Am going through this right now, waiting on a quote. Seeing Mamadada's kitchen confirmed for me that enlarging the window is the thing I most want to do in my own kitchen. Would like to bumpout but then the east window would be in the path of a large retractable awning on the adjacent north wall. If we don't bump out, then would seriously consider furring our the lower cabinets to 28 or so to get a few more inches behind the sink. Would not like to give up the floor space in the kitchen but am glad I read this thread! Thanks everyone!

Window boxes that really grow things are usually custom made, or high end are considerably larger than the so-called "window boxes" from big box stores. But you don't really have a place for them. Consider that window boxes are not mounted at the bottom of the glass but somewhat below that level so that there is room for plants to grow and come up to the glass, or a little above it ... instead of starting at the bottom of the glass and covering half of the window. In fact, your windows are low enough to the ground that by how you arrange landscape plants, you can plant them in the ground and achieve the window box effect. If you look at any of the sketches in which I've offered planting recommendations in some of the other threads, you'll notice that I commonly use this technique. It is vastly easier to take care of plants in the ground than in a window box, so if the window is low enough to the ground, it's the way to go.

A wood vanity with a stone countertop is a very standard installation in a bathroom. Why is your husband worried about upkeep? I just finished a remodel with wood vanity and marble counter and the wood presents no maintenance problems. Wood is used all the time for kitchen cabinets which generally receive more vigorous use. What material were you considering for the construction of the vanity - there is only wood and MDF that I know of as options unless you go for some kind of pedestal sink or the similar style with the metal legs. Modern bathrooms install very effective fans which keep ambient moisture levels low if that was a concern. Mine runs automatically based on moisture levels in the bathroom.

I commented earlier, and I have both carrara and soapstone. I love both of them. In your situation with RA and the need to periodically stop to put hot things down on the counters, I'd go with the soapstone. I do this all of the time, and it is not at all affected by the heat. Soapstone is very definitely the opposite look of the carrara because it is dark. But it is a natural stone that has a lovely silky feeling to it and is zero maintenance. Contrary to what is mentioned above, it will darken even if it is not oiled. If you can re-vision in your mind what you can see in your kitchen I think soapstone may be a no-brainer for you in your situation where function absolutely has to take precedence over form.