Oh, Mamadadapaige, have you ever seen an enameled Vermont Castings stove? So beautiful. We had one in a creamy color once (the name of the color is escaping me right now)...Should have changed it out and taken it with us when we sold! Red stove, OK...But I'm with Lascatx that I think red, red, and red (stove, range, and hood) would be too much. And really, really think before you change your vision. I am not against doing that, because I did it. --Lascatx was disappointed, as I remember. ;-) But, the new colors I chose haunted me and grew on me until I really knew that it was the more calming and lighter vision that I wanted. So changing a vision and being so happy you did is possible... Will you miss the original classic scheme (very elegant) and your checkerboard floor if you change to the red? Or will you always regret not going for the 'gusto' and jumping for the red? Isn't your checkerboard floor in shades of brown stain? Or was it black and wood? Either way, I don't know why you couldn't have your white, stainless, black, and wood kitchen and have the Bordeaux wood stove at the other end? This would still allow you to have a calmly colored kitchen, or when the mood strikes, to add more color in accents and accessories.

Why not look into one of the honed granites. I would stay away from Absolute Black honed, but there are some other beautiful ones, like Virginia/Jet Mist & Ocean Green, or even Nordic Black which give you the look of soapstone without the concerns of it being chipped or scratched. On a personal note, I have soapstone (Green Mountain Original) and I don't baby it at all, and it's been fine. It doesn't etch and is impervious to staining, and I rarely oil mine but like it both ways. If you shop around and find one of the harder varieties you may find you love it. It's not nearly as hard as granite, but it never has to be sealed either. If you do visit the kitchens forum do a search for some of the honed granites people have used and you may find you fall in love with one of those. I have a friend with marble and it does etch, so if you will have an area in the kitchen that won't be used for much prep work maybe you could consider using it as an accent. I really love the look of tiger maple so that's what I did, I put it on a small hutch as an accent. Linked below is a "too die for" kitchen with Ocean Green honed and the stone yard may not be horribly far from you either, not sure, but I know she loved working with them! Good luck! Kat :) Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen with honed Ocean Green Granite

I was the one that had the major issues with all the pieces working together. I haven't been on GW in awhile, and missed this thread. I started the "Lose my Mind" thread about it. Long story short: YES you can use the ISE OR the Rohl extended flange with the Shaw sink. They are EXACTLY the same in design (I bought both- don't ask). I used the Rohl because the finish was real chrome (to match my faucet) which the ISE is a "polished" stainless steel. The color isn't really the same, and the ISE has the logo on the rim. I originally purchased a Waste King. This DID not fit with the sink/extended flange, even though thier website says it does. DON't get it. It will not fit. I bought the ISE Evolution (1 HP- the top of the line for ISE). I have been very happy with it. BTW- anyone want the above mentioned ISE extended flange- super cheap? I tried to sell it on Ebay, but is such a specialized part. Hope that helps!!

can you reach your shut off valve to the water. Can you access the dryer vent for yearly maintenance? I like them stacked. You could but in a bank of floor to ceiling cabinets on the side, with planned access to the vent and water shut off. Have a tall pull out pantry on the side for your ironing board and brooms etc. floor to ceiling cabinets between the pullout and stacked set. Many of the cabinet shelves could be drawers instead of shelves, making it easy to access stuff. The upper areas could be for things you never need often, and reachable by a step ladder kept in the pantry pullout. example of pullout shelves: example of a 1/2 length pantry pullout (I think :) or this, no pullout pantry: