Epressler - all I did to figure out which hardwood to get was learn which floors were the hardest (on the Janka scale), decide which colors I liked best, and then ask the owner of the hardwood store which brand he loved the best. He said that all the installers LOVE Owens Flooring, and it has a really thick face to it, so it can be re-sanded three times. It was a good choice, because out of 24 boxes, only two smallish pieces were not straight. Anyway, you asked about how many samples I looked at to get the right color - just two. Brazilian cherry has so many colors to it anyway, that the samples you get may be vastly different than what will be in the boxes. It's hard to believe that one type of tree can produce all those colors! But my goal wasn't to match the cabs to the floor - it was just how it happened, because I guess I really love that color of wood! Chitown_remodel - here is a picture of the backsplash without flash, and the mother of pearl tile is made by Olympia. Dianalo - your idea is brilliant. That is EXACTLY what we will do. Now here's a question, if you happen to ever read this (or anyone who has an opinion) - we already have a very pretty mirror above the fireplace in the great room. Should we move that to the mudroom and put a painting above the fireplace, or is it OK to have two mirrors? Msmagoo - I designed the kitchen myself, and I was helped out quite a bit because I used ideas I learned here on the kitchen forum. For instance, we have a cell phone charging drawer. It's nothing fancy, but it wouldn't have occurred to make one - I read about them on this forum. My ceilings are eight feet... and you might get sick if I told you how much we spent. I will say that I got great prices on the appliances and wood floor, and fair prices on other stuff. Here is a link that might be useful: Olympia's Boutique Collection, which includes the Mother of Pearl tile I used

The granite is Typhoon Bordeaux Backsplash is a Carena mosaic tumbled tile in a midi brick pattern. I was told that its been discontinued. The tile stores shorted me and was closed for the holidays so I looked everywhere for more and had no luck, I had to wait for the store to reopen so the installer could finish the backsplash. The painter was expensive. I'm still waiting for an invoice but it was in the $3500-$400 range after taxes. I couldn't convince my husband to rip out the cabinets so this was the next best thing. In the end, I'm very happy with the results. I made it just under my $10,000 budget and it feels like a new room. That said, I'll think twice before renovating again. Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong.

Not even sure what you are asking - are you buying new gray cabinets or do you want to paint cherry cabinets gray? Without pictures of your current cabinets, no one can advise you.

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