Most importantly, if you hire someone to contract building of your home, take an active role, compare material cost, foundation, framing, electrical, plumming etc. You'll be surprised at savings. Also, consider whether your willing to do any of work yourself. Something as simple as doing your own painting could save you enough to have that pool, you may not have otherwise afforded.

Talk to everyone you know that has built a home. Most will tell you, if they had it to do over, they would have done things differently. There's no need to hurry, a well though out plan is crutial. After all, you're building your dream home.

Charles & Lisa French http://www.decorating-country-home.com/houseplan.html

Charles & Lisa French offer home decorating advice and information for decorating your country home.

I love to use architectural pieces in decorating and kitchen walls are no exception! While it’s true some antique pieces are quite pricey you can still find pieces that might not be too old but still have a nice chippy paint look for less than a fine antique. Try hanging out at dump or driving around on trash day! Depending on your kitchen decorating scheme, you might want to add some iron grates, wooden columns or fancy metal architectural pieces to your walls. Just hang them up like pictures and they make a unique and unusual display. Some old heating grates in fancy designs or those architectural stars that hang on old buildings might be nice for a country look. You can use wooden pieces from old houses, porch railings or even columns (you can cut them in half lengthwise and make them look like they are holding up wall!

Probably least expensive kitchen wall decorating idea is faux painting. This does take some skill but you can usually get free lessons down at your local paint store or Home Depot. It’s a good idea to practice on large pieces of cardboard before you take your brush to walls. You can even tack cardboard up on wall and use it to decide if that’s what you really want for walls before you go to all trouble of painting.