johnliu, that is a good point about the polished finish making the hinge style less noticeable. You are right and I didn't think of that. Takes the pressure off a bit! And I agree with the more "humble" comment about the ball style. ci lantro, I'm glad you think the ball style is consistent with colonial. We're doing slab front drawers with recessed modified shaker bevel cabinets and definitely the cabinet style will be more important than the hinges in carrying off the correct era of the home. dianalo, I feel the same way- that the minaret is just a bit...prettier/more elegant. I also think the end being tapered might help the hinges disappear visually a bit more. The minaret tip does make the overall length of that hinge a bit longer which I thought might nicely emphasize the verticality I'm going for overall. Unfortunately they are the same price, so I can't use the "cheaper" criteria... My husband feels the minaret is a bit...ornate/feminine? So I think since I like both equally this may be one decision I'll let him make since he has let me make all the ones that have really mattered! ;) I'm hoping that this hinge decision is one of many that seems important in determining the direction of my entire kitchen design in the moment but which I will quickly realize once the decision is made that it didn't really matter! I think I am going with the ball tip, because I think that is the much more common style. Thanks again everyone!

Great advice folks. thanks so much. I immediately seized on the garbage/dw swap, even though it moves the garbage to a more remote location. I go back and forth about those spacer cabs around the sink buehl kindly suggested. I initially thought them necessary, then had occasion to stand in a HomeDepot kitchen that had the DW next to a corner sink and was surprised how unaffected I was. I do have them in around the stove, but they are badly drawn. the corner range presents issues of space usage, especially when trying to line up with 30" counter depth. I don't think moving the sink bmorepanic spot works. for one it's the farthest point from the DR (behind the peninsula) and second (and I forgot to mention this) that's a front picture window 10 feet from the street where people stroll every day and night. don't really want them looking at my dirty dishes ;-). I have, however, toyed with the idea of flipping the sink and range, moving the prep sink to the peninsula. Does anyone think that it would be too far from the DR to lug dirty dishes and get clean ones??? the peninsula counter is about 6.5 ft, so long enough for 3. Looked at a lot of stone this weekend, and kept getting drawn to soapstone. just so yummy. Just concerned that they may be too dark in a fairly dark room (not a lot of exposure). thanks agin for all the advice.

Hi Everyone and thank you so much!! When I get back from an errand I'll address your individual responses! I love the ideas you've shared (e.g. simple shaker - and to make the trim width match those of the uppers')! For now though, I feel the need to clarify: I realize that because I bombarded you w/ so many questions, it appears I'm freaking out or too indecisive...but if I'd asked only one question, then waited a while then asked another and so on, you'd probably think I was fine - haha! ;) Meanwhile - with the exception of the cabinetry issues - there is NO real rush on most of this. Yes we don't have a counter/sink but he was going to re-use the old, non-original doors until yesterday when I decided I'm willing to pay more to have them be flush-mounted like the upper ones. He'll figure out the final dimensions e.g. degree of angle of bump-out on Tuesday, and everything else necessary is already waiting to go besides the counter which can be ordered on Tuesday - and will take a week. So anyway, I'm actually not anxiety-ridden, just excited. And I ask you people not because I can't figure it out (I have ideas and lots of magazines) but because I've found more GREAT and unexpected advice on this forum than anywhere else. Everyone here is very experienced (at least in their research after having seen so much!), and focused here, and sometimes it's more fun and easier to give others advice, you know? I know I love to! I disagree that the options are all over the place by the way. I don't think one decision leads to another and can throw things off because most of the kitchen's original already and I'm making this a relatively period kitchen and there are only so many choices, most of which won't clash with others. E.g. a schoolhouse or other period light will go w/ wood floors of any color, will go with cafe curtains or pull-down shades, will go w/ the original cabinets. I just want to know if you have specific favorites or a quick "vision pop" like "flush light in center and pendant at window" or "...with bright-colored shades" or "angle the bump-out instead of square" or "don't put a microwave there." If I just *HAVE* to narrow down my questions ;) the most necessary ones are w/ regard to the lower cabinets (how not to compete w/ the uppers and still have something appropriate) and then the general idea of what the bump-out should look like (angled or straight edges, with or without those decorative side pillars)...maybe whether I should add feet? I feel like the cut-off upper cabinet above the stove will just work itself out by default but advice would still be nice. The rest are all just fun details that can be added at the end and are simply fun to get advice on. Wow - I sure know how to rant & ramble! Off I go...will get back to you soon, thanks again!

I'm so glad you guys like it! I actually look forward to cooking in there now. Maybe production house is a regional phrase? I'm not sure. I must have picked it up somewhere, but now I don't know where. What I meant by that is tract housing, with big groups of houses built simultaneously and quickly and those homes all utilizing the same basic inexpensive materials and finishes. For example, in my development of 500 houses/rowhouses, there are maybe 5 single family floorplans, and the exteriors look very similar. People who bought 8 years ago as they were being built were able to make just a few simple choices/upgrades, but could not change the floorplans at all. When they were built they all had the same cabinets (3 different finishes), tubs, sinks, light fixtures, faucets, furnaces, water heaters, appliances (white or black), windows, doors, roofs, etc. That doesn't sound all that attractive, I know, but the benefit is that they were a very good value for the area and the houses although not gracious, are really easy to live in and efficient. rocketmomkd, I thought my Jadite was going to be so pretty in there. I couldn't wait to display it. And then I did. It didn't look good at all. I couldn't believe it. I put it in a cupboard instead. At least I use it a lot more now.