Thanks all! I received a reply to my request for Alma.

Hey Fori and All, I just ordered 2 Fisher Paykel 24" ovens and they're supposed to be here on Monday! They were $1599 each. I was looking at the Fagor one...sure is cute, but I couldn't find it locally and I decided it was too much of a gamble service wise. The price is tough to beat though! :-) As soon as I have my ovens I will post pictures for those of us who are space challenged in the oven department. I'm not sure what would look good next to a five star range...thinking maybe the DeLonghi like you said. It seems that a lot of the 24" ones are somewhat eurostyled with a sleek modern look...which fits into my 1950's modern house very nicely. I'm having some custom metalwork done as well as cabinet carpentry once the ovens are here...so it'll be a week or two til I have a completed install. I can't wait to see them...little scary ordering an appliance sight unseen. Pizza parties here we come :-) Anne

You ALL are totally awesome for helping (sorry if I sound like a teenager!) Great ideas and advice. You all are so right about the paint color--I can see it now. Thanks for taking the time to show me examples! (The existing paint is actually more of a gold- but looks yellow in certain spots and colors). I love those examples of the darker red backsplashes, boxerpups, with cabinets similar in color to mine. Red wouldn't match anything in my house, (I know you weren't suggesting that)but maybe a burgandy or maroon or rust would! Noobee- I can't get over how that darker backsplash you did (in the cut and paste you did over my kitchen photo) makes the cabinets and granite pop and ties it all together. I love it! I think that seems to be heading in the right direction--though perhaps the exact colors and pattern need tweaking. I love the look! Though there isn't any actual brown in the granite, some of the garnet does appear brown-here and there. Do you think I'd need to have gray in the backsplash to tie in with the granite if I went darker, with mixed colors, like that? Also, Noobee, how DID you do that cut and paste-is that a paint program that comes with windows or adobe photoshop by any chance? I'd love to try and play with that myself. I have been visiting a few tile shops, and even the salespeople there have been having a hard time finding the right solution for me. One lady who was working with me is even a trained interior designer. She was thinking darker would work, too, but was having a hard time finding just the right tile. So I really appreciate your suggestions.

I can't really tell what is going on with that larger second story window, but if you have the budget, I would change it out to match the style of all the other windows. Agree with ditching the too-small-to-be-attractive shutters, but I would beef up the trim around the windows in their place. Paint the downspouts to blend in with the siding. I think a porch across at least the original living space side would be nice, if you don't mind having the windows shaded (I would miss sun coming in my front windows). Because of the poor quality photo, I can't tell what that is in between the overgrown shrub and the front door. In any case those shrubs need to be replaced with a mix of evergreens, perennials, flowering shrubs that won't grow above the windowsills (unless you can keep up with pruning) - probably you can get help with a plan at a local nursery.