vfish, I have checked with all of the subs - the company that did the dirt work had never worked for our GC so insisted on being paid in advance. The crew that dug the footings and laid the slab was paid for our job, but was owed around $15K for other jobs, so that has the potential to be a he said/she said. The rest of the work was done by the GC's crews who were paid up to the week that the GC skipped town, so we're ok there. So what's left is the $6500 in concrete and $1500 for the pump truck, and whatever the porta-potty cost. I have my fingers crossed that these amounts are pocket-change for the companies in question. Time will tell. There is no blame between DH and I - we both made the decision to go with the GC. I am just glad that we didn't lose more money.

davidr, You're right. there were previously 6 bare bulbs in the kitchen an 1 indoor flood in the pantry. Now there are 12 recessed cans in the kitchen and 4 in the pantry. Certainly in the old kitchen there was more ambient light but as for asthetics, well there weren't any. The ceilings are 7.5 ft. so pendents aren't really an option except maybe over the sink. I considered a flush mount or two but decided I like this look and feel better. As for getting the light where it's needed I think it worked out well. willinak, The only LEDs I have are the UC lights. They're from emeralight. Here's the link. Here is a link that might be useful: Emeralight.com

wow, thanks! the backsplash tile is carrara marble (link below). we worked really hard to find something that would connect the cold tones of the green cabinets with the warmer tan tone of the counters. since the marble tiles have some gray-blue veining and some tan-gold veining, it seemed like the perfect match. it was actually my wife's idea. the island light was a cheapie. it's a Maxim "bel air" three light pendant in oil-rubbed bronze. alas, by the time light-fixture purchasing time came, we were way over budget, so my vintage fixture desire was put on hold. some day i plan to replace the island fixture shown in the photos. thanks for the kind words, both of you!! Here is a link that might be useful: lansdale carrara marble tiles

DONE. DONE. DONE. There are 3 gallons of wall paint on my porch. DONE. I finally got to an HD which had a better paint section, and they had those Glidden "post it" style packs of sample sheets. I picked up one that had a few intriguing colours in it, went home with it last night, slapped two on the wall, liked 'em, checked it this morning and went and bought paint. If only I'd gone to HD first. The sample packs are $2.99 for the whole palatte - THAT's more like it! I've gone back to a neutral, called "Bonjour Beige", and we'll do the trim in Valspar's "Drumskin" which is a faintly coffee-tinged magnolia white that tones beautifully with the milky-tea colour of the wall paint. Somehow BB manages to have both warm AND cool undertones, doesn't turn pink, or yellow or grey on the wall but adds a hint of mocha AND green without being GREEN. I may wind up changing it down the line if I want more bling, but for now - this gets us over The Paint Hump. THANK GOODNESS!!!!