Tiger is right. Take the free money and get the better system. $1500 is just the from the Feds. Your state and/or local utility also will give you rebates, but you'll need to meet a minimum efficiency which your quotes do not achieve. If your cost delta goes from $2300 down to $400 that is a big difference. Your contractor is not being very helpful. I interviewed 8 contractors for my home and went with the the one that: a. did the load calcs b. worked with me and all my crazy thoughts on various system configurations c. was professional and responsive when it came to answering questions. d. made me and my wife feel comfortable with what they proposed. I did not go with the cheapest bid or the most expensive (although it was quite expensive). My costs were much higher due to a lot of duct work. Either way I can promise you that you will get what you pay for. Tigerdunes is steering you in the right direction. In the end it is up to you. I spent a month researching and interviewing contractors before making a decision. BTW I took an option for 12months 0% so I could actually get all my rebates and returns and spread out the cost at the same time. In my case I get the $1500+ 1200 more from my utility. There are also a lot of rebates for new systems. I know Carrier and Lennox have major rebates at this time for sure, but in general they are larger with the nicer systems. It never hurts to get a variety of quotes to weigh your system options (I had multiple quotes from the same contractors)

Thanks for your input rhome! I am thinking I need to revisit the appliance showroom and revisit what's out there for refrigerators. I looked up the specs for the Liebherr and the Jen-Air. The Liebherr lists almost 14" needed for clearance, and the Jenn-Air has 2.5". I also noticed the fully integrated Liebherr had only a couple of inches in their diagram. It might be worth it to go that route, but I'll have to see. Maybe it's not a french door? Hmm...off to the showroom. The microwave drawer is in not in the ideal spot, but couldn't figure out where else to put it. We like the idea of a cabinet with glass doors that goes all the way down to the counter, with drawers below (dishes in the upper cabs). We want it to look like a piece of furniture or a "butler's pantry" cabinet and trying to keep it near the DW and dining room. We originally thought of doing this to the right of the dishwasher but it would be narrow at 24". Our architect liked the lines of the wall with countertop going all the way to the dining room door (and then I liked that if we moved this cabinet next to the fridge that we could do 15" deep uppers to accommodate dishes more easily with inset doors). So, that's how the mw drawer ended up where it is...still feels like a bit of a concession. I know that I desperately want it off the counters. Any other suggestions of where it might work? I've considered the island, but wanted it to look more furniture-like. Maybe it should go there afterall. Do you think this would be a better solution? Thank you for catching the cabinet above the fridge. I've been assuming it'd be 24" but had not caught it's drawn in as a 12"! Thanks!

Talia -- I'm so glad you decided against the firm! I didn't want to offer an opinion before as I have no experience with a kitchen reno in your budget. Mine was a relatively modest $20k - no structural work but I replaced every single thing. The one thing we do have in common though is that I didn't have time to manage my project either -- but I didn't have a choice, having a "more than full time" job/career. Yet when I fantasized about having a GC, I realized, "who am I kidding? I'm gonna be all over this no matter who is in charge! It's my home!" I did luck out though, finding the best licensed, insured, experienced carpenter, contractor -- George -- I could have found through asking around a LOT. Amazing, really. As the "GC" I hired the electrician, plumber and floor tile guy, (all referrals) but not without consulting George, my carpenter first who had a ton of experience and knowledge of other trades who checked their costs first for me, helped me tweak and negotiate, etc. George helped me with my lighting plan, a rather extensive one, for me and then he came here with me and "supervised" to make sure it was done right and according to plan. When I couldn't get out of a work meeting and get home for my granite install, George jumped in and then fielded a major problem with the island -- cut wrong size -- fabricator error. He called the fab and quickly resolved the problem and a new island top was put in the following week. And George? He removed and demo'd old cabs, installed the new ones and moldings and trim, cleared all trash and did cleanup, made me a second pantry with new door and shelves, put in new sink and faucet, new range and micro, new dishwasher and fridge, moved a misplaced chandelier (my fault) and patched/painted ceiling hole, kicked out the sloppy painter and found me a new one, patched kitchen floor after I decided to move a radiator a month after floor had been done, added new saddles... and I'm sure I missed a few things... which came to about $2,500. I gave him an additional $500.00 which he finally did take... not just for his extra supervision of others (that he throughly enjoyed doing and did so well with a very gentle touch) and jumping over here when I needed him and answering my 1,000+ questions about everything, but for caring about this job as if it were his own home. (I also gave him a like-new circular saw that I used only once some months ago and have been too scared to use again.) I also gave him 2 referrals that have turned into good jobs for him. Really, I feel like I owe him so much more! I think there are some real GEMS out there at reasonable cost that just need to be found. Of course with your budget and plans, you need more than a lone super-dedicated carpenter, but I'm hoping you'll find a firm or KD or GC or all three that will be your "George!" Note to Lovestocook -- I found 2 great Mauviel pieces at Home Goods! More great gems at...

God I hate the waiting and not knowing!!!!!! I know exactly which job I want but would take either. Went online today (just in case I am lucky) and found an apartment complex that has several units available at a perfect time to move. AND it's 5 blocks from my sweetie... Hope I have good news to post tomorrow. I think I wll be crushed if I don't get either of them. SamKaren your resident DJ