Where to start? Oven: If you are going to go with Dacor, stick with the Classic Series oven (MCS130S). It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles as the MOV130S, but as a cooking instrument, its a better oven, and half the price. If you want to drop $3000 plus on an oven, check out Wolf or Miele. Microwave: If you order the DCM24, you may want to order your replacement LCD control panel with it. Save money and buy Sharp R930CS with RK9S30 trim kit. Sharp is the same oven without the troublesome LCD panel, and about $300 less. Dishwasher: Dacor is a cooking products company, making their second attempt at dishwashers. Stick with the Bosch. Cooktop and Hood: Good choices; you won't be disappointed. Refirgerator: LG is to major kitchen appliances what Dacor is to Dishwashers. Make sure you have a local service network. Service in some areas is like pulling teeth. It's one thing if its a plamsa TV, but your fridge is another (well you do have a spare downstairs though). Check out Maytag/Amana french door models.

Hi there! Marybeth1... SO nice of you to post those pics...THANKYOU SO MUCH :) ...they really help folks to see and visualize things better. The cab color is very similar to ours. I did take a look at the Lancaster, and it looked beautiful... a creamier color which is the look I am going for. The Burton Brown is really nice but I am wondering if its just a tad dark in tone. Our kitchen will have a fair amount of light but not too much, so i am thinking of lightening things up a bit. Lynn, your kitchen sounds great! Likewise, I will look forward to seeing your progress and pics. Do you have picture of your granite? Good luck with the reno! Have not decided on floor colors yet....I am STILL trying to decide between wood and ceramic tile (because I am not sure which is the more 'practical' choice). But thats another discussion!! I am glad to see people saying good things about cambria....I could not get in touch with my KD yesterday regarding inspecting the slabs first. The resin pooling thing still has me a bit worried. Lynn, do you plan on looking at your Nottingham slab before you order it? Thanks guys!

I think I would feel crowded at the sink with the tall unit so close. I'm trying to follow all you've written but not sure I have a handle on everything. If you have frequent traffic coming through from the garage, including carrying groceries, etc., make sure that area between the end of the fridge wall cabinets and the short red ones isn't too tight between cabinet and wall corners. I also think seating through there might be in the way...again, if it's a frequently used pathway. What's more important than going for 'flexibility and balance' in choosing your cabinet sizes and types, is mapping out where all your kitchen things will go and make sure you have the room and type of storage you'll need, where you need it. After that, figure in some flexibility for working things out as you use the kitchen.

parma: I'm not so sure about a stripe since I already have striped valances and checked sofa cushions, at the same time we don't want anything very formal in this area. Part of what drew me about the kirman rugs is their busy print which I felt would do a good job of hiding any dirt since we all use this room pretty heavily. That also is influencing our delimna what to do and would be interesting to know what others do with kids. Do we buy a lessor quality rug as we have there now and just figure we will replace every 2-5 years and not sweat it if kids drop food or a drink or my 7-year-old decides to work with markers and glue there while my back is turned? Since I have something there right now, my DH does really see the need to change it right now--esp. as we are doing the home office. Maybe in a month or so or if I can find the right rug for less $$--we'll see. DH just wants everything to be done. I still do like that black kirman and perhaps may wait until I can get what I want--better quality, no synthetics, glues which mean less off gassing in the home. Middle DD has eczema/sensitive skin which was part of the reason why I'm keen to replace the rug I have there now--or at least not spend $500 on a rug with the glued backing that will off-gas. So, I'd come to the conclusion Karastan or a hand knotted rug would have less off gassing?