All I can say is WOW! What a wonderful transformation! It's so much brighter and fresher. And you sunk your money into the important stuff, the appliances! The floor is just amazing, reminds me a bit of my multi colored slate floor which I think is the star of my new kitchen. I love the big clock and I LOVE LOVE LOVE all your dishes AND the fact that you're not afraid to display them all. I love that you have surrounded yourself with the things you love. I love dishes, too and istantly recognized the Hull brown drip pitcher in the before picture above! I have tons of brown drip! Hmmm, notice how many times I used "love" in this post?! You are truly an inspiration, be proud and enjoy your LOVE-ly new space! Robin

I've got the Extreme Cake Challenge rerun on FoodTV right now... Duff and cohorts from Charm City Cakes are judges so fireworks and "over the top" are the goal. Not my favorite type of cake construction, although I appreciate the talent and techniques required. I really love to watch the cake challenges of more delicate designs as your daughter has fabulously done with these two cakes. Her Teapot presentation reminds me of one FoodTV cake challenge where participants had to make cakes based on a china pattern. I can almost see the stitched edging on that linen napkin! Simply amazing. She should be proud of her art as her mother surely is. What talent, perseverance and patience. Congratulations to both of you!

Oi, somehow I missed this reveal! I remember way back talking about the lights and backsplash and they BOTH are divine in your finished space. It's just an amazing remodel. Everything is so integrated and the flow/workspaces seem so thought out. I'm curious about the Task lighting and outlets, too. We'll be using some kind of plugmold in our remodel - and I need to start getting my head around undercounter lighting, too. I really do love your pendants... they seem like they have zero glare. Is that true?

Thanks guys, I actually really like the warmer tones as much (or more) as I liked the blues/grays. I think I started down a road and ran with it without thinking about the bigger picture. As far as pulls, I was thinking maybe just cup pulls, although I do like the ones that badgergirl posted too. We are straddling that budget so we'll have to see what is available with no charge. The bars were an upcharge so it was nice to make a choice that was less expensive for a change. I am hoping that the quarter sawn oak isn't too much of an upcharge, I went to look at just factory finish cabinets at Lowes today and do like the look of the grain. It is warm, but quiet enough. Sent my request to the cabinet guy so fingers crossed that all will come in on budget. Another question is do I paint the island a lighter color to decrease the darkness in the middle of the room or just keep consistent throughout. I am leaning toward the latter actually. Badgergal, I stole the lights from you! I loved it so much in your pics. And I saw the price, so it will be a splurge for me as well. They will be likely be a 2013 item, with a cheapo $20/per pendent fill in until my savings account replenishes. But I can live with that knowing what is in the future. As far as lighting, we have been pricing/thinking of this. Due to the dark color of the cabinets, this was a big concern of mine, lighting is everything! We currently have some recessed (6 of them) and an overhead over the sink. We are pricing the pendants over the island and lights in the glass front upper cabinets (total of 6). We cut the under cabinet lights in the interest of budget and in talking to people who said that they rarely use them. Maybe I should reconsider? How hard is that to add in after the fact if we decide that we need them later? We do have a window over the sink and then the bump out of the eat in area is virtually surrounded on three sides pretty much floor to ceiling with windows/doors, so it does get some natural light. Anyway, updated pic and I think it looks pretty good (although I am now thinking that the curve/bow pulls may be a better option seeing it in place - maybe less surface so less shine). Walls will need to be decided on, but that is an easy fix. Cookies will be forthcoming when I have a new oven that doesn't take the temp setting as a mere suggestion!