Spy, Wow!Something really chewed that up good! It is hardy hibiscus. If you like it, plant it in an area that would get the most moisture in your yard, or remember to water it alot when it doesn't rain. Mulch it and it will be back next year. That is not tropical, it will come back. They sell this organic bug killer for indoor or outdoor plants at any HD or Lowes, it works good, you can spray it next year. Oh, and it loves a little bit of weak Miracle grow to get started next summer.

Lucky you! You have a huge wonderful space to work with, sometimes a huge space can be challenging. Wood floors look great. The cabinet color isn't bad but if you like light cabinets maybe a professional painter can help you determine if they will take paint well. Add veneers or false doors to sides if necessary. Like the idea of new countertops. Couple of suggestions/observations: Don't like the idea of the cooktop on the island: unsafe and venting issues. I like your idea of putting a wood hood in, and I would move the refrigerator, if you can, to where the wall ovens are now. Move the wall oven down, to the right of where it is now. The refrigerator creates a wall where it is now. If you move it it will open up the kitchen. Can one of those pantrys be moved somewhere else? You can move the cooktop down to the left of where it is now and put a hood above it. You will have to add a cabinet for the new cooktop in the center, but that can be a different stain or color. Your issue there will be venting it out. You can combine colors in the kitchen where your going to put your cook top and hood. You will get that "Tuscan look" Adding a new cabinet for the cooktop you could pull it forward if you have the room and add decorative posts. Your island could be bigger, or maybe add another with a space in between? Can you add a bar sink to the island? I would also do some type of arch above your window in a different color?. Are the soffits above necessary or decorative? I'm assuming they house plumbing stack or venting? Put glass inserts in the cabinets on both sides of the sink.

Wow! I was gone yesterday, when last I saw this there were only 27 posts! I tried to read through all of them, but I'm not sure I caught everything. I tried photoshopping Cilantro's green idea and Holligator's dull gold and a black frame around the stained glass like trailrunner's. I picked the green & gold out of the stained glass; I'm not sure how'll they'll look on everyone's monitors, especially the gold. Sorry, but I only "painted" around the window on the gold. No matter which you decide to do, IMHO the stained glass needs to retain some sort of frame, either the current wood or black. I'm still partial to tzmaryg's idea of the bottom part of the window white and leaving the top part they way it is; that is also a bit of a compromise with your DH. But others have suggested a gel to tone down the redness of the mahogany. Any scraps of the mahogany around to experiment with? Or for the green, maybe the color of your dishes. Sorry, I'm not much help other than trying to give you a mock up and even that may be showing up a little too bright! I hope it helps some, though!

Hi all! Thanks for the great compliments on my kitchen! A kitchen remodel is like a wedding; once it's over you kind of miss the planning and prepping and anticipation; so this is a nice refresh for me! To hopefully answer all your quesitons above: Cori: My granite is WHite Ice. I Love it. It reminds me of cookies and cream ice cream. A creamy white with flecks of charcoal and micah. Ranton: The paintcolor is BM Serenety. It's a very calming (like its namesake) grey/blue. Missy Moo: The flatware is Crate & Barrel Tuscany. I LOVE it. Nice substantial weight and looks shiny and new out of the dishwasher every time! And my little kitchen helpers are Matthew, my 5-year old (one of my 3 kiddos) and Bruin, our rescue pup. Hazel: My sink is Franke stainless, extra wide. (don't recall the exact measurements). Very durable. Wonderful customer service with Franke. Love all the questions. Best form of flattery!