You did a fantastic job! What a difference a few key touches can make. You know, it wasn't so much that the border was bad, it was more that it was too personal. It was almost like if you'd painted "Ncamy's Kitchen" on the wall. Nothing wrong with it for when it is your kitchen, but of course, I wouldn't want my kitchen to say that. Best thing about it is all the bargains you got for the knobs, lights & faucets. This could have easily cost you three times as much if you hadn't done your homework. Congratulations on a job well done. I hope your house sells quickly. Please come back and tell us when it does!

Oh, thanks so much, folks, we really love it out there, and appreciate all the comments. We do have a slice of a water view, but we built it in the back, facing SE, because we wanted a place to get away from the afternoon sun and after dark mosquitoes. flyleft, the table came from one of the fine stores of the TJX companies, it was made in India and I just loved the muted gold color and shape. Also, WRT the tilting of the pics, yikes, sorry, I can't see it, and it's surprising that they are tilted to the right, I'm a full on left tilter IRL (wink). cyn427, we looked at Hurd and I think you are correct, Cinnamon Toast and Boysenberry are very close. I took a piece of alum to my BM store and they zapped it, mixed the color and it came out perfectly, an excellent match. rorah, thank you for saying our house doesn't resemble a new build, our goal was a new house that looks old, so thanks for noticing. Thanks again, all. sandyponder

Slate is pretty porous and needs to be well sealed---much like concrete. If you want a surface that gets patina, then Corian is it. It's the right color---the Mint Ice--and it will get small scratches and nicks in it over time. Take a look at a local kitchen showroom to see for yourself. However, Corian is non porous, and even if you leave oil on it for weeks, it will never soak in. It may be a bit of a splurge for the aqua tile you show, but it will be cheaper than the sheet glass. Last time I priced glass from a local showroom for a client, she could have done granite cheaper. You really don't have that much backsplash to cover. Maybe 12-15 square feet from the counter to the shelf? Even if the tile is $75 a square foot, that's the $1200 expense that will completely make the entire kitchen. For the back wall, I think you should do more of the horizontal glass cabinetry. They should run the length of the entire back wall, except over the range. NO OTR! This isn't the kitchen for it. You have plenty of counter space for a small MW on the right hand side of the back wall. That glass range hood would be perfect over your range.

I’m no good at identifying hawks either, Digit! Don’t have any idea what the one I saw last week was! About the only one I’m ever really certain of is a Red Tail—in flite, when I see the glint of red in the sun! But here are a couple pages that “might” help—some! This is about the best “hawk ID” page I’ve found! http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/hawks.html And this is the “main page” with links to other birds of prey too! http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/Birds_of_Prey.html I can’t use this on my Dumb Phone, but possibly it could help you—and others! Just got it in an email today! http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/merlinphotoid/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=ac5ca3fdac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47588b5758-ac5ca3fdac-302450646 And this is another “bird email” I got today with three “bird cam shorts!” I noticed it because Zach brought up ravens above, and the first short video has a VERY “vocal” young raven in it! Enjoy! http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b35ddb671faf4a16c0ce32406&id=de8a57e0bb&e=cb6f4a5944 My feeders—and birdbath—have been mobbed for the last couple days! Wonder why!!! Just a little bit chilly out there! Haven’t seen a flicker back at the suet again, but I do believe the house sparrows have decided to look for Friendlier Yards, so I think I’m probably safe in putting the second suet cage back out near the little branches—where the house finches and juncos can reach it! Looks like more “weather” coming in in the next week—or two! Feed the birds! Skybird