In the end, you are the only one who can decide. While JD is a great, and expensive name, I suspect the one you are looking at for $2,600 is feeding on the JD name. In my case I would want to know how many blades each deck has. Many of the newer and cheaper 42" mower decks have gone to 2 staggered blades. I prefer 3 blades on a 42" deck myself. We have a stamped deck on our mower which is 18 years old and is still in good condition BUT you must not let wet grass accumulate under them, as many people do, or they will rust out. Most likely the JD had a B&S Intek engine on it while the Kawa is far superior. Walt Conner

I can't recommend hoods I've never used, but will comment on general requirements and how particular hoods seem to conform or not. The blurb under each price for the two Best units describes the differences -- baffles vs. mesh filters, for example, plus the (somewhat unneeded in my view) automatic blower control for the more expensive. I would go for baffles, but the flow rate into the hood aperture should be capable of around 90 ft/min, which corresponds to 90 CFM/sq. foot of aperture. The Best baffle hood's aperture area seems to be under 6 sq. ft., so a flow rate of 540 CFM is desirable. Unfortunately, this hood has a 600 CFM blower. Because blowers are rated in open air, and the baffles and other parts of the ventilation system (including MUA) cause pressure losses, it likely won't actually pull more than 400-ish CFM through this hood. So you might be a little under served. An 800 CFM blower would be better. (I wouldn't be surprised if within the myriad Best offerings there was a more powerful hood of this size, with or without the auto feature.) Mesh filters (if kept religiously clean) likely collect grease better than baffles at lower air flows (from the air that gets by them) but these lower flow rates may not be sufficient to keep the rising cooking plumes from partially reflecting from the metal surfaces and escaping out of the hood. This depends on what you cook, as it is a function of rising effluent velocity, which is related to pan surface temperature plus, where applicable, gas flame heat content. For more background, review the many hood threads on this forum. kas

The painting will be of the barns behind the old farmhouse we moved from. I think we will likely do a canvas without frame. I actually like the height - this is a very long room, with kitchen at one end, dining area in the centre, and great room where the fireplace is at the far end. So I look forward to enjoying the view from my kitchen, where my husband and I spend a lot of time.

No to artificial plants in the corner. Dust and insect collectors. The cats may bother them, too. Some cats will mark them. Place two of your chairs on each side of the curio cabinet and find some art work or sconces to frame the sides of the cabinet. Unless you are using the table, too many chairs will make it look crowded. Your curio cabinet is too small for the space, so putting the chairs on each side would help fill up the void. Move the lanterns to each side of the window. They would look better if you acquired a small stand to elevate them off the floor. Or, find another place for them in the house. Your flower arrangement is lovely. But, it is too tall for a dining table. You already have two tall lights on the buffet. Adding the floral arrangements would not work because they are tall, too. What you have on the buffet looks very nice. For additional lighting, you could add a small up light fixture that can't be seen on the curio cabinet. You can add a timer to it.