[golfnut]

We bought in January 2005. As for the dark LR we had a large solar tube put in near the kitchen sink, it lights up not only the middle of the kitchen quite nicely (on a Sunny day you need to wear sunglasses* 8) in the kitchen) but also throws light into the dining room, we also put a small tube in the guest bath which lights up both the bath and hallway. I never really thought that the LR was all that dark, we have the stacking sliding door walls to the lanai, what do you have??