Hi all I'm Carolyn from Brampton, Ontario. It's nice to read the bios and meet everyone who is so committed to décor and design. I studied Interior Decorating at Sheridan College about 30 years ago - yikes, I think I was 10 - a real prodigy :-) Kidding aside, it's a wonderful time to be in this field with all of the new technology, resources and product available to us. Like Keitha I started when my children were small. I remember having to design and water colour render a 2500 square foot house for our final project and now it's almost all done on the computer. A "Diva" I'm not. For me my job is about helping my clients create spaces that reflect them, who they are, where they have been and how they live. Helping them to define what they want and show them how to achieve it. The process is a collaboration and usually involves a team of contractors, trades and suppliers who all value the same commitment to providing exceptional, professional and timely service, whether it be a small or large budget. I guess it stands to reason that since my second passion is cooking my favourite spaces to design are kitchens. Creating a kitchen that not only looks good, but works and is a pleasure to be in is a great sense of accomplishment. I don't profess to know everything there is about design but I do know where to find the answers and am definitely a pit bull when it comes to a challenge. Not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse, but my mind doesn't stop exploring the possibilities until we find the best possible solution. It's definitely a profession where you are always learning, revaluating, exploring new possibilities and ideas and growing. I feel privileged to have worked with so many wonderful people over the years, as clients and associates and have made many lifelong friends through the process. My clients range from Baby Boomers who are downsizing and starting on a new path in their lives to young urban professionals who are just starting their lives and families. I look forward to learning and seeing all of the new projects here on Houzz and wish you all well. I'd also like to thank OnePlan for starting the post. It's a pleasure to meet so many like minded people.

First year of 'owning' an allotment. We have not had to buy any veg for a while now. We have a great crop of sweetcorn, pumpkins and bountiful butternut squashes. Just picking the toms now and will be roasting them to freeze for sauce. We also have rescued fifteen hens and enjoy fresh eggs. Growing your own is so rewarding and we give surplus away to our neighbours too.

Big thanks tamp75. I really like your idea of RAL 9007 for garage door (standard product) and Sadolin "volcanic ash" for the window frames. Hadn't thought of that! And I think you might be right about the weathering of the "traditional" shade of Marshalls driveway products. Have been noticing this as a pass local front gardens. Anyone have any ideas for a warm/soft white shade for the exterior wall? A mum at school suggested RAL 9010 - she said that was the advice her sister (an architect) had given her on her house (she was doing the interiors). Any views?

Excellent. Thanks for the visual. Always helps as builders are only at the foundation stage at the moment! 28m3 of concrete pumped on the site last week as our house built on higher ground so extension has to match ground level and we're adding a first level extension too. A long way to go but take each day at a time. No more projects for you then?!