I don't know the style of home or the neighbourhood but I think you may be leaning a little heavy on more neutral tones and a colour pallette without a lot of variation. With a black island and what sounds like dark granite could the room end up being a little muddy? I like the finish on the cabinets but for me the door style is a little fussy. It seems like more contrast in the space might be good but without seeing the room or some of the other elements it's hard to get a feel for whether black would be the best way to get that contrast. Good luck.

First, congrats on building your new house! Very exciting. My MW drawer isn't in our island so no picture, but in addition to the electrical question I'm wondering: It looks in your picture like the island counter has an overhang of several inches on all 4 sides (can't tell for sure) and a corbel in the center of each side. Where were you planning on placing the MW? Under the corbel? That seems awfully low. Or were you thinking of having 2 corbels on either side of the MW space? That would make sense to me so it could be higher, but you wouldn't want much overhang above it. So my preference would be sink side, centered between 2 corbels, with only a standard counter overhang. For an under-counter MW, I really like having a drawer, so you can place and retrieve items from above. (That's personal preference though.) natevalsmom - beautiful kitchen! Love your colors, lights, valances, and especially that island counter.

I've always had good luck on Craigslist, too. It's amazing what people are getting rid of. Nice tables!

Don't get me wrong...we like and encourage people to be in the kitchen during gatherings :) (We don't allow them to cook, but they can drink and be merry while we watch DH cook). I don't clean as I go unless the gods are smiling and the 2 year old is asleep...normally I start a project by bringing it out...2 year old wants a bottle...get bottle...back to grab another ingredient...2 year old does not want the blue bottle...he must have the purple bottle...switch bottles...grab butter, hear laughing...run to see how much soy milk is on the leather couch...clean couch and start milk stained laundry...back to kitchen..what was I doing? Oh ya, last ingredient, then open butter...more laughter and a "kitty kitty kitty" as 2 year old tries to get the cat to take his binky so he can sleep better....move cat trying to sleep...back to kitchen, get bowl, put butter in it...2 year old wants me to play train..yanking on shirt saying "pull pull pull" as he tries to get me to play...fight him off, give him a different toy and settle him down...go back to butter....2 year old says "yuck yuck" and I notice a dirty diaper... Butter back in fridge and give up... Counter still has other ingredients on it and I'm knee deep in diapers :oP So ummm what were we discussing? Cooking techniques? Oh ya, kitchens...anyhoo, I don't mind if anyone sees my messes :) But I often want to make coffee in my jammies and don't feel the need to answer the door for the local godly boys who want to "share" their findings with me, and with the door in clear view of the kitchen, I both feel the need to put on a robe, and answer the door since they won't go away if they can see me. Sooooo I'd like a kitchen that is the heart of the home...that godly boys can't see from the porch :) And perhaps one I can hide from a 2 year old in....but he's pretty smart and always finds me...