This is the kitchen that has been in my brain for at least 10 years, and here you have gone and done it perfectly!!! I'm going to Pinterest the bejebbers out of it as inspiration photos for the coming renovations (as soon as I finish all these pesty bathrooms!). Seriously, I have wanted a 4 oven Aga plus a module for ages. I already have the full 601 fridge & freezer (so a little bigger than your Subzero.) And I plan to put a big barrel hood over it all. And you have a big island with not huge aisles! And you have soapstone! I really think we're channeling the same frequencies. I'm totally in love with your butler's pantry! We didn't inherit one, but I may use the cabinet sliding door idea for the walk-thru pantry I'm planning. It solves my problem of a tight space and not really wanting all open shelves! Ok, I'm off to study this kitchen more deeply! Truly, I know this reveal is several years past now, but wow just the same! Great job! Always ;-) Hunzi

Brent, Thanks for offering to answer questions. I'm new to kitchen remodeling, and have never had cabinets made. A friend used my cabinet maker, and she said that he easily matched her sample of dark-stained oak. For some reason, he gave me a cherry board, and suggested I go to a local paint store. I did get a custom stain that looked very nice on the board. We have a cherry table, so I know that cherry wood can be different colors and grains - but when my cabinetmaker put the stain on a larger board, it was much browner, and had some horizontal rough areas where the stain took differently, and some larger areas that were quite a bit darker. Even the grain was not clear and beautiful like my table, but a little fuzzy. I don't know it the stain is the problem -as you said, not a high quality, or an odd pigment. The stain was custom, and I believe the Hirschfield's store brand was used, but that store also has Pratt and Lambert stain that I could try. In my area, I could also go to Sherwin Williams. Another thought - could it be the quality of the sanding or grit of the sandpaper?? Is there a specific technique that you would recommend for putting a light stain ( slightly brown to offset my perception of orange) on cherry? I think that my cabinet maker is trying to lead me towards a clear finish on cherry to avoid splotching. He also frequently comments that alder has a grain like cherry and that most people can't tell the difference. I thought that his sample of stained alder ( it was dark brown) also looked somewhat splotchy, and I have heard that it is a soft wood and mars more easily. I thought the clear stain on alder was beautiful on both the alder and cherry, but I wonder how long I'd have to live with orange in the cherry! I'd appreciate it if you have any comments on stain brands that you'd recommend, or a way to finish cherry in a light stain so that the grain shows beautifully. Thanks for wading through this! Janet

Cindyloo, you've been busy! If I decided to go with a conservative color door, I thought it might be a darker version of our siding color, SW Quiver Tan. It looks really good with our salmon-colored brick. Is there a darker version of Quiver Tan available on the websites tool? Awm03, of course I dont mind. I love seeing all ideas. We've been busy doing our side and back yard the past 2 years and have neglected our front. Seeing your mockup is an eyeopener. I really like the walkway opened up like that, it looks much more welcoming. Less grass would be great too, as grubs got alot of it this summer anyway. I was naive when we did our landscaping 15 yrs ago when the house was built. I was so anxious to have "something" and didnt have enough $$. I didnt research our landscaper or his ideas much. While the river birch is pretty, especially the bark, the location is terrible. It's a very messy tree in all 3 season's but winter. Our driveway and sidewalk are always covered with something, which tracks into the garage and then into the house, makes me nutty! But the tree is very happy. For a long time I hated how it blocked the view of our house, but now that its bigger, I've been liking the privacy it gives, and it is pretty (if I dont look down, lol). I'm debating having a landscape design done for an area in our backyard that has me stumped. I could include a design for the front too as you suggested. I've never considered moving the walkway. Natal, yes, the roots are an issue...they are starting to lift up the sidewalk next to the driveway. So maybe its a good excuse to get a new sidewalk :) geez, I promised my husband if I could just get that backyard part finished and a new front door, I'd be done "decorating" outside. cant wait to show him this new idea :)

Twn85, do you have pictures of your final design? Would love to see it. Laughable, that may be an alternative. I definitely don't want to go shorter, as I am 5'9 and DH is 6'3. My only thing is that I'd have to add some granite to the left of the stove (where the current fridge is now, before the corner begins to make a peninsula) but maybe I could take what I'd be cutting out on the other side where the fridge would be moved? I don't know enough about granite to know if that's an option. Honestly I'd love new counters but even getting DH to consider any of this is enough of a challenge - he sees the square footage and thinks I'm crazy and high maintenance (okay, I AM but still) to even talk about putting money into an already "big" kitchen with upgrades. As for what I like to do in the kitchen - I'm a pretty much make-from-scratch cook. I am a SAHM and spend A LOT of time in the kitchen, either cooking, prepping or cleaning. I like having stations - baking, cooking, coffee, etc. I don't like a lot of appliances on the counter but I DO have a lot of heavy gadgets I'd want a spot in a cabinet or drawer for. There is a small TV in the corner of a countertop to give me company while I'm in there because I'm usually alone, although I'd LOVE to have (adult) company - other times, I have my small (ages 5 and 3) children to "help" out, and having a place for them to put their stools to spread out and pour ingredients is very good. The breakfast nook bugs me right now - the window seat is not currently there and the outside chairs are right in the walkway from the garage door into the FR. However, I'm not a big fan of stool seating b/c family dinners are really important at this stage in our lives. I know eventually the kids will need a place to do homework but if a sink goes at the peninsula, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. One thing you may be able to see is the architect suggested cutting out that pantry cabinet and extending the archway that leads into the dining room. The purpose there would be to make that more of a breakfast room than formal DR and maybe put some comfortable chairs where the current breakfast nook is for conversation. A peninsula would block that idea, though, I think. After reading these responses, I've gotten to thinking. We currently have a temporary island where the suggested one would go. It's smaller and not as functional and I just assumed that functionality was what was missing. However, DH doesn't help me as often as he used to and now I'm starting to think it may be how tight the kitchen seems now, rather than him just trying to avoid any work (or miss my engaging and witty banter.)