Hi Annkh, it sounds like we are at a similar place in our remodels, I have just finalized the layout in the last few days...I think it's the last revision! I need to finish up these cabinet choices asap, because everything else is rolling along, and my cabinet decisions are slowing us down! Regarding the ROT, good point about useage of taller items...most items would fit in a large drawer, and if tallest pot doesn't fit, yes I could store elsewhere. It might be worth it to chance the drawers. I have a 4' wide place to put either a ROT or drawer cabs for pots and pans. To both you and drbeannie2000 - I just calculated that my FiestaWare dishes to go in 1 large drawer are a whopping 68 lbs. IDK if my drawers will be capable of that weight, and IDK if I actually want them all in one drawer - that just seems like a lot of weight to put in one drawer. They are all different colors and even on the upper cabinet shelf when I wanted to use certain colors I had to lift a heft of plates to get what I wanted. It might actually work better for me to have 4 drawers, then I can put my fav dishes in one drawer, and less fav - or 'summer colors' - in the next drawer. Seasonally switch them around, most used in top drawer. I'm putting an island in my remodel and that's where the dishes cabs will be - I will have 2 - 24" W drawer cabs for dishes (FW in one, and a set of pottery dishes in the other.) I think, after all, that 4 drawers might work better for me with these heavy dishes, and the bottom/largest drawer will hold the serving bowls and platters to these dishes. Does anyone see a downside to that?

*Could* I?. I'm sure I could. I have NO problem finding things of high quality that I'd love to own!! That goes for many things besides furniture, as well. I have spent what I consider to be a lot of money on things for our home over the years and we still have them but they are few and far between. There are always other places to consider putting money and more often than not those other places take on a greater importance in my financial considerations. We're lucky, I've inherited a number of beautiful things from my family, they've stood the test of time for 2 and 3 generations and whether they continue on to my sons for a 4th or to someone else if they have no interest, they will last and serve someone else. For me it's not about being able to afford something it's about choices, as I was saying above. But if you are making a choice to accept something other than what you really want and can afford and have buyer's remorse down the road, that's a different case. If I find a costly, quality piece of furniture that I want, I will make it happen. However that scenario isn't likely because I probably would not be seeking it out. What I want and what I need are very different. I don't begrudge anyone purchasing something that I would choose not or could not. The definitions of costly, quality, and value are very subjective and those definitions for each person are informed by any number of factors - finances of course, but also past experiences, ingrained beliefs ..... we all make our choices.

Great ideas there, I love the wood Crafstman's style one especially. I do know a carpenter, don't know if he's quite capable of that kind of work, but, he might be. I actually have been scouring Ebay for some vintage tables like that one. Good ones, not so easy to come by. I saw one recently but the top was too badly chipped. I've been walking into local antique stores also and haven't seen any yet. I did see the perfect real wicker porch furniture but I was afraid the squirrels would eat it up just like they have been doing to my porch :P I can't really close up the area because of where the cabinets are let alone, when I renovated it had been sort of closed off, and I opened it up at that time so that I'd be able to have more counter space and more cabinetry. There was sort of a separation between that area as it used to be the old porch which got added to the house and I toyed with making it an arch - to match the arched doorway which leads to the hallway on the other side of the kitchen (not seen in these photos but, can be seen in another thread that I posted today about possible backsplash choices). BTW, I have a lot of Fiestaware, not vintage, although I do have a set of another vintage set similar to Fiesta - I forget the name of it off-hand. It's one of the reasons why I had some glass cabinets put into my kitchen; I have a lot of vases, shakers, small pitchers, etc. that I like to show off.

I command a lovely table. So said because I decree and let the minions do the actual laying of the table. I have cloths and chargers, wine stems and water stems and gold flashed company flatware, to set for dozens. And it's all cheap junk bought on closeout sales to make it even cheaper, and it looks fabulous! An advantage to the cheap stems is no lead to leach into the wine, though they don't sparkle like crystal. And when I didn't have all that, I set a simpler table with plastic party cloths, paper plates and matching cups from the catering supply store, with my mother's old stainless flatware she got mostly with Betty Crocker points back when you only had to pay the shipping. And it was lovely. A few flowers, candlesticks, and interesting serving pieces (some of which are $2 foil trays from the catering supply which can be washed and reused if you're careful). If you have lovely things, use them! It doesn't matter if they're heirlooms or junk store finds, or paper, or anything in between. Use what you have, and make it look nice. Pretty is good! How you get there is beside the point.