You said: "I'm still trying to figure out what *my* style is, and I'm sure I'll have more questions along the way." You've come to the right place! Welcome! Figuring out your style is the fun part. What you might want to do is start a "style book". Just get a three-ring notebook and start putting photos in it. The photos can be rooms from magazines, advertisements, stuff you print from the web -- anything that strikes your fancy. As you accumulate photos, patterns of style will begin to emerge. A question about the sconces... are they electrical sconces, or just shelves attached to the wall? A thought. Would you paint them white? Assuming of course that the picture is replaced with something contemporary.

Your kitchen is gorgeous, the tile is simply stunning. I think the brown is perfect, it is sophisticated and bold, complements the tile perfectly, and makes the dark fridge recede to the eye. I like an earlier poster's suggestion of adding another cabinet over the fridge once you are certain of the fridge size. That will balance out the brown more. I think a dramatic change like that takes a while to get used to; I agree with others' suggestions to give it some time and allow your eye to get used to it. Then if you still hate it, a cream or tan would be a safe choice -- but not as bold or sophisticated.

THanks so much, Willow. Yes, the marble is polished. The slab came that way, and I thought it was going to get honed, but it didn't. I decided to try it out like that, partly because it's so pretty, and partly because I thought the kitchen needed a little bling -- muted colors, matte soapstone, brushed stainless, why not try something polished? I do not baby it. I haven't left red wine on it all night or anything, but it doesn't seem to stain at all. I do not know what sealer they used; I will contact the fabricator and find out. It was in a big jug with no label, just sharpie pen "marble sealant" or something like that. I imagine they just refill from larger containers. Yes, there are etches. I pay little attention to them, they certainly don't jump out. There is so much going on in there, that frankly I don't think they are very noticeable. I get a lot of natural light, so there are trees reflected in it. And there are tons of different colors and shadows already, maybe you can see from the pic of the slab. Not only white and gray and gold but black and rust and beige and pale pale gray, etc. So maybe it's different than having something a little less active. Or maybe I just don't see things that others do. But so far, it's been wonderful!

No, I need the sconces for general lighting. So up or down or both lighting works. The FR currently has cathedral ceiling. But we may add the 2nd floor masterbedroom on top, so I didn't do any recessed lights, etc. I have the fan for additional general lighting. The hutch has undercabinet lighting, and lighting w/in the 3 glass upper cabinets, AND maybe upward light from the hutch top molding. 1 sconce on the left for some light near the sofa. 1 sconce on right for the mudroom area. We can also add more lighting on TOP of the mudroom lockers (like library shelf lighting), if needed. Dilly: oooh, those look nice. Especially the Tuckahoe with the historical nickel bowl (instead of the glass bowl). As for the barn door, that's the problem. I can go either way and there is no definitive direction. 1 con of glass = finger prints w/ messy kids (and DH). 1 con of barn = I can't peak at my future teenagers trying to make out or watch Rated R tv. The door will be open ~75+% of the time. I'll close them if the kids/their friends are too noisy when the adults are enjoying their wine in the other room, etc.