Here are a few more maybe they can help you. ~boxerpups PS. Clergychic, I love your red accents. Gorgeous!!!! Antique Brown Granite Antique Brown Granite from Cataraqui granite Co. Brown Granite Brown from Decorpad Brown granite from Colormehappy blog Kirby Kitchen Eastern Kitchens Ebeniste Kitchens Las Vegas Concrete counters

Great ideas! Thank you all so much! herbflavor-Thank you for the kind words about the cabinets as they are:) Most of the feedback I've gotten from other sources is about how awful they look, so it's nice to get a different perspective (and I never saw them as hideous myself). I did consider leaving the maple cabs in their natural state, but when we replaced our dishwasher with a nearly new panel-ready Asko Craigslist find, we realized how much the maple had yellowed/oranged despite the lack of direct sunlight. Plus, these cabinets are absolutely everywhere throughout the house---every bathroom, storage closet, laundry room, you name it. The real problem is that I think they might be too warm for the cool grays in the granite. So, I'm thinking paint would be the answer. I was not sure about gray paint on the cabinets, either, yet something is calling me to try it. It's only weeks of hard physical labor, right?! When you suggest the right and left flanking cabinets for glass inserts, do you mean both cab doors on the right and left, leaving 2 solid center doors? Or just the single far door on each side? Also, you mentioned changing the back of the peninsula. Do you have any suggestions? I think it needs improvement but have no clue here. Gigi4321, I like the idea of an open cabinet with shelves or glass shelves, and I adore that look when I see it in other kitchens. I may try that first after removing the doors to see how it looks; my concern would be with keeping the items clean since that is where we keep our everyday dishes and wine glasses. I'm fairly clean, but would hate to feel the need to dust my dishes before company arrives:) I love what you did with your kitchen, Annac54. Love, love, love the stain and the fact that you also DIY'd the majority of it, as we will be doing . It gives me hope. Btw, we had the exact same tile. Ten years of cleaning that grout spurred this facelift. Sadly,I still have the same tile in all 3 bathrooms. But that's a future post... Thanks for the photo of your center cabs a2gemini. That is some beautiful seeded glass. I think I may need to copy that, if you don't mind. Can't wait to see the finished pics. Artichokey, thank you! I feel so much better about my kitchen after reading your comments. It's easy to see these gorgeous, spacious gw kitchens and feel somewhat embarrassed by the fact that most of the butler pantries here are larger and nicer than my entire kitchen, nook, and family room combined. And I never knew that my ledge (as I always referred to it) was the dreaded and outdated "soffit" until I found gardenweb:). But with 15 foot ceilings and ample storage space, I could not see the value in reworking the entire space by adding cabs to the ceiling. I do love our kitchen and think it's functional and perfect for us. You asked about the area to the right of the kitchen, and here it is. This is the wall flanking the kitchen nook, on the way to the family room (open plan). Yet more cabinets, and a built in desk to boot (also an outdated feature, but yet again I do love its functionality). I've chosen a gray 2 shades darker than the "repose gray" for the main kitchen cabs (SW Dovetail) in hopes that it pulls both areas together while maintaining some continuity. Not sure yet about the desktop color... Again, thank you all so much. I truly appreciate your thoughtful responses. Love this forum!

I have Fantasy Brown Quartzite. It was leathered as recommended by the stone supplier two years ago. I tested a sample given to me before deciding, by putting lemon juice, ketchup, you-name-it overnight and it was bullet-proof. I also did the test by trying to scratch glass with it, and it it DID scratch the glass. It hasn't stained, etched or scratched in two years of not babying it at all. Here's a page of things to read about it being different stones, but mine is quartzite for certain. https://www.google.com/search?q=fantasy+brown+quartzite&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

How far does the hardwood extend on the rest of that floor. I would find out if you can find the same hardwood that is in the dining area, extend it into the kitchen and refinish the whole floor in a light color. Although I do like the darker floors. However, I would not rip out a good hardwood floor, just extend it and finish in a color throughout that you like.