One year I finally said, "To heck with it" and called the electrician to come and put an outlet at the end of the mantle. What little damage he did to the drywall, I patched and painted over. Not an expense one wants to have in the month of December, but since then, every Christmas I smile as I plug things in. Now, more to your question: Sometimes I want tiny lights down the center of my table. I had a new leaf cut out of MDF and had a big hole drilled in the center. I attached a surge protector to the underside. From the surge protector, I run an extension cord under the table and down the table leg. I tried and tried to think of something that could camouflage the extension cord from the bottom of the leg to the wall outlet. I came up with NOTHING. So, instead of trying to hide it, I took the cardboard roll that holds Christmas wrapping paper (sort of a very long toilet paper roll) and threaded the extension cord through. Then I wrapped Christmas paper around the roll and tied off the ends with ribbon, letting the extra paper at each end flair out. Now, instead of trying to hide it, I purposely bring attention to the cord - which I think is a good thing, as I know people won't be tripping on the way to the buffet table. P.S. Of course, I have to put a large button hole in the center of my table cloth, but if I don't use lights, I always have some sort of centerpiece that sits on top of the buttonhole.

I too am hoping to go with the style linley has pictured. I have always loved the look of a fireplace and mantle but don't need or have one. This is a way to incorporate the homey feel of a fireplace into my kitchen. I prefer the look of the cabinets coming down to the counter but my second choice would be the corbels like rhome's design. I think that 9 inches on the sides of the cooktop to the cabinets would be the absolute minimum both for safety and convenience. Think about something boiling over and wanting to move it quickly to the side, if all the other burners were full. There wouldn't be room enough for the pot on the side. Obviously, codes are going to dictate the minimum clearance and I think 12 inches would be very good. Also having the cabinets that meet the counter be about half the depth of the counter top should help to keep it from feeling too confining, yet still give the look that you want.

I'd be hesitant to cut a hole in a nice area rug, but if you were going to do so... Mark the spot and then use Fray Check or some other sort of product to "mend" the underside of the area where you plan to cut. Then, I'd use a good carpet tape over the fray check once it has dried. Now, instead of a hole, make a small X with an Exacto knife for the plug to fit through. Push the plug through from the top, and then plump the rug up from underneath. The X will not be noticeable, and the fibers will be reinforced if you use the rug elsewhere in the future. I have a floor outlet and my rug runs underneath the front legs of the sofa, but ends before the back legs and the outlet. The sofa skirt just hides the outlet.

See May that's what I mean. .its sometimes h ard to know because slipperiness is a factor that the water was conditioned enough to hold dirt ect in suspension but it doesn't mean that enough was added for there to be enough enzymes and bleaches to do their job expecially if the person has soft water, so sometimes 1/8'th of a cup in a top loader with soft water may give you slippery water, but it may also not give enough enzymes to break down dirt and stains. I guess it all depends on water chemistry and trial and error, of course along with type of chemicals and water temp..everything would have to be in balance. This isn't something that was a concern to me until I actually thought about it lol. I used to just dump an amount of detergent in, feel the water and determine by the slipperiness until it was brought to my attention that just because the water is slippy does not mean I added enough detergent. .it just means I added enough to condition the water.lol... Yes Poppy my clothes are clean so I must be adding enough detergent lol..I know never to follow the manufactures amounts, yep they want to sell. Thank you both for responding