Thanks Txgal! I had to laugh at your comment how they loved to see you coming! Our subs love to see me on the last day because they know they are getting a couple of six packs! The framers hated to see me because I got on them about their trash all the time!! Amy - I LOVED Steel Magnolias!!! It was my favorite movie but I do not remember that line. I need to go and rent it again! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE wide plank wood floors. I can not sell DH on it. I really think if I get this job next week I am interviewing for he will go for it (money issue more then anything)! Keeping fingers crossed. I saw a wide plank floor today that I fell in love with...DH loved it also!!! I just can not find a tile floor I like at all. Maybe because my heart really wants wood. GC keeps telling me I would crazy to get wood with the dogs, cat, kid. DH agreed to look at the alder doors again so I am happy about that :-) Worthy - The stone is sandstone, it was all hand chipped and done with a Texas Tan mortar. The window sills are all slanted a bit for water run off. I am not sure if there are grooves in it though. I will have to find out on that! Thanks for the info!

Molly3573-I did not strip the cabinets -clean /fill/prime- The base board trim is just taller base trim from Home Depot- I used the pre-primed faux wood stuff and I used a newall (sp?) post cut down for the corners of the island and corner guards for the corner of the cabinets to dress them up. The bead board was just the pine bead board sheets (4x8) at Home Depot primed and painted with the same. I did not glaze them like the cabinets. All attached with a brad nailer- small trim nails would work and a hammer-but take longer- hope this helps -adding crown molding really gave the best bang for the buck as an upgrade- good luck with your kitchen!

Hey Tinker, I am in Sarasota and will be installing soapstone from Creative also. ARe you still happy with your soapstone? I am about a mile away from Der Dutchman. I am using B&B Cabinets though on Cattlemen. ARe you happy with the shaker style cabinets? Might do a white with pewter glaze.... Thanks for any advice or comments you can share.

Yes, it is easy to slide and the glass area is pretty good. The center fixed window on this configuration is at about the max for factory built. You can get bigger in the field but it's more money. The area is total 10 foot tall by about 16 wide. Awnings lower left and lower right otherwise they are all fixed. There needed to be framing in between the 3 stacks. It's not 9 melded together. Inside