FYI, here are some of my inspiration photos. I love the red accents in this first one (my compliments to SoonerMagic--I hope it's OK that I'm re-posting this) but I'm just not sure if white subway tile might be too stark in our kitchen. Our cabs are white rather than off-white, there's no window above the sink and there won't be much painted wall showing. If we went with this color scheme we'd probably do something like BM Bennington Gray on the walls. Not certain if we'd use the contrasting grout or go with something whiter. I like how the beige-y backsplash in this 2nd photo adds a little more color to the room. Was thinking a subway tile in this shade might still work nicely with red accents (with paint in a similar beige shade): A third option would be to do a grayish paint (BM Gray Owl?) and go with a subway tile in carrara marble something like the one below (sorry--I'm not sure whose pic this is). The problem is I'm not sure that would coordinate well with the red in our dining room. It's also a cooler color scheme than I'd originally planned. Any thoughts? Our floors are hardwood, by the way--similar to the color in pic #2 or just a touch lighter. Thanks again for all the input!

nancy_east -- thanks for your nice words! How exciting about your kitchen -- this will be fun to watch develop! The widest walkway we have is 36 1/2" (countertop to countertop), with it going down to 34 1/2" where our apron front sink "jumps" out. From our cooktop to the widest point of the bowed island countertop is 35 3/4". The only times (or rather, areas) our aisles feel tight are when the dishwasher door is open and there's only 12" of clearance (between the open door and the island cabinetry). But so far, no barked shins! We're careful and aware. The other area is our refrigerator (which is 30" wide, all refrigerator so it's a wide door): when it's open the only one who can sidle by (and then it's just barely) is our two year-old. But neither of those conditions are permanent (meaning, the dishwasher is mostly closed and the refrigerator door is mostly closed as well). While 36" for an aisle isn't "ideal," for us it's working out fine. Our only alternative would've been to give up the island and that wasn't an option! We need the storage space. Your aisles will work out fine; if it there's an impediment in the 36" aisle (like a dishwasher), then you all will learn the same careful two-step we and many others have as well! Good luck with your kitchen-in-progress! (and whole house, too!)

Thanks Kathy, between the rocks and the roots of the Canadian Hemlocks it is a tough environment. I hope my improvements do well. I have some other more mature 'wild' hosta and I will plunk them to fill in. I also have 5 Patriots that have been in a poor spot for many years and simply exist. I'll put them in the best sunniest area and they should do well.

To msrmom: I am attaching my other bathroom that is not quite 100% complete yet. Still have art to go.. But in this one we went with Brushed Nickel right down to the toilet flush handle. My vanity lights and the hanging light are white linen. both with brushed nickel. I feel like I am really stuck now on the black and white bathroom. I was reading that the gold could go out of style and the black, but I have had the hole cut into the counter so it's too late. I absolutely love the brushed nickel. It is a beautiful colour. What I could do is change the hardware to brushed nickel, toilet flusher and then maybe some pictures like the attached. This is not my favourite for art, but it got me thinking about silver type finish.