Sounds amazing!...And exciting, and worth the giddiness and the post! :-) You come here first, because you know we'll understand and be excited for you, too. Can't wait to see the progress/change!

:) We also both replaced the ref with a much smaller unit and moved it away from blocking an important view. We've just moved in a little bit - enough to give up the temporary kitchen (7 months). Running water is a miracle and the spacious feeling is wonderful.

Enjoy the feelings.

Thank you both!

I want to post a simple before and after picture - if I can find a before picture that has the old fridge in it's old place, taken from the doorway (maybe not). I'll work on that!

Absolutely!! What you're doing with your kitchen sounds fantastic, both aesthetically and functionally! So glad that things look great. Must see pictures!

That is awesome! I'll be excited to see some "after" pics as I remember you posting some of your "befores".

I'm still especially excited to see your cool Jaclo steamvalve faucet that you've previously posted about!

I was actually thinking about you the other day-did you know that Paula Deen has the Jaclo steamvalve in her little dockhouse/cabin kitchen? (It's on p. 63 in her new book Paula Deen's Savannah Style, which I just borrowed from the library.)

PS I'm also very attached to this forum, and I hardly ever post!

Wishing you continued good progress!

Dawn

Thank you so much Pickle and Dawn. :)

I did NOT know that about Paula Deen - thanks for the heads up! I wish I could find a pic of it on the internet.

My contractor actually ordered that faucet TODAY, rush delivery. It's expected on the 5th or 6th they said. I got it in polished w/ the white levers. I hope white levers wasn't a mistake since the spout's black, but black levers - gorgeous as they are - felt almost too cool (like the faucet would be in a fancy man cave) and plus I already have so many black accents throughout the kitchen e.g. the hardware, pot rack and hard-anodized pots & pans...so I thought the white would keep things cheery and hopefully draw attention away from that big fat black spout - lol! I also think the white levers w/ their almost preppy thin stainless decorative strip will go nicely w/ the white marble subway tile - which will be the last thing I order since I want to see everything done before I commit. I'm still secretly in love w/ that Walker Zanger Hamptons Beige crackle finish 2x6 tile, though I suspect it won't look right w/ the stainless countertop - at least not compared to a nice honed white calacatta 2x6 tile w/ subtle veining eh? That beige tile was refreshingly pretty w/ dark grey/black counters like soapstone or honed granite.

Oh, yes, giddy is definitely postworthy, even without pics.

it's always a key transition from a kitchen with no DW to one with!

Thanks eastbaymom!

Hey Dawn, you can see that page w/ the Jaclo faucet in Paula's book if you go to Amazon and click on "look inside" and scroll through: http://www.amazon.com/Paula-Deens-Savannah-Style-Deen/dp/1416552243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275642541&sr=1-1

Only thing is it looks weird w/ that sink! Doesn't it?

Here are a few pics for you! I'll put before and so-far (no afters yet)!

Here is a link that might be useful: Before...

See how the fridge (the old fridge) being next to the door makes the room feel smaller cause it blocks off part of the "view?"

Here's another before pic:

Here is a link that might be useful: Another before...

Here's a so-far pic. You can see the demo work on the right (the lower cabinets there aren't original but to save money they'll probably just put on new doors there) and on the left you can see part of the new Samsung counter-depth french door fridge (still has plastic on it until they're done w/ the majority of the work). Am seriously loving that fridge! The mudroom is painted an obnoxious green but it's not THAT bad - that's only cause the bathroom light has one of those ugly bulbs that makes it look worse!

Again, the island's top will be replaced w/ edge-grain butcher block and the floors will be refinished in either similar color or else a very dark color to hide imperfections (it can only take one more sanding) and the ceiling light will be replaced w/ something better (ideas??) and the pot rack will either be taken out altogether or else turned sideways to match the new direction of the island. I wish I could get a nice new stove but not now...

Later I'll show you pics of the kitchen from opposite direction (from looking at it from the mudroom) so you can see the dilemma I face re. the cupboard (original and without a door) above the stove. I need to figure out if I should put an above-range microwave above the stove and somehow incorporate it into that open bookshelf.

Well it's 2:24 a.m. and I have kids. I'm being baaaaaad. Off to sleep I go. Thanks again.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen so-far (demo on right).

Here's a closer pic of the demo and the space above the sink where I want to hang a pendant light and would love some advice on (as well as what light to put in center of room):

Here is a link that might be useful: The area below the windows - where the sink will be

Last but not least - just for fun - I thought I'd include a pic of the original light fixture hanging in our office which was originally a nook for eating (nothing's changed except we just use it as an office...our house is remarkably still original in many many ways). I thought i could move that light fixture into the kitchen (at any rate it needs to have the globbed-on paint removed and be rewired). I keep telling myself i'll someday turn that nook into part hallway to kitchen (as you have to walk through it to get to the kitchen from the living room) and part bathroom instead of nook (when I win the lottery and tear down the mudroom wall to the kitchen)...however when I see the pic of it here it's kind of sweet left alone! It's also got a coved ceiling which you can't really tell from the pic.

Ah well - no money so no need to worry about it. I could still borrow the light fixture though... Hmmm...

Here is a link that might be useful: The original light fixture hanging in the separate

Your kitchen definitely looks more open with the fridge moved. We ordered a Samsung french door too...can't wait to get it - of course we haven't even started demo!

The other day while at one of the big box hardware stores I saw a pot rack with lighting. Have you thought about that? I would guess it could be used as task lighting over your island.

I like your old light and think something similar would look good in your kitchen over the sink. I think you could do a double pendent light because the space is so wide.

Thanks monkeymo! I think you're going to love the Samsung. I can't believe I lived so long with what I have...I look back now in utter shame and disgust! ;)

Pot rack w/ light sounds intriguing! Only problem is that - not being able to afford recessed lights around the perimeter of the room - the light being above the island would mean there wouldn't be much light over the other areas, since the island in our case isn't in the center of the room. Also, we could always move the island in which case the permanency of the lighted pot rack would be a problem I imagine! Still, it's a smart concept!

I agree about the old light in the kitchen. I've always liked the shape, though just didn't like that the light was a bit more modern/retro looking in some regards. I can put a double light above the sink even if there's only one hole, right? That's why I showed that pic of that original light in our sunroom (above - in case you didn't see it). I was wondering how that would look above the sink if I were to move it there (after removing the paint and rewiring of course). But Rejuvenation House Parts has some great lights...very inspiring stuff.

Since all of the original lights appear to be colonial revival style (even though the house has many craftsman details), I want to stick w/ that style if it's not too fancy for a fairly humble kitchen. Check out that section at Rejuvenation. Wish there were more options!:

Here is a link that might be useful: Colonial Revival Lighting (what our house has/originally)