you are saying the MW (as shown in your first post) will now go under the counter. ( Y / N? ) Without thinking about it much, my first inclination is to make the rolltop go all the way to the fridge height because it opens the appliance garage more, and it evens out the lines of the upper cabinets. Whether or not this is all too much wall is another question. I think it's OK. You have enough counter and island already. A closed off appliance garage can be good. The messiest looking things can be parked inside the space that the rolltop hides when the kitchen is deemed "closed". This assumes you will have hours when you are closed for business.

I agree with you I do not like the jutting out area. I like the sleek clean look of the Troxel house and like the stairs placement at one end. Can your stairs into the pool be done the same way at the far end of the pool or is that your deep end? Why the drastic change in levels in the concrete? has the concrete sunk in? That is a real trip hazard. I would definitely want it all the same level old and new all the way around. I do not really care for the stair placements in either of the plans you mentioned, at the hot tub or the end. Are these the steps to get to the hot tub or the steps for getting into the pool? IF for getting to the hot tub I like the ones the architect prefers not the ones at the hot tub. I have the bench the full length of my pool also and it gets used a lot especially when there are younger ones around and at parties. I would keep it. I think I would put the steps into the pool at the near end if that is the shallow end between where it looks like you have 2 skimmer openings, those may need to be moved and I would do the steps the full width of the end. It would give a really clean line look. If the shallow end is the other end same thing just on that end. I personally like the darker blue tile the first one you posted it will make the water bluer not greener. I like blue tints I don't like greens it makes me think algae. And I think the pool size is fine as is. I still love your house, of course since mine is MCM I am a fan!

My crazy deadline of trying to finish this remodel by the end of July was really stressing me out. Yesterday morning, I decided that I would choose some color of Ceasarstone. I simply had not seen a granite that went along with my vision or that I just loved. I learned that some marbles probably were in my price range, but for a couple of other reasons, didn't seem to be the right choice. I was on a mission to choose a Ceasarstone and had my mind made up. Since my DH was home for the day, I engaged him and said that WE were going to choose TODAY. I took some backsplash samples and we found one that we both liked, brought it home and the boys liked it too. I am happy because I think it will be an easy surface to maintain, it is light and that works for my smaller kitchen. (and I don't have undercab. lighting) My sister said it reminded her of our grandmother's old formica tabletop. (Which was red and we have happy memories of it), but I am going to own this decision (and try not to re-think it), but mostly, embrace any of its "fakeness!" We chose Ceasarstone Nougat. I came back today and see that it is the same as gracesantacruz! We also have a beachy feel to our home and my seaglass collection was my original backsplash inspiration. I just want to say thanks again for sharing your pictures and for the comments and encouragement (erikanh) As another comment on this thread, the fabricator said that 3 years ago they did a very small portion of quartz countertops, but these days it is about 50% of their work. Also, I ran across this article about a kitchen of the year to be displayed in New York this summer with Raven Ceasarstone countertop. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Caesarstone-1011570.html I think the Raven has an elegant look.

Hi Chrissy, I do not have Anderson Windows. They were put in by a local window and siding company(long before the renovation) that is no longer in business. I absolutely love Simply White. It is a soft white without being a stark white. I think it is even Ben Moore's Color of the Year. No, it does not match our white vinyl windows. It is something that only I notice, but probably not anyone else. Usually details like that really bother me, but this does not. Probably, if I were getting new windows and picking white paint at the same time, it is something that I would way over think. But since we put the windows in many years before the renovation, there was nothing I could do about it. I knew I wanted Simply White for my cabinet color, so I don't let it bother me. pandora1