What a nice space for a garden. I like the rock wall. What kind of light does this area get? Dappled sun and shade all year like in the photo, or either more sun or more shade during the growing season? What is your soil like? I find it difficult to tell how large the area is, so a ballpark estimate would help to tell what there is space for. I'd start with removing any non-garden plants growing here and then mulch (cardboard with cut-outs for the hosta with an organic mulch like chopped leaves or wood chips on top) and weed a lot the first year so that when you add plants your weeding and maintenance will be minimal. Since this area will be visible as folks go in and out of the door, having plants with year-round interest and/or some ornament such as sculpture or a birdbath will be important in making this area appealing. I think I would try to plant mostly lower growing items in the front part of the garden, or at least airy plants so that the stone wall is a visible feature. If some of these are evergreen/gold/red, they will provide interest in the winter. In the upper part behind the stone wall, if there is room I'd add background plants with year round interest such as a colored foliage evergreen, and /or variegated red-twigged dogwood, ones that would stand out well against the light walls. With any woody plants, check the ultimate size and be sure you have room to paint or do maintenance behind it if it isn't a plant like the dogwoods which don't mind being cut to the ground. If there is enough light, a pretty trellis with a clematis that gets cut back in the winter (type 3 pruning) would feature the clematis in the growing season and the trellis in the winter. I would probably put a row of low-growing or easily pruned evergreens such as one of the smaller boxwood varieties under the window to provide winter interest and then plant the rest of the area with perennials to give you more interest in the growing season. Particularly in a smaller garden such as this that is in such a prominent place, thinking about varying the foliage color and texture (as you are doing in thinking about adding coral bells) will help add interest to the garden when there aren't many blooms. In addition to the library as a resource, Pennsylvania has public gardens that might give you inspiration, both for plants and for design. Here is a link that might be useful: Pennsylvania public gardens

I would point out that functionally there are 3 electric ovens. A better option may be to get the all gas range with an electric wall oven to have some variety. The gas ovens aren't self clean, but may be preferable in certain applications, depending how you cook. As far as refrigeration, you could get the 700bc combo unit to add freezer space if that were a problem. I personally find the pro48 fine in the freezer department. It has significantly more capacity than the 632 (11.7 v. 9.9 cu. ft.). You didn't mention dishwashers, but I would probably get 2 in your case if the volume of prep dishes and dinnerware is at all represented by the amount of food storage/cooking space you have. Maybe a Miele and a set of Dishdrawers would be good.

I like the room. The art is nicely selected although I, too am wondering what the pictures above the sofa would look like in your living room. The clock doesn't seem well balanced in relation to the other side of the art. The loveseat looks a little cramped and I think you should consider either replacing the nightstand or nixing it altogether and using a floor lamp in it's place (that might help solve the balance issue). I like the bookshelves but would like to move the oranges and lemons to the kitchen. I think the desk should be addressed. It looks a little um, rustic, so perhaps a refinish or a paint finish. I hope you don't get offended at my nit picking. I happen to like your style very much and with a little tweaking in a more risky fashion, I think your spaces can be really fabulous.

desertsteph - like that corner cabinet idea, I will ask the KD. Can't block the basement door too much by extending the island as we have no bulk head door in the basement. So if we need to move furniture, it has to go through the kitchen door. But I'm thinking I'll have to get rid of the end cab. Behind that wall is the entry hall closet. Need that. Although I would love to inset a fridge somewhere, an eye sore for me looking at it sometimes. Although could be all those darn magnets and pictures on it! :) Also, how do you think I should make the kitchen and dining room flow better? Looking at the current pictures, it looks like two separate rooms. Can't continue the wood floor since DH tracks in dirt from outside all the time, not practical. I think dark cab colors would make the room dark. ??