We bought our counter depth Frigidaire Gallery FGHC2342LF model at Lowes for $1200 we love it. It's very attractive and works well. We like the in door ice and water dispenser. Previously we had a Samsung RSG257AARS at our previous condo (sold with the condo). It was similar in form and function but cost $2400. So far we are just as happy with the less expensive fridge but we have not owned it very long so I can't speak to longevity. For dishwashers, I will never again buy a Whirlpool or any line made by the same company (that includes now Maytag, Frigidaire, and Kitchen Aide, possibly a few more!). We had a Whirlpool "Gold" dishwasher in our previous home, the motherboard died at 13 months of age - only 1 month out of warranty! Whirlpool would do nothing for us, not even offer us a discount on a future appliance or the part. The replacement part was $250 plus installation labor. Apparently the same motherboard is used in all the dishwashers made by Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Maytag, KA, etc. and it is notorious for failing. We chose to replace the Whirlpool with an entry level Bosch SHE43P05UC dishwasher, on sale at a local specialty appliance store for $600. I loved that dishwasher, I wish we could have taken it with us when we sold the place! Stainless inside and out, beautiful, whisper quiet, and everything came out clean, even with very hard water, every time. The Bosch warranty is 1 year complete and 5 years for parts including electronics/motherboard (which makes me feel better about the quality of the electronics). So when we bought our current home it came with a cheap-looking Frigidaire. It's "stainless look" which next to real stainless just looks silly. Anyway it stopped draining and it appears the pump is dead, and the part and labor to replace it is not worth it for a dishwasher that was not great to begin with. So I am at home today awaiting the delivery of our new Bosch SHE3AR56UC, this time in white, but still stainless inside, where it counts. Our cabinets are white so with the stainless version costing about $150 more, we opted for white this time to blend in with the cabinets. We had a Whirlpool Gold range at the old place and the new place also came with a Whirlpool range. Ours is entry level and just OK. We'll replace it some day but Whirlpool ranges seem OK based on my experience. We have an LG washer again model WM2650HWA (we had LG also at the previous home - so happy with it we bought another) and a Hotpoint cheap dryer. I didn't want to pay more for a fancy matching dryer since we didn't need to stack it- this one dries just fine! But I did want the front loading water efficient washer for 2 reasons - it is on the second floor and if the washer ever leaks, FL's have much less water in them so a disastrous flood is not as likely. Also water is expensive in CA and saving water is important, and after the $150 in rebates the LG on sale was actually cheaper than a top loader. This model WM2650HWA has steam and gets things nice and clean, they also solved the issue of smelly washers by putting a magnetic seal on the door so that when not in use it stays slightly open to dry, without endangering children or pets. It seems to me that you can't just choose one brand for each appliance, few brands make quality items for different applications. So you may want to gather some info on each type of appliance and find the best deal/quality rather than looking for a matched set. They tend to look the same once installed as long as the finish is all real stainless (some are just "stainless look" which is metallic painted plastic and I'd rather have white than that!)

We are buying a leather couch too. I did a search on GardenWeb and found a great discussion, including brands, retailers, types of leather, and price. Try pasting this URL into your browser: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/furniture/msg0717043415826.html The subject line is "Quality Leather Sofa on Budget." The posts are from 2006, but there is some good information in there. Good luck!

Congrats and enjoy turning your new house into a home! SS or black appliances would definitely work with the maple, but making the switch to Energy Star would be low on my priority if the appliances are in decent shape. First thing I'd change is the wall color, and agree with Teacats that a white like BM White Linen would be great but could go with a deeper Bone White. I think the white appliances will look much nicer and like they belong. If you prefer a light blue or other color, that could also look nice. Whatever makes you and your family feel optimistic and says "home", but that would not be most shades of green for me. If you're the type that can be happy working with your existing kitchen, wander over to the kitchen forum for inspiration on how small changes can have big impacts, but don't go there if you're likely to succumb to kitchen envy as many have big budget kitchens. Since design is an aspect of what I've been involved with professionally and I really enjoy decor, I can look at and appreciate lots of different styles, knowing they wouldn't work for me. I like your existing, and know with a few updates like new blinds, paint and adding art, I'd love it! I don't know that bar seating will be so great for your son or for family communication while dining, so I'd opt for an expandable pedestal round table or an expandable square under the chandie and not go with a fan. Could you be happy with a small loveseat and one or two comfy chairs in the adjacent carpeted area serving as your family room? If you'll use the computer station, fine; but if it doesn't suit your needs, you can always take it out. Patching the walls is minor. Many here have found great quality, solid or veneered furniture that's far superior to much that's mass-produced today, on Craigs List, ebay, estate sales, consignment shops and Goodwill. Trick is to take your time adding wonderful pieces as you find them rather than trying to get all the furniture at once. Happy nesting!

Do you really want the house? If not listen to your gut and walk away from it. No matter what price you pay for an 'existing' home you will always think you could have gotten a better price after the fact. You are buying the house because you want to live in it right? If another buyer comes along you may lose out on the house. Then you live with the remorse of having to start searching all over again to find something you like. Too low and offer and you may not even get a response from the owner... especially if they are entertaining higher offers. If you want to buy a house for 150K why not look at homes that are priced in that range? If there are none in that range in your area... the people selling this home probably know that.