There was never any doubt in our minds that we'd light our cabs. I had so many pieces of pretty crystal to put in there, I couldn't wait to see them showcased . . .finally! Our electrician used halogen pucks. They're on a separate switch from the undercab lights, but are hooked up to the rope lights above the cab that highlight the things up there at the same time. We usually only turn those lights on in the evenings when we're entertaining and it looks really nice like that. Everything is on rheostats in this new kitchen except the puck lights, and I wish we'd have put them on dimmers as well . . . just because. I'd encourage you to add the lights. I think everything looks better in a glass-fronted cab when they're lit like that. "> ">

thanks again!! everyone's encouragement, and opinions and MOCK UPS..have helped me soo much. Who would have thought it'd take 4 yrs to paint a kitchen? lol. Cause that's how long ago we bought this house, and from the get go..we said we were painting :)

waime that sounds goofy. Your cab people should be doing that as part of their install (the top for instance). THey are probably holding back on that because they want to sell you some granite ;( My cabinet company uses a specific installer for the product we ordered. They will prep the cabinets for install of the countertops (stainless and granite) and they do sell granite...but that's not where I purchased it. They had no problem with that aside from asking for specs on the stainless install. I was very fortunate. My entire remodel has been a disaster from the beginning with a once lovely, turns out, not so good contractor. My cabinet company (after I spent a lot of cash LOL) loaned me their installer (GC) to use to finish the job, which includes not only cabinet install but other finish work as well.

Since you're painting your cabinets anyway, I think you will have good luck finding additional cabinetry to match up with your current door/drawer fronts at Habitat ReStores. I really think you should consider combining the improved layout suggestions from laughable and may_flowers. Your kitchen would be so much more functional and easy to work in! And I think it would look more open and airy as well. If you're able to DIY moving the cabinets, which isn't all that hard to do if you know how to use basic tools and a level, it should be fairly inexpensive. Some plumbing would need moving for the DW but that should be a fairly easy plumbing job. If you can't DIY that, I don't think the plumber's fee would be much. But, of course, you'd want to get quotes on that before proceeding if the budget is tight. I think the only real expense then would be changing the flooring. Unless you're lucky and the flooring goes under the peninsula and island, then you wouldn't even have that expense. I can relate to needing to motivate The Hubster! I bribe with pie but someone else mentioned other more, ahem, private ways of motivating, lol. Maybe pie in bed? :)