On the dresser I have like this, I painted it crisp white. The top middle drawer was removed and the interior painted an accent color. Of course, some great new hardware. Also, you can alternate (the full sized drawers) in a different color from the base color or paint all the drawers the same color but slightly different from the base color.

At this age you should just ask for favorite colors, and then you pick the complimentary covers. Real privacy demand won't happen until about 11 - 13, so right now just concentrate on making it beautiful. If it is pretty and functional, they will love it! Buy furniture pairs so when you do split them up they each have basics. Advice about dividing the room generally is good, but you don't want big sister declaring any territory! There is a crown detail you can do over a bed that includes curtains down on either side - can provide privacy when you sit up in your own bed - consider this as they get a little older and won't pull it down while hijinxing. If it is beautiful and the textiles are in a color they love (or two colors that work together, like pink and lavender on a spring green or taupe wall &/or turquoise and spring green on a buttercream yellow wall ) - then they will see that they can also be different people who are harmonious together. At 7, she is old enough to pick a great color, but don't ask the 5 year old - her taste is changing daily - just surprise her with something all her own that works with sister's pick. I like the look when people select soft goods that match except for color and find one great print accent pillow that ties colors together for both beds. Stay with neutrals on furniture - you can paint out different stuff so it is tied together with pale gray paint. Think mostly about function - Add shelves and cubbies that hold baskets for stuff - stuff changes but they always have it. If you have room, give them each a desk as they approach 5th grade.

I won't bother with lattice, barrels are partially obscured from the street by fencing and if I put it up I would have to work around the lattice in order to turn the valves for water. If I can just make better use of collected water I'll be happy. We are at the end of our growing season so I should be cleaning up the garden and putting it to bed for the winter, just can't seem to get motivated. We had our first frost last week. Usually, our average early frost date is 1 November. I got almost no produce from garden this year, but there is always next year. Chookchook2 I've seen some of those decorative metal panels and they are gorgeous, sure hope your budget will allow you to get some before too long. Most of our state has been on fire for a good part of the summer. The closest is across the river from us and they have been battling it for almost a month. Some friends have had to evacuate repeatedly. We've only been concerned once, a small grass fire on our side of the river on a day we had wind gusts up to 65mph. Fortunately, it was put out quickly. Australia and New Zealand have both sent firefighters to help with the blazes. I can't begin to tell you how appreciative we are. The closest fire was fought for almost a week by local volunteers only as there were no other resources available. They were all on other fires. The Army National Guard (reserve troops) were called out to help with support duties and for the first time ever the federal Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asked for civilian volunteers to help with non firefighting tasks, cutting fire breaks, moving supplies etc.

Love blue tiles. Depending on how much sun and how hot your pool gets in the summer should dictate what color it is. We live in Arizona, so cool blues work best. Our neighbor has brown tile and a dark pebble tech pool. Looks like a swimming hole and gets really hot - 94% water in the summer. They obviously didn't think it through.