And if you live anywhere near Winnipeg, you could sell me your old primitives :-) I've just bought a few pieces and am falling in love with the whole primitive look. I've found a few European decor magazines at our local bookstore. They seem to have authentic French country looks in some - you might want to try that too.

I agree, I've seen lots of '70s kitchens, and that doesn't look the part to me. Actually, though I'm pretty far from the decorator type (more the practical type), I think it's mostly pretty nice as is. The backsplash doesn't do anything for me, but it's not obnoxious either. That could go either way. I really like those cabinets a lot, and agree that some modest (not too bold) pulls would spruce them up. For goodness sake, don't paint them, you'll ruin them (IMO). Unlike (probably) most here, I don't object at all to your counters, though I can't tell how worn them might be. If they're in good shape, I'd leave them alone. I see nothing at all wrong with the refrigerator either. I just can't bring myself to replace one that works fine. When it quits working and the repair is too expensive, that's the time to regroup. I'm also not a fan of features like ice and water in the doors -- that's just more stuff to break. And spare us these bloody "smart" appliances. Ugh. I don't know about the windows. Where there are no close neighbors, I like them with no blinds or curtains at all. I love natural light and outdoor views. They make kitchen chores easier, IMO. Hmm, a skylight or two might be nice, or sun pipes. I like the light well enough, but suspect it's probably nowhere near adequate in terms of total lumens. I'd try to match it with a few more of similar style. Can lights are still popular, but I've never liked them where the ceilings are high. They're OK with low ceilings, where surface luminaires can make things feel too closed in. You need an annoyingly large number of them regardless. I'm a big fan of indirect (bounce off ceiling) light for its evenness. Pendants that cast some light upward are good things. I can't tell if there's enough room, maybe not, but you might consider supplemental LED or even high CRI T5 fluorescent strips atop the cabinets. Definitely put LED lights under the cabinets, if you don't already have them. I might change the flooring. That's ceramic tile, isn't it? Ceramic looks nice and lasts and lasts, but just about anything you drop on a ceramic tile floor breaks. I'd go for something a bit darker to anchor the room, but not too dark. Again, though, I'm not a decorator. I am frugal, though. I want anything I do to a house that isn't basic maintenance to return the investment -- or better -- in resale value.

They brown out earlier than mid to late bloomers here. Cool nights and sufficient moisture may help lengthen the whites and pinks. Hot temperatures will not help lengthen the whites or pinks. But yes, the early ones will brown out before the later/late ones here.. You can add late blooming Tardivas around the early blooming ones for a nice look of shrubs that appear to be blooming brown blooms (these would be the early blooming hydrangeas) around the white blooms of the very late blooming Tardivas. I saw a great photo online of this effect in a magazine but lost the link to it. I suggest you view the blooms to see if you personally think they might look unattractive as that is too much of a personal choice. But they looked great (to me) in that picture I mentioned. The panicle blooms of paniculatas and oakleaf hydrangeas are thicker than most other hydrangeas so they can hold the large blooms (although some end up flopping but the blooms do not fall down). As a result, they can remain a long time if the weather does not help to "disintegrate" them. You may have to deadhead them sometimes. I particularly do not like it when I get brown + white, where the brown blooms turn a darker brown, almost blackish color. The ladder sounds useful but I would make it a habit to deadhead PeeGees while they have no leaves so you can see where to cut more easily. You may go crazy trying to reach the very top thru all the foliage. Luckily though, that foliage should drop down in the next few months (or wait until closer to the end of winter to deadhead as, by then, most leaves will have disintegrated).

Doing a little more digging. Thinking a Pavillion over the deck, filling the space between the entry door and the lookers right side of the deck. Thinking the sloped roof would help fill the space above, break up the wall, and give us some usable covered space outside. Something like this, but on our deck/attached to the house. Any photo wizards that could help me get a better visual on our actual home?