See "D": Empty soda bottles are good space taker uppers, as are bricks/rocks if you want more weight. Packing peanuts are a PITB, and don't offer anything an empty soda bottle doesn't offer, even bricks would be better than peanuts. Water tends to perch above layers like peastone or packing peanuts. And since packing peanuts have closed-cells, they don't hold water or nutrients, and roots can't penetrate beyond any imperfect (open) cells at the very surface of the particles. Soda bottles or bricks at the bottom of the pot take up space in the part of the pot most likely to be occupied by perched water. Essentially, they reduce the volume of soil occupying the PWT, and in doing so, they reduce the amount of perched water the container can hold. This means that air returns to the o/a soil mass much faster. Imagine how much less perched water the soil could hold if up to 90% of the shaded area in figure A above was taken up by bricks or empty soda bottles (90% less). The PWT is always a fixed ht with any given medium, even if it perches atop a drainage layer. Anything you do to reduce the volume of soil in the PWT reduces the volume of perched water. Al

I have 2 Bosch DWs and am quite happy with both of them. I can hear them when they fill or drain, but quietly. I've turned them on while others were standing there talking to me and they would ask about the red light on the floor -- they didn't realize the machine was running, and it's loudest when it starts up and then when it drains. It's nearly silent the rest of the time. I would call and get a different person to come check the installation, and if that doens't do it, call Bosch for a service call with an approved repairman. Also, check your disposal to see that there isn't something there that could be causing the water to be backing up and gurgling. Could be the installer messed something up, but if he could get one installed right and use it, he might appreciate that it's a better machine. I have no regrets -- times 2.

"stalaCtites hang from the Ceiling stalaGmites sit on the Ground." I managed to earn a Biology degree without ever learning that one - I love it and will remember it! :) I grew up in Central California where one never went empty handed to someone's house for dinner. It was usually a bottle of wine or some favorite goodie of the hosts, which, of course, I would not expect to be served with dinner. The obligation to return the invitation was true as well. I have been very surprised to learn that hostesses in New York and elsewhere around the country would consider my impeccable manners to be rudeness! It makes me doubt myself and think back to occasions here in Florida when people may not have appreciated my "thoughtfulness" - so many of my friends and neighbors here are from the north. I'm feeling embarrassed after reading this thread :(. People here are slow to respond to invitations - which I think is rude and inconsiderate, although I am sure they understand the meaning of RSVP. I've never had anyone respond one way and then do the other without phoning to say they have to change their plans - that's crazy. Elizabeth

2littlefishes, I just double checked my measurements and the dishwasher door is actually sticks out 25 inches from the cabinet doors not from the face frame. I am able to have both the door and drawers open with 5 inches of space between the. It really doesn't matter if there is space between them since a few inches doesn't make a walk way and you have another way around. It would really only be bottom drawer that might touch the open dishwasher door. You could get by without fully extending the bottom drawer if that is the case. I was nervous about the aisle with between my island and the opposing counter run so I moved my island over about 2 inches but it really wasn't necessary. Second guessing my self, I thought if I had left it where it was, I could have made the countertop overhang on the otherside of the island 2 inches wider for more countertop space. There is always something that we could tweak. It sounds like you have put way more thought into your kitchen then many of us out here in the GW world. Good luck as you enter the home stretch.