**Since we have about 30" to work with, I'm wondering if it makes sense to design it as a "hutch" look so the papers can go behind cupboards up top. There could still be a countertop for the phone, a notepad and misc paperwork. I loved the idea of drawers with outlets so the cellphones can be charged out of sight.** That totally makes sense. We're actually ripping out a small closet that's in the passageway between foyer and kitchen and turning the closet space into a built-in hutch that will be about 36" wide, so that there's a surface to drop things on (like mail) and a place to charge phones, etc., that isn't in the way of anything. I think a hutch style works really well for this purpose because it's versatile (it could also be used to store dishes and such), it can fit in a smaller space since no chair is required, and unlike a desk it can store things underneath. **So for those people without desks in the kitchen, where does your phone, day planner, papers go?** Phone: we only have cell phones. If we had a phone, it would live on the hutch described above. Day planner: when we have one (I'm sure we'll need one with older kids), it will either hang on the wall like a calendar or it will live on the hutch; we'll see what works best. Papers: mail goes into baskets that live out of sight in a corner beside the couch. One basket for each of us. We deal with mail in the living room, like so: junk mail is recycled or shredded (e.g., credit card applications are shredded), so we toss it into either the "recycle" or "shred" basket--those are fairly flat baskets about 4" high that live under the couch--and then deal with it (put it out for recycling or shred it) every couple of weeks. Non-junk mail gets opened, with envelopes and other throwaway bits tossed into the recycling basket and the important bits either dealt with immediately or put into folders that live in our mail baskets. This is hard to explain without a photo, but our mail baskets are just wide enough and tall enough for a manila folder to stand up in them, so there are a few folders standing up at the back of each basket, behind where the mail goes. I have a red folder for bills and anything else that needs to be dealt with urgently, a green one for financial stuff other than bills (e.g. bank statements), and so on. I suppose there will be a folder for mailings related to each child's education when the time comes. Periodically we take the mail baskets to our office filing cabinets and put away the papers that have collected in each folder, and then the whole process begins again. It works for us and all these baskets let us deal with stuff downstairs without taking up much space, and then carry stuff up to the office for filing. It also keeps our kitchen recycling from filling up too quickly, since all the paper from junk mail, flyers etc. is put in a recycling basket that hides under the living room couch, instead of into the kitchen recycling.

I'm so glad to hear back from you! Thanks for the great closeups and the information about the installation process. I, too, never cared for the way the sink was originally installed, but figured there must be a reason. After seeing the finished apron front, I guess the only reason was that the owners didn't want to cut into the window framing, so mounted the sink with the backsplash just underneath. The cabinets are also lower and less deep than those built today, but I think that was pretty common a hundred or so years ago. I do wish I could find out what year this sink was made. The bottom of the sticker was gone and it wasn't printed anywhere on the sink. If I could find that out, it would help figure out when this house was really built, as there is some discrepancy with the dates. I have changed some of the planning on our install, based on your photos... DH was going to extend the window sill by the few inches needed to get the apron to line up with the countertop just behind the curve on the side of the sink. The shelf was to go straight out from the sill, then straight down, filling in the entire area between the corbels on either side of the window. I really like how your shelf is deeper than the box and rounded on the ends. We are going with that idea now instead of a straight shelf across and straight box down! Thanks also for the paint info. I know what you mean about liking, but not loving, the paint color. That is how I've felt about my current green paint since day one, and that was a couple years ago! I like it on cloudy days but not when the sun is bright or when the lights are on in the evening. I've also put off repainting because I remember how much work it was! Now, I've resolved that I will be painting immediately after this kitchen and the remainder of the butler's pantry is completed. If only I can find that perfect green :) Terry

I couldn't take good pictures of my tables when this thread started. They and a bunch of other stuff were jammed into the dining room/entry hall due to work in the family room/kitchen/breakfast room area. Here is the dining room table: It is rosewood from a Scandinavian import furniture store in the 70's. There is a matching sideboard not in the picture. It's style is very consistent with our MCM house. We like the pedestal base which keeps out of the way of chair placement. Also, the base doesn't need to move for the table to expand. It has one leaf in this picture. The second leaf expands it to 108" and without leaves it goes down to 70". The very modern simple thin legs on the chairs have been a problem. If my DH wasn't so skilled at woodworking repairs, they would be long gone - I think each chair has had at least one repair. So while we really like this, I'd look for something more sturdy if replacing it. Here is our breakfast room table (used for most meals): The chairs aren't as consistent with our contemporary style, but the table and chairs are very sturdy. It is oak. We bought it partly because the chairs are very comfortable even though they aren't padded which worked well with a growing family and now with grandchildren. This table also has the pedestal base staying out of the way of chair and people legs and the base doesn't need to move for the table to expand. It goes up to 110" with all 4 11" leaves in. In addition, storage for the leaves is built in under the table top. This one could probably be used for 100 years without needing repairs. We bought it from a local furniture store. It was made by Richardson Brothers.

Gilmoregal-thank you for your kind words. The sofa is a Bernhardt that I originally found at Haverty's. Then I found the exact sofa at Bob Mill's (which is a really strange store, they have really low end stuff and REALLY high end stuff) for half the price they wanted at Haverty's. I'm very happy with it so far. I also bought the matching chair and 1/2 which I like, but am not thrilled with the back cushion. It's going to need restuffing already. For some reason, it's totally different than the sofa cushions. I think you can look on Bernhardt's website and find the upholstery. If you need a closer pic, let me know. But it should be pretty easy to pick it out. I can't remember what the name of it is. Hope that helps.