Thanks for the links and pictures! The contrast level in cotelehe's quartersawn oak kitchen is probably what we're looking at; love the name of the burnt sugar stain! The other kitchens are all gorgeous, but we don't particularly like our yellowy red oak floors, and since they're throughout the house and not going anywhere, we'd like to contrast them and not be too close in tone. rjr, those birch cabinets are stunning! I love your top cabs with the glass doors, and the shaker-y doors really highlight the wood choice. Swimmer, I'm glad that my desperation can help you too!

Mybrowneyedgirls and ni_2006: The picture that ni_2006 posted looks more like how I thought mine would look (it's closer to the sample that I had). Mine is definitely green -- just more of a grayish green than a yellowish green. I know that my tile differs from the sample that I had because the tile installer accidentally put in the sample piece and took it right back out because he could tell the color was different. When I was on my Ming green kick, I was warned that I wouldn't know exactly what shade I'd get until the tiles came in: I didn't realize that there would be variation in ceramic colors too. As I said before, even though it's slightly different than what I thought I was getting, I still love it! mbeg: I bought the tile in a store south of Boston -- Bellew Tile in Rockland, MA. If you can't find a sample, I could send you one of my leftovers.

We have Kichler linear lighting (tracks holding the wiring, with clip-on lampholders or bulb holders)--all the "moving" parts are black (except the bulbs themselves, of course! lol). Our cabs are a very lightly stained cherry and our granite is a soft black (shiny finish). We knew the u/c lights would reflect in/off the granite, and felt the black would "blend" better. If your typhoon green counters are dark, you might want the black, esp if the other finishes are med dark. HTH!

Julie the pass through was there when we bought the house. We have company all the time so we do use it. I like it because I can see/talk to people in the other room and it doesn't make the kitchen so closed off. My husband's fave part is the tv which he recessed into the wall. It pulls out and swivels both ways. I swear - the men, they love a good gadget. Believe it or not, I get more compliments on the new blinds which are plastic! I gave them a lot of thought because I wanted an option that let the most light and air from outside without allowing neighbors to see me inside. I found them on the Bali website - they have them in all different patterns. At night they GLOW beautifully from outside and people ask me about them all the time. And they were CHEAP! I think around $150 from Home Depot for my bay window. Thanks again for the kind words. Tammy