You don't mention bosch model, but the nexxt series don't stack, the axxis series does.... I think it sounds like you have a space constraint that would eliminate the whirlpool, lg, and smasung machines (at leat the ones that seem to be the 'popular' models... I'm thinking you've got Frigidaire, Axxis, Asko, Miele, and maybe a sears model to look at... fwiw... my fil had a frigidaire stacked set for literally years... he died before they did, and now the nephew has them...still going strong... I have a bosch, but it's a nexxt... I think the bosch or the asko would be the way to go... personally I think the Miele is way over priced and not worth the extra cash..

Espresso wasn't one of the ones they sampled on the floor...but they did have one they called "coffee brown" which was a little too "brown"...it didn't have as much depth to it. I will ask about the espresso, though! I am also going to ask about "popping" the wood...that sounds very interesting! Right now, I am leaning toward 75% Jacobean, 25% Walnut. Would love to see pics of anyone's stain! Oh, and yes, I have heard that the dark stains show everything...I am ok with that...I had provincial stain on my old floors with a high gloss finish and that was also a nightmare. I have become quite adept at wielding a fierce dry swiffer! ;)

Hopefully my response comes across as helpful. Im not trying to be rude in any way. I do not think your statement of trying to obtain top of the line windows with mid grade pricing is realistic. Maybe listing out the requirements of your project will help you decide on a vendor and manufacture of window. Eliminate quotes out of your budget, should you have a budget. Eliminate any windows you dont like the looks of. Eliminate a company with a warranty you do not like. Granted it isnt my money but for me and my project i am going by aesthetics of of the window, followed by the quality of the installation, then price. I plan to live in my home indefinitely and want my windows and doors to last. If i have to look at them everyday i dont want to not like how they look.

I love threads about KA mixers--still love my KAs after all these years. Yours looks great in your gorgeous kitchen! I had an almond KA Classic for about 25 years--it stood up to many batches of pizza dough, stiff cooky doughs, and homemade cakes. It is now loved in my DD's kitchen, and I have a red Artisan. Red wasn't my first choice--I wanted buttercup or green apple for my new kitchen, but five years ago I found the Artisan on Craigslist for $100, a deal too good to pass up. The seller said she had used it in her home cake decorating business, but it looked unused--not a bit of gunk under the metal band, which I removed to do a thorough cleaning before I used it the first time. The finish was super shiny--it really looked brand new. Two of the attachments were missing, so I spent another $25.00 for them. The Artisan has been used the same as my former lower watt KA, for pizza and bread dough, lots of pfeffernusse cooky dough, and cake batter. I just follow the mfr's instructions to use it on low setting for stiffer doughs. I've decided the color looks good in my kitchen--the universe chose well for me, too. ;)