mls99, I think you'll find in the US it means a beautiful, custom, Smallbone-type "scullery" period (or period-inspired) kitchen, the kind that one would likely only find in the most lavishly "done up" high-end homes and London flats! That said, a look at B&Q online these days (I snooped around just for fun) suggests that the American-type fitted kitchen now dominates in Britain too so perhaps as houses are being redone over the years the kitchens are more functional. I remember when we left we actually had a wonderful Hotpoint fridge/freezer of a size and shape that would actually suit in my small home here - it was smaller than the average AMerican sarcophogus but well designed and held loads. I loved that the bottom freezer was nearly the size of the fridge and fitted with several internal drawers (great for organizigin! That said, although it was a single unit it looked like a pair of stacked separates as was still often found in homes. Interestingly, from my reading it seems like "high end" London is now going for the minimalist look again - in fact I remember reading in the Guradian Gaurdian Guardian (sorry, British in-joke) a while back that somebody took a GORGEOUS traditional intact Pimlico 4 story house and spent a FORTUNE gutting it, and replacing all the early 19th century charm (including the fireplaces, moldings, floors - everything) with Scandinavian modern/urban loft style. Personally I consider that sacrilege, but I guess times change..... It's not QUITE as bad as the millionnaire who had a period house in Bath and somehow got planning permission to gut it and replace the glorious Regency with Andy Warhol modern.....

I specifically wanted to buck tradition (current) and go with an old fashioned wide line at 1/4". I went with pear (which obviously is a bad color for you LOL) but I will be doing the same thing with my white tile in our victorian. I'll be doing the grout in a deep gray to black tone. The wide lines are no biggie given that they are sealed (as is the crackle tile) so clean up is a breeze. It's not the same as your 80's unsealed, future mold and filth lines at all :) We're at 5 years and I think I've sealed twice...I'm supposed to do it annually with the granite but neither get treated well in our home...and they both look great :) How did I decide? I wanted my kitchen to be different (hopefully in a good way) so I used a mix of styles and periods in my eclectic design.

This is my first experience with a potfiller and didn't know if I would ever use it. I find I do use it for the pasta and canning pots as well as adding water to sauce pans. I use it more than I thought I might. When the plumber asked what height to stub out the pipe, the KD suggested 12" above counter height and centered. But I chose to put it at 14" to allow for the height of the cooktop grates plus the height of my tall pots, and it turned out to be centered vertically between the counter and vent hood. I also chose to put it centered over the left burners of the cooktop. I seem to use the left more often than the right side of the 5 burner cooktop, and it doesn't fully reach the front right burner, but that's ok with me. Another reason was aesthetics. I chose the Moen potfiller and when it is folded back against the wall, I preferred the look of it stubbed over the left vs being stubbed out centered, which when folded back, looked off balance to me. It seems everyone has their own preferences and reasons for placement. Like most things, it's whatever works for you!

I know I wrote to wait, so what am I doing suggesting something but ... here I go! With the creamy perimeter cabs I would stay away from anything cool, as you wrote. As I was reading your response to remodelfla I nearly jumped out of my chair at the grey / sea green tiles, and I mean jumped in a "stop katmandu!" sort of way. I think you are after a classic, timeless kitchen. I think the tumbled marble will be plain wrong, I think it'll be the only rustic in the sea of refined elegance. I think something in a subway-ish shape (doesn't have to be the classic 3" x 6" -- could be similar to redroze's yummy 2" x 8" tile) is going to make much better sense in your kitchen and not make your eye stop when you see it. (And what I mean by that is remember Cybill Shepherd [the actress] back in the '80s wearing a black velvet strapless ballgown with day-glo orange high-top Reeboks? Clearly she was making a point [I get it -- I like comfy things as well], but the eye stopped on those sneakers like "what in the hell???") It's one thing for the eye to stop to say "ooh-la-la!" but another to wonder why the discordant note. Maybe I am projecting way too much onto your kitchen, but in my mind's eye the tumbled marble will be wrong. Oh wait, I should clarify that when I think of tumbled marble I'm thinking of something really rustic -- I am NOT thinking of something similar to mindimoo's gorgeous backsplash. Is that what you were thinking of? Because that could look terrific! Tying the island countertop together with the perimeter in its backsplash ... I kinda like it! Okay, so back to my mind's eye: I love the idea of a nearly-ecru (maybe your latte?) subway -- not the golds of igloochic's backsplash but something with that kind of character (and hands-down that tile is my favorite element of her kitchen), or a backsplash like that of your neighbor and our friend Mindi. I am babbling and it's late for me, but hopefully you'll be able to wade through my divagations and know my intention was good! And I think the mercury glass pendant would be wrong for your space, the more I think about it -- too cool in color! I know, I am so redundant. I really am so happy you found someone (GC) so quickly and are able to proceed apace. I felt horrible for you about the flake -- what a kick in the stomach! But I'm grateful it happened before your project started and before any money changed hands! You've given me another reason to keep checking in here for the next few months -- I'll be following your kitchen! Oyasuminasai!