I love the stripes.. my mom has them done in my parents house too and they look awesome! I want to do them in my own room, but I'll probably wait until I move into a real house. My mom also made diamonds on the wall with glaze and that looks AMAZING. just huge diamond shape outlines instead of stripes with the bottom reaching the top of the next one. So elegant.
as for your quotes... my mom also writes those on the wall! we have eat drink and be merry in the dining room.. and live to the point of tears above the door to outside. she's really into the calligraphy on the walls and it does look precious.
anyways congrats. the place is awesome! now do you have another spare room for kid #2?
oh yeah and show us the dining room.. it sounds fabulous.