Thank goodness for Rachel Ashwell and shabby chic -- that's our inspiration.

We bought all the furnishings and accessories for the bungalow before we actually closed on it. We shopped at all the home stores -- Home Goods, Tuesday Morning, Art Van -- as well as flea markets, estate sales and the Salvation Army.

The living room actually turned out more elegant than we planned. Dan built bookcases on either side of the fireplace, added trim to the mantel and installed an electric fireplace.

We had our first open house. Ten people showed up, including a young woman with her parents -- I think that's a good sign.

We purchased all the furnishings for the house before we closed on it.

Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of honour, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means.