Why would this forum - or any other regional forum for that matter - even need a FAQ? Other than restating the obvious as to climate, etc. (as outlined in the forum intro), the topics raised by regional forums are so diverse as to make a FAQ pointless. What would be included?? First/last frost date? That varies widely by area and microclimate, as does nearly every other broadly addressed topic. If it was a plant-specific forum, it might be different. Just seems very unnecessary to me.

OK...we're going to run out of bumps today or tomorrow...so, here's my suggested draft for the next thread: +++++++++++++++++++++ Subject: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens! (Help keep on Page 1) Welcome - If you are new here - you may find the following information and links helpful. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages contain helpful information about how to navigate this site as well as the world of kitchen renovations. The Kitchen Forum Acronyms will help you understand some of the acronyms used frequently in posts. The Finished Kitchens Blog has pictures and information about many GW members' finished kitchens. Not only can you see them alphabetically, but there is also a category list if you're looking for specific things like a kitchen w/a Beverage Center or a kitchen w/a mix of dark and light cabinets. The Appliances Forum is very useful when you have questions specific to appliances. To start off the process...take the Sweeby Test. Then, move on to Beginning a Kitchen Plan. Other topics such as planning for storage can be found by doing a search on the forum. Tip: When using the "search" function, be sure to use the search box on the bottom of the page, not the top! Again, welcome and good luck! The journey is wild, sometimes bumpy, but fun! +++++++++++++++++++++ Comments? Suggestions? Did I miss anything? And thanks kKailuaMom for getting this idea moving! You were very successful; let's hope the next thread is as successful! Maybe someday we'll be able to get some permanent links (ike the FAQ & FKB & possibly a "Getting Started w/Your Kitchen Remodel"), but until then, let's keep this going!

OK, deep breaths, first upload attempt: As a disclaimer, the layout pics are the actual paper documents photographed; measurements are not there for all you layout gurus and of course at this point in the remodel I could not cope with any serious criticism of this layout, however constructively phrased :) First a bird's eye view of the old layout. (North is up). Skinny U-ish kitchen,stairs on left go to basement, exit lower right into dining rm. About 7 linear feet of useable counter space, a cabinet column with wall oven, microwave and hard-to-use cabinets above and below same, underpowered and too-small 30-inch cooktop (when you subtract the controls about 20x20 inches. Try water-bath canning on that!) Now, the new: South wall knocked out, entire house bumped out to the south so the dining room stays the same size but now the kitchen is a square - "double L?" with exits to the NW and SE: Now - and this is not pretty because they're still in there doing stuff - View from the sink peninsula: View from the basement stairs showing baking corner (near) and range wall: Baking corner (now painted - the big hole is for the undercounter speed oven): The sink (makes me happy every time I look at it): I think I'll quit now before the upload gods decide it's too much. I welcome any and all comments or questions!

Welcome to the THS Appliances Forum FAQ section! I, "hardwarehack" Tom, am your humble FAQ Editor, and while I get some of the material for these permanent FAQ articles from the general Appliances Forum threads (before they drop off the list into oblivion), I very much welcome direct suggestions as well... especially from anyone who is willing to do the work of writing up FAQ article textfiles! [Updated information pending... for now, the best way to propose a new FAQ article is to start a new thread in the main Appliances Forum concerning the subject in question, with the keyword "FAQ" in the title. The would-be FAQ submission can then be viewed by all interested Forum participants, and ideas, suggestions, and various revisions can be developed as the discussion progresses. To facilitate this process, once a FAQ thread is started on a given topic, please continue to post follow-ups to that thread, rather than starting lots of new little threads to propose new ideas and changes re that topic, etc. I monitor the ongoing Forum threads on a daily basis, and will thus be able to follow the discussions, and ultimately copy and edit the "final" FAQ article version(s), for posting in the FAQ section proper. Please note that this system is much preferred to emailing me, for a variety of reasons, at least for the time being.] Many thanks, --Tom. [added to Appliances FAQ: 1 October 2002] [last edited: 28 December 2004]