </ul> </li> <li class="odd"> <h5>Financing and Other Money Matters</h5> <ul class="side_list_items"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html" title="Maybe the market is up 85% today and we don't have to worry.">Business News</a> Maybe the market is up 85% today and we don't have to worry.</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://homefinance.nytimes.com/nyt/category/tools/" title="How are we going to pay for it?">Financial Calculators</a> How are we going to pay for it?</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024/http://www.zillow.com/" title="What it's worth">Zillow</a> What it's worth</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="side_tool"><h4>Anna Maria Island</h4><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20080307100024im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/dreamhome/anna_maria_map.jpg" alt="Anna Maria 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