The yellow TCs are related closely to the white TCs in that temps need to be above 15 C or they will get a lot of the pink overtones. And actually they would prefer to be below that, it's more like their natural habitat.

Cheekwood's website is: http://www.cheekwood.org/ see also: http://www.cheekwood.org/gardens.html Ivan Racheff House & Gardens (Racheff Gardens): http://www.gardencentral.org/tenngardenclubs/ivanracheffhousegardens/ The Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum (not yet open): http://www.knoxarboretum.com/ http://www.knoxarboretum.org/ Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden: http://www.reflectionriding.org/ East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Arboretum: http://www.etsu.edu/arboretum/ Lichterman Nature Center: http://www.memphismuseums.org/nature.htm A list of TennesseeÂs Certified Arboreta can be found at: http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/forestry/arboreta/certified.html I will also throw out a couple of ideas for whatever they might be worth: 1. You may want to include a section for public gardens and another for private gardens that are open to the public. 2. Including a list of city/state/national parks with significant botanical interests might also be helpful. Places like Haw Ridge in Oak Ridge are not gardens, but can be a really neat place for anyone interested in wildflowers, trees, or just being out in nature. 3. When the site is up and running maybe you could have the sites, with links on your site, put a link to your site on their site.

You have a big job ahead! You must be excited. It is difficult to pick colors for someone else. Are you keeping your furniture and artwork? Also, I find it hard to see true colors with harsh overhead lighting. Lamplight is much more flattering to people and things. So many people are painting everything gray. It gives a home a very cool feeling. I do not ever recommend gray because I prefer warmth. It appears that you also like warmer colors. I would go with something less yellow. My " go to" color is SW Kilim Beige.

Disadvantages of an island cooktop are (IMO) #1) Impact on comfort and safety--sufficient space all around, so that no one has to worry about being splattered or fogged with steam while seated at the island, or that someone will catch a pot handle with an elbow while passing by, is primary concern. #2) Steam and grease capture--without a wall behind and/or cabinets surrounding the hood, it's more difficult to contain the plume. You'll need a more powerful hood. #3) Expense--a more powerful hood, finished on all sides will probably be more expensive. #4) Aesthetics (a purely personal observation)--an island hood drops from the ceiling into the middle of the room, intruding on sight lines. An island hood usually looks better when symmetry can be achieved, sometimes at the expense of function. In your plan, there is no long axis with a hood as a focal point, so this point might be moot. There's always the downdraft option--I've never used one, but have read that they are not as efficient as an overhead vent. You know the advantages, since you've been using the existing cooktop, and you enjoy it. As long as you know about the added financial expense, and you can achieve a safe and efficient work zone, then make your decision and continue to enjoy it. It's your kitchen, and although we can offer advice based on experience and common sense (that is not meant as pejorative in any way), you need to make your decision based on your lifestyle and cooking style. As for the above plan, the seats across from the fridge will be in conflict, and the two tall elements--pantry and ovens--are between the clean-up sink and cooktop. Even though you'll have the prep sink on the island, I think it would be better to keep the pantry and ovens on the edge of the kitchen, rather than stuck in the middle.