Seems like we're basically all on the same page, it's just a matter of degrees - how far we want to "express" ourselves with color. Thanks chicagoans for the colorful mock-ups. I think horizontal tile compliments with the grain of our cabinets. Growlery is right, we can get away with some "punch" because of the houses character. I also agree with kaismom that it has to be taken as a cohesive design as far as vertical and horizontal lines go (especially since it's open concept). Sochi- we're north of Victoria BC, and won't be selling for at least 2 years, maybe 4-5 years at most. (Whatever we do will probably be dated in 5 years anyway, right?). I think we are definitely leaning towards the light counter- maybe Caesarstone's "Baja" or "Sierra" which aren't white white, but should read that way if the walls are off-white too. This is Sierra; Then we can try a splash of personality with the backsplash. We tried some whitish granite samples, but even the less busy granites did change the feel of the space. firsthouse, the linoleum glitter is back in some of the quartz colors - some even have little bits of mirror in them! We have looked at the circle penny tiles too. Some of them are beautiful. Jakabedy's tile is great. Is that "Sesshu Silk" stacked brick Sumi-e? I see there are other shapes in the Sesshu series. Now how about where the cabinets meet that angled wall? Any ideas for a shelf or filler? I want to ask about the island too, but I'll start another thread on that. That chandelier is a like a piece of modern art! BTW - Kaismom's Henrybuilt pictures disappeared? Here is a link that might be useful: sumi-e stacked brick tile

Grey and Walter Ltd., Are you suggesting I post pieces I really like right here? beckysharp, (still my favorite name) I understand what you are saying. I still love these timeless pieces I have because they were not designed really but were functional in a day in which solid wood was hand hewn and actual metal smiths forged the amazing locks and hinges. I still adore my hand made rugs. Grey and Walter Thank you for your input. I agree with you absolutely. I have been living with over scale in my small 50s 1/2 story for too long. Now that I am putting in an addition, for the first time, I do not have guidance. In my area (everyone in my upscale area has either torn down houses like mine or put on additions) and the designers I trust are busier than the time frame I have. As I speak they are framing the addition and want a kitchen and master bathroom plan when I do not have a designer to guide me. I completely understand your tongue in cheek comment about the "Road to Hell." One without guidance can make costly mistakes. I am taking down all of the walls so the concept has to flow. Then I decided that if I delineated spaces with partial walls, I would have more room for my art. I wasn't thrilled with my fiance's table at first because he has it in a poorly decorated home, period. He picked pieces because the black frame of a round glass piece matched an art fair acquisition. He collected Lladro, swarovski, and everything was in plastic "showcases" nailed here and there on walls with no rhyme or reason. I am not pointing fingers, but his wife just didn't care about such thing. The table was lost among so many design styles I couldn't see it anywhere, least of all among my rustic, French country pieces. Yet, he seems attached to it. I thought that if I put a partial wall deliniating the new family room from the the dining room, I could use the credenza which goes with the table and keep the red blown murino glass chandelier and that would be the end of the mid century modern. On the other side of the "wall" I could put my rustic many drawers piece and his "can't live without" television over it. I could use the dark wood "coffee" table which was actually used in the turn of the century for bread. It is so cool. I left wall space between two windows for my two large multi colored abstract. This way one would not see the table and credenza, which, to me, would fight with my transitional eclectic pieces that somehow go together. I am incorporating at least one of my 1800s armoires in the kitchen and using it as a pantry. I found someone who can reconfigure it. I don't mind because it isn't a museum piece and was already reconfigured to house a LARGE television in my first house when the televisions were giant. I like the idea of using the two tall red velvet chairs with arms on either side of the table. I do love my antique French country dining room table which is parquet inlay doesn't have leaves but pulls out from both side to accommodate more people. It has curved legs and is nothing like the mid century lines of the table and credenza. Well, I am going to post pictures of my favorite things here when I figure how to upload things. Ellie

This is way off-topic, but could you please lower the picture over the sofa so that it's about 6 to 8 inches above the back? That has to be the most common mistake that people make. Also, is that contraption behind the stove necessary? It actually detracts from the view. The same is true of the series of pictures above the table, they're much too high and the lamp (I'm sorry, its color doesn't go with anything else in the room) should also be hung much lower. Your room would look more open without the metal decoration to the left of the stove. I don't want to offend, but I love to "fix" rooms, and these are suggestions that any interior decorator would make. You have a nice room and the view of course is absolutely stunning, which puts you ahead of the vast majority of people.

Why put wood floors in your kitchen, like so many others do because they don't have many better alternatives (given the way their open concept worked out), when you have a better alternative?! (Yes, I am on about the stone floor again!) I haven't seen your foyer floors up close and personal, but if they are what I think, how spectacular it would be to use that in the kitchen with its eat-in area! More practical than wood, more distinctive, so enduring, in addition to period-related. I think the doorway with the accordian has already been enlarged. It looks like it is half the length of the wall, whereas the original floorplan shows a much smaller opening. Hopefully a good solution to the pantry door situation will present itself....do others in your development have the same floorplan so you can gently query the neighbors about any other approaches? Finally, if this is a split level without a bedroom level above the kitchen, consider a skylight or solatube to bring more light into the kitchen.