Hmmm, that looks like a good spot for a chimney cupboard, then. I'm not sure what to think about the extra bar seating in the family room. I don't know if it would get used or not. I'm willing to do that if we'd really use it. I just went through (too many) images looking for pass through window inspiration. I'm finding very little that looks like what I'm thinking of doing. Does that make me ultra-original...or whacko? LOL So, my thought was to put open shelves in the pass-through windows and use them for storing some of my prettier functional items. Good looking bowls, canisters, etc. Or, to do glass cabinet doors, something like the article in the scullery thread a bit ago. I linked the kitchen from Fine Home Building with the pass through cupboards below. Here's one image that sort of comes close. I don't have modernist leanings (that I know of), so this is a bit off, but it's close. Here is a link that might be useful: Maybe cupboards like this in the passthroughs, with glass doors on both sides?

Okay, here's the Bronwynsmom full tilt more-than-you-aked-for solution. And I confess that I haven't read all the other posts (I usually do), so if I'm repeating, I apologize. Your room needs life, and cohesion. I like the sofa against the mirror, and I like the mirror's effect on the room, but I think the heavy timber frame is too much for the room and the delicacy of the rather slender bookcases. First, I would set the bookcases up on a low platform, so that you can push them all the way back to the wall, and give them a bit more substance - and to get that bottom shelf off the floor. Then I'd choose a rich, beautiful paint color for the room, and paint everything - walls, trim, timbers, and the bookcases - to match the walls. We did the bookcases that way in our den here, and it looks really nice, if I do say so.... I'd add a clip downlight to the top center of each bookcase section to light the contents. Then I'd treat both the window and the mirror as if they were both windows, and handle them in the same way. I'd hang generous, lined floor-to-ceiling drapery panels, in a colorful or graphic pattern you really love, out beyond the sides of the windows, with the leading edges just covering the frames. If you need privacy at night, I'd think about adding simple roman shades at ceiling height. I'd do the same thing at the sides of the mirror, with two curtain panels out to the side just covering the frame. That would pull the two walls together, and make the heavy side timbers disappear, which I think the room needs. I'd add a pair of end tables and substantial lamps, add sofa pillows in lighter colors, move the large coffee table somewhere else, and put a pair of smallish square ottomans in front of the sofa. I'd turn the rug 90 degrees, so that the stripes run across the doorway, rather than creating a runway effect to the couch. I'd add a pair of Parsons-style upholstered chairs, with skirts, on either side of the table in the window, to avoid too many legs in the room. And I'd put a desk lamp on the table, and a floor lamp in the corner to your left as you walk into the room. The result would be a serene architectural background with the books, the wonderful table, the curtains, the upholstery and pillows, he sparkle and expansiveness of the mirror, and that great graphic rug as the stars.

Thundersweet, The oringinal pictures of the islands shows the "farmhouse island" in red with a dark butcher block top! And there is also a cool little red stool behind it. Anyway, if you have red throughout your house plus red appliances it seems you like a little bling here and there. You would want a real dark red, maybe with a black glaze or wash over it so it doesn't overpower the space. It could just add that right amount of "spice". However, your style is clean and simple, Amish like, very nice and comforting, so I can see the Pasons island fitting in very well with your style. Now you gotta ask yourself, do you want to keep the kitchen style as is or do you wanna add some bling? But here's the thing, it's a painted finish so either way you go it can always be painted another color!

If you can come up with an old piece of chain link fence and a couple logs you can make a drag to pull behind the mower. Basically the chain link will scrape a little dirt off of the high spots and drop it in the low spots. It may take a little while but as long as it's not too bad this will work wonders for smoothing out the bumps. If it were me, I would hold off doing anything that will leave you with bare dirt for now. Otherwise you will end up with more weeds to deal with and there's a good chance you could have some soil erosion from storms or heavy rains during the summer. Leaving the weeds alone will allow them to hold the soil in place. From there, get started with the "destruction" process in mid to late July. About 1 week prior spray everything with RoundUp to kill off all of the weeds. Once the destruction is complete and the lawn area has been smoothed and ready for seed begin watering lightly 3 times per day for a couple of weeks to germinate any weed seeds that were left behind. By lightly I mean just enough to keep the very top layer of soil damp. Spray anything green again with RoundUp. By this time all this is done you will be into your ideal time for seeding which should be mid to late August for you. In the meantime, use the search feature here to learn proper seeding, watering, fertilizing, and all the other stuff involved in maintaining the new lawn as all this is important if you want the lawn to be successful. It's really not too hard but you don't want to spend all this money to have it go wrong. You've got a good group of folks here on the forums to help you through it and answer any questions that come up along the way.