You should never be without viburnum. There are plenty to choose from, and they will be quite in scale with the willows you've already purchased. Please don't fall for the multi-colored foliage plants - most of which don't provide much else of value. You'll soon tire of their monotony. Choose plants that give you interest from flowers, fruit, and fall color, and that support native wildlife like birds, bees, and other insects that keep the local ecology happy and healthy.

Virtuals are unmatched for letting you think through color patterns in the room, proportions and the things like this-- the final placement. My opinion is based on your comment that you don't need the chair-- I would move forward with the room with only a single chair for now. Since the dimensions of your bookcase won't change-- all you'd need to do to add a chair is to slide the bookcase and perhaps by an end table. (BTW I have seen the narrow profile end tables somewhere less expensive than EA-- plow and hearth, maybe?). If you find the *perfect* chair in the next few months, Squirrels virtuals show you that you can fit one in. My biggest fear for you is that both the kitchen and FR will look furniture heavy. Having the kitchen table/chairs right there is influencing my opinion-- and they aren't visible in the virtuals. Also, it makes for a mucky path to the bathroom if the whole family is watching tv together. I think your plan to check with the store that had the ET custom made for you is a great plan. Hopefully they will come in with a decent price. I'd still like to see it in a darker finish to give you some visual interest but matching would be lovely too. I too have seen the Macy's pieces and they were solid wood (though I don't know if it was veneer on wood) and seemed to be well made. I do not think it would be a bad option for you-- other than the fact that it may not work for your photo albums. Maybe you can throw one in a tote bag and try it out on the floor? Just more of my continued 2 cents. I guess I am up to a dime now ;)

Wow, thank you, everyone, for your kind and encouraging words. Having spent countless hours, taking notes from this site (even when I knew some things were impossible to achieve in this kitchen) and quietly admiring all of your beautiful kitchens, from the big, jaw-dropping ones to the smaller, but oh so lovingly personalized ones, it means a lot to me and my SO that so many of you like what we've done so far. As newbies to all of this, we questioned every single small decision we made, and then questioned it some more, never quite sure if we made the right choice--especially going with practically the same color floor and cabinets--so it's great to get some positive feedback. Except the soffit. We never questioned that decision. We knew those had to vamoose! You should see the ones we took out of the bathrooms! EEEeeeeek! Anyways, thank you so much!

Drew WORSHIPS the ground Justin walks on Linda! I've never seen such a case of hero worship like this, but since Drews Daddy died they really have a bond! Justin is so good to him. The GB's and I were talking about the Auntie and Justin's wedding, and their parts in it (ring bearers and flower girl) I'd told them they could each walk down the aisle and then go stand with their Mommie (the boys) or their Daddy (Maddie) and Drew looks at me and says "I'm standing with Justin! Bwaaahahaha Auntie might not be the only one walking back down that aisle with Justin!