Thanks for your suggestions, everyone. I think you're correct that using a mix of colors and textures will make both of us happy. DH has agreed to a different color island, but doesn't like the look of painted uppers with stained lowers. He says it's "trendy and weird." I don't understand his logic, but whatever. I am so FRUSTRATED because he cares what the kitchen looks like but doesn't offer many suggestions of his own. He says I can do "whatever," but wants veto power over anything he really hates. Which is pretty much anything that strays from what's on our builder's website. I've decided that I can no longer look at photos of any kitchens with white; it makes me sad. I'm looking for inspiration from stained kitchens that I DO like. So, here's what DH & I can agree on: - a wood species with a very subtle grain - DONE - simple cabinet design without a lot of ornamentation - DONE - a medium or dark stain that doesn't have strong red or yellow undertones - getting there - a light, subtle granite that doesn't hog the spotlight - considering Giallo Ornamental, which should meet that need - a wood floor that contrasts with the cabinets - getting there - doing something very geometric with the backsplash - painted island - still undecided. I love the idea in theory, but I need to figure out how to integrate it with the rest of the design. I'd love tips on how to do this. Would it be accurate to say that given all our neutral choices, the backsplash needs to be the star? In case you're wondering, DH is making concessions, too. Our compromise is that I'll concede quite a bit on the kitchen, but I get full reign to do pretty much whatever I like in the bathrooms. Two of the three bathrooms WILL have white cabinets. :)

I have always had coarse/frizzy, and very thick, hair which is not the same as curly/frizzy hair. The best way for me to tame it is to blow it completely dry. That works mostly fine in the winter, but in summer/humid weather, I need to use product. For my hair, Straight Works by Paul Mitchell gives me the smooth shine. It‘s put on while hair is damp and then blown dry. I’m only 52 but have a lot of gray and my hair grows very fast which means coloring my roots every four weeks. I have no desire at my age, especially since I still have kids at home, to go gray, even though it’s becoming more trendy. I’ve noticed that as I get closer to time for coloring, the texture of my hair gets coarser, so I have started using Straight Works more often in the winter. My daughter, who also has very thick, coarse hair that is also curly/wavy sometimes uses It‘s a 10 that has been mentioned above.

I don't wax. Thankfully, my legs are not a big problem and as I'm getting older (or maybe it was 'the change"?) they are even less so. For years I've had a problem with thinning eyebrows so only have a few strays to pluck. BUT, after posting here just a few weeks ago that I'm too young (58) to go grey - I BIT THE DUST!! I have dark hair but I have had to cover the grey for years. My grandmother and her sister went white (not grey) early. I don't even remember them any other way. I was scared to death I'd be the same. Our shop opened Friday and I went in (only me and my gal and another stylist cleaning the other end of the salon thank goodness!) for a cut and decided to do grey highlights. I was a bit nervous LOL. I think I made my stylist nervous, but she did a wonderful job! I'm so happy with it! She used a cap to pull through tiny pieces all over. On some of the hair we simply stripped the color and on some she did mixed 3 shades for a grey colored toner. I'm sitting here right now with a "blue" deep conditioner! I think I won't have a problem letting the rest of the color grow off and if my hair does look too light/white, we will add in some low-lights. I'm pretty sure we are going to have to do that to the front/top of my head as that appears to be the lightest. The rest looks like a pretty even mix. It was a shock the first day but I got up yesterday and looked in the mirror and really like it. All the sudden, I just felt like I could not deal with the all over coloring, the root line, etc. I'm pretty low maintenance, hopefully now even more so!

Happy ending! The baking soda with hydrogen peroxide worked. It took several rounds, but each round removed more and more. Thanks to everyone.