Granville's Profile

We had 16x16 inch Crema marble tiles in our shower surround with very fine grout lines. The tile setter even matched the veining of the tile over the wall. The effect was beautiful. We got the tile from a discount/overstock tile showroom at $ 2.00 a tile.

I would never be able to leave. This is the best entry so far!

I was living in what I thought was my "dream house" It had lots of room and was located in downtown Portland OR. Granite kitchen, marble bathroom, fireplace, built-ins, crown moldings, wood floors and a 450sf balcony. After spending 9 years there I hated how much time it took to clean, it's proximity to the freeway, pollution (freeway), noise(freeway), maintenance, upkeep, HOA's and special assessments for an older building. I was tired of being house-poor and too far from the grocery store and having to rent parking in the building. We put it on the market and sold it eight weeks later. We bought a foreclosure at 1/3 the price of our old home. It is 380sf smaller and has a tiny balcony - I can clean it in a little over an hour a week and I am a clean freak. I have large windows and high ceilings, central air, I am steps from the Max and three blocks from the grocery store. I can sleep at night without the roar of traffic. Ironically, we have two parking spaces but because of proximity to restaurants and services are selling our car. We are happier after downsizing and love our new place. I do sometimes miss the fireplace but not much else. I like the security of living in a home that we can afford on one income especially in this economy.

LadyKatey @ Ikea has a large cutting board that fits over half a standard size sink. I bought one about two months ago. It is 17.5 inches by 12 inches. I like it because I can sweep scraps into the disposal.

We just moved last November. We loved our last place and had remodeled it to our taste but decided that we didn't like our large mortgage payment and the fact that we couldn't make the bathroom door ADA compliant (partner has MD). We spent several months looking and found a new place (foreclosure) that has a better location with great access to public transportation, groceries and other services, plus is totally ADA compliant. We cut our mortgage by 80% and our property taxes in half. The kitchen will need some work (too modern for my taste) but we really love the new place and the extra money each month is helping us pay down debt and sock some savings away.

Not next to a college parking lot. Not near public festivals that happen every weekend from late spring to early fall. Not next to a freeway. Not on the ground floor. Built to current earthquake and fire codes. No freezer is a deal breaker.

I buy trends as long as they are 100 years old or older (or at least look like they are).

I have three cast iron skillets that I inherited from my grandmother. I was taught never to wash them in the sink with water. I have never gotten them wet. I clean mine with a soft cloth and kosher salt for light cleaning and rock salt for heavier cleaning. My pans are sparkling clean, as non-stick as Teflon and have never gotten rust.

Fuller Brush company makes a brush with a Velcro surface and reversible handle that is the best thing I have ever used for cleaning up the hair my Persian cat leaves on my furniture. I have one in every room of the house and they last for years. If weekly vacuuming isn't keeping up with the hair then perhaps it is time to step up the grooming sessions.

We have a local fabric outlet that has feather and down filled pillows that I use for my pillow projects for under $10 dollars a piece.The euro sham sized ones are $15 dollars. With closeout fabrics and trims I have made pillows that would cost a fortune at retail.