Just a response to a couple of folks that had comments or questions directed to me. Don't want to hijack the thread, but since it seems to be completed, perhaps no one will mind. NCamy: we're almost neighbors, as our lake house is 1-1/2 hours west of Asheville, on a lake that is better known for the river rafting provided by the dam on our lake. I'm sure you can guess which one. Asheville is one of my favorite haunts. Mindstorm: Thanks for the compliments on the DR chairs and library desk. The dining room chairs (and table) were made by a local craftsman in Asheville, NC - Jan Derr of Placeways Studio. Their design was a collaboration between Jan, our architect and interior designer. The desk in the library is my favorite piece of furniture in the entire house. It was made by Brian Fireman of Tryon, NC. I cannot recommend Brian highly enough - fantastic craftsman. I agree 100% with Fori that restraint is key in designing an arts and crafts home to keep it from looking like a cliched imitation of the real thing. I love each and every one of the kitchens posted by Garden Web members, but some of those others above are just over the top, overdone. Lastly, Powertoolpatriot (the OP): I still have a clipping from the Winter/Spring issue of Style 1900 Magazine that lists the features that "if you choose from these features, you'll end up with a kitchen you won't regret thirty minutes or several years later" at least according to the author of this article (I think it was Jane Powell based on a credit on the other side of the page). Although this topic has been debated ad nauseum on this forum, and I don't agree with all of the list, I'm happy to mail this to you if you will send me your USPS mailing address (my email address is on my member page - yours is not). Good luck and be sure to post your kitchen when it is done (she says shamed faced, not having posted her own kitchen...).

I LOVE that period of design too. Lately I've been drawn to the early A&C when there were still traces of Victorian in evidence, and later, when some Deco influences were showing. The Prarie subset of A&C can come off as a little austere, and I like a more colorful, richly textured and detailed space. thebrightspot.com is an excellent source for lighting of this sort, and have excellent prices and service. None are installed yet but here are some of my choices: I'll have 3 of the pendants over the island, 2 over the sink. Frankly, I might have used ones like yours in the sink area if I'd seen them first. I'm worried that a total of 9 of those shades might be too much of a good thing. Ceiling is beadboard with beams. I love each of the elements, but I may be going a little over the top... Using emtek for all the doors, haven't chosen cab hardware yet.

I went through the same exercise several months ago. I looked at all the sites mentioned above (plus lots more) but nothing was fitting in my budget. The problem with "un-handpainted" tiles (if there is such a word), is the color was too consistent for my arts and crafts kitchen. I finally found an artist to make the tiles for me. She was very patient with my as I planned the project and very reasonable. I don't have installed pictures yet because I'm waiting for our cabinet maker to finish our cabinets (which is a whole new form of torture), but I do have pictures taken the day the tile arrived. It was really hard to get a good picture because of the flat, almost metallic, color of the green field tile, but here are some pictures with and without flash. Here it is the basic pattern and tile for over the range (sans flash) And with flash Here are the 3"x3" accent tiles which will be scattered in the field tile (sans flash) and with flash The link for the tile supplier is Art Tile Direct. All the tiles were made to my specification (in fact, I sent her a line drawing for the art tiles) and I choose all the colors. Christine, the owner, was very good about sending me samples and working with me on the design. Good luck with you project! Jaymie

I am cleaning the drool off my keyboard -- what a stunning home you have created! As I oogled, it is so clear that you treasured the origins and bones of this house and found ways to highlight that, while updating it with the utmost sense of taste and style. I believe your DH's grandparents would be very proud! That view is breathtaking -- I, too think it might be hard to hang anything over that table. Wow -- what a treasure you have, enjoy! Alice