As many of you have noticed, after almost ten years, late last year I moved out my old Alexandria location. The good news is plentiful: my neighbor, the Italian restaurant, a la Lucia, will expand into my space and add a deli and wine shop. In the last six months, I've eaten lunch there almost every day. It's a real treat, I highly recommend it. In addition, I will not have to commute 50 miles one way to work every day, so I'll have more useful time for both work and family. My older son is in first grade and it is a joy to spend time with him and my four-year old. Of course, you will see my truck and new trailer in various places in Alexandria and Arlington, doing my installations. At this point I spend about two to three days a week in town.

My new shop in Purcellville, in the western end of Loudoun County, is complete in terms of operations. All machines and design and fabricating areas are complete. Of course, my office and the exterior and interior details are still under construction. I can design and operate on the computer, but a few details still need to be worked out.

Every quarter, I will try to address an urgent or pressing matter in this newsletter. The most important situation to mention this time is the discontinuation of sales of oil-based paint in our area. The situation is not as bleak as it may seem.

We know that it is just a question of time before pressure on the paint companies will overcome their resistance and they will throw up their collective hands and stop making this product. They have already altered the product substantially to comply with new regulations. Most house painters have already switched over to the water-based paints many years ago. It dries much quicker, is easier to apply and is more forgiving. You can apply two or three coats a day, finish a job faster, with fewer set-ups, etc. The paint companies have made great strides to research and develop new water-based products to replace the good old standbys. My reason to still use the oil-based paint is the "stickiness" associated with latex paints. On bookcase shelves, on counters, mantel shelves and other horizontal areas the oil-based product is superior to all other brush-applied products.

The Benjamin Moore Paint Company has made the greatest improvements to their water-based product, by using acrylic, not latex in their paints. Stickiness has been reduced (not eliminated). Unfortunately the paint does not yet exist in all sheens and my favorite, semi-gloss, is not yet available. I'm sure that as research progresses, they will get to that level with a new product that will be satisfactory to all. Can't wait!

Now the good news: the paint retailers in our area are still allowed to sell your paint in quarts, with the "touch-up" market in mind. In other words, you can still buy the same oil-based paint, but you will have to buy four quarts, if you need a gallon. It will cost more, but it's available. I have already started using acrylic paint on the backs of cabinets, in anticipation of this situation. As long as it's a vertical surface, the stickiness, of course, is not an issue.

If you are really starved for that good old hard paint, keep this in mind: the ban is only affecting the Northern Virginia area. Of course, that's a blurry line that moves every six months, but as of today, the paint retailers in Clarke County and farther out still have your old paint by the gallons, so a quick trip to Winchester can yield gallons and gallons of excellent paint. Now you only have to find someone who's willing and able and qualified to apply it.

Thank you for your attention. If you have any questions regarding this topic or any other relating to furniture, please feel free to contact me.

And as always, your referrals are highly coveted and very much appreciated. If your friends or family need built-in cabinetry, please pass along my name.