tracyjohnson1, thanks for the compliment. It's been amazing how relaxing it has been in the pool. We swim every evening and watch the sun go down. We have enjoyed our cleaner we named Bob. The PB set him up to clean for 3 hours a day. He really does a great job. I have to use the brush to sweep off the baja shelf and the benches, but he comes along and vacuums it up off the floor of the pool. The first few days the little bag was very full of PebbleTec pebbles and rock chips from construction. Be sure and empty it every day. It is gross, but the other day we unzipped the bag and there was a dead frog in it. BLAH!! Good luck with your pool. Can't wait to see pics.

Thank you very much. It is nice to hear something positive in this nightmare of a build. We are having a fence put in next week but as far as privacy goes...the neighbors on our left are close to 100 years old and probably couldn't see us anyway. The neighbors on our right are a group from the Salvation Army and they are physically and mentally challenged senior citizens so needless to say, they don't get out much. I am being totally serious by the way. The house in the back is our very dear friend and her kiddies so we are totally fine with them watching us have fun. It might encourage them to come over and join us! We live far from our family and friends so we don't get many visitors. We are hoping they will start coming over now that we have the pool. I know, I know...be careful what you wish for!

Hi All! I have learned sooooo much on this site. Thank you Mr. Corlett. I have had Corian countertops since 1998 with a granite composite under mount sink. Love the Corian, not the sink so much because it seems yellowed since installed. But I do a lot of canning so the sink has put up with a lot of beet juice and boiling hot water with minimal distress, no cracks. Just clean with Soft Scrub and bleach sometimes. We are now building a house. I am again using Corian for the countertops. I am considering either a Corian integrated sink 850 or an LG-HiMacs integrated sink 3118. I do not like the sink drain in the center of the sink as in the 3118 but that sink is an inch and a half longer than the Corian so better for skillet handles to fit in sink. Do you have an opinion as to the staining or cracking or other issue of either product I might consider before making my final decision? Thank you. Cynthia

OT for ILoveRed: Actually, I have an Ideabook with renders In Progress you can look at Here. Cabinetry style is just a fast mock-up, not what we'll use. We have made some changes I've not udpated in the Ideabook. Our kitchen was U shaped, and now it will be an open plan. We moved one wall back 3 feet, doing away with formal dining in favor of a small TV Room/Man Cave where we'll have a mini fridge, snack cab's, and coffee station for DH. Overhead view is different in that the island is a wee bit larger to accommodate added onion/potato/bread bins. We aren't going with side drawers in the corner but rather a super susan for more storage space. The DW will be a double drawer Fisher Paykel (also with panel fronts) since we wish to run 1/2 loads nightly (wash fewer dishes/pots/pans! LOL!). The inset above the range (outdated for some, but useful to me) will be wider, and not arched. Tile goes all the way to ceiling at the 'cabineted' vent. Vent cabinetry look still in progress, but it won't be stainless steel as that would clash with our home's style and is not our aesthetic. The fridge is a 'built in' 48" sub zero side by side (needed something large) that will be flush mounted to be integrated... 27" deep lower cabs allow our cabinet maker to do that. Medium tone painted peripheral cabinetry, stained island, pantry will be stained also. Large herb cabinet on one side of the pantry cabinet (I grow/dry herbs, make a ton of my own seasonings also). Pantry has a tall drawer at bottom for heavy tall items. Will have ROTS for every shelf in pantry. 30" cleanup sink away from my prep island which will have a 24" sink to both prep and wash. Induction slide in (didn't want wall ovens, not enough room and need only one. Our style is what I call a mutt mixture of Traditional, Old World, and French (we are lightening up the Old World and French as it was getting too dark and heavy). Paneled is not a popular look for some, but as it's open concept now, I wanted more of a cabinetry look and it's popular where we are located. The passthrough 'window' is to allow more light. The transom above the pocket door and the passthrough window also glass, as well as the pocket door itself for natural light. Pocket door and windowed passthrough so I don't have to hear DH's sports/car races while I cook! The most important aspects to me are flow, ease as we grow older, and usefulness. Style comes after. The Layout was designed by buehl - she is amazing! Further layout help and advice from cpartist, also amazing. Plugmolds under all cabinets, one outlet in wall in one corner for toaster/steam oven. Under cabinet lighting, pucks in seeded glass uppers I think (uppers used for storage/display). Plugmolds on 2 sides of island. Toe Kick drawer on one side of island (where we won't have a rug). The wine fridge at 24" W is too big for our needs, but wanted to go with a standard size in case we need to replace it. MW also replaceable, located in a hidden cabinet with flip up/push in door. Are using a pot filler, deck mounted, for sous vide, pastas, etc. Not a feature many would use, but one I'll use daily. Glass passthrough window needs to be tempered glass (cleanup sink is offset, we don't mind). Adding a panel (in closet) behind fridge wall so we can have fast access to water shut off. Extras not seen will be a small folding ladder hanging on the cleanup sink cab door to pull out and reach storage cabs. Under ca water filter at cleanup sink. Compost bin in prep sink cabinet. Knife holder in drawer at cutting block. Back on topic: Since you are inquiring about butcher blocks, we'll use either Boos or Armani Fine Woodworking, custom size. End grain. Both highly rated here on GW (and Armani has a 'how to' for installing but still be removable). I use both end and edge cutting boards and far prefer end grain on my knives. If you do an integrated cutting board, keep in mind not to let it be too tall as that will hinder natural chopping, cutting height. : ) I'm 5'5" and ours will be 1" above countertop (leathered so it won't glare in lights, won't show accidents as easily as polished).