Hi Tink! I've been coming here a LONG time. I don't remember the exact year, but definitely sometime in the 90's! I remember doing a "Netscape Search" (if that doesn't date me!!!) on how to take care of a raw butcherblock top...instead of a sealant. But anyway.... Yes, I sell other lines (from low to high): United Series by Legacy, Debut by Legacy, KraftMaid, Showplace Wood Products, Medallion, Holiday Kitchens and Plain & Fancy. Most builders wouldn't have allowances high enough to have a nice Medallion kitchen. At least that's true in my neck of the woods. So, I believe that your builder thought you paid a LOT more for the cabinets...you probably did. But, you won't have to spend the money to replace them in 12 to 15 years either. Most builder grade cabinets don't look nearly as good after that amount of time. When Medallion first came out with inset, we laughed. The price was SO high, it wasn't that much more for Plain & Fancy cabinetry!!! So, we didn't even bother getting brochures or displays. Since then, Medallion must have figured out they were too high and have since lowered their prices on inset. A while back they had a promo that really brought down their inset prices. I almost ordered a built in entertainment center for my home....that's how great it was. If you have a Showplace dealer in your area, you should check them out. Nice looking cabinet and less money than Medallion inset! But price out both just to be sure. And if you have a P&F dealer, give them a shot too! Their painted finishes are incredible!!! I would say that Brookhaven would be in the Medallion price range. Both are upper end semi-custom cabinetry. KraftMaid is middle of road semi-custom....while Debut is lower end semi-custom!

treehugger, I use pebble trays for many of my plants. Strangely, my orchids do fine without pebble trays, but I do use them for my croton, espicia, ferns, and bird of paradise (all grown indoors). I was shocked that so many so called humidity lovers don't look any different after trying them without pebble trays! And I do group them together when I can to get that extra bit of humidity too. I have my plants in the 2 back bedrooms, far from the kitchen, so that's not an option. I received several baby Saturn crotons yesterday, and posted about them. Since crotons root so easily, maybe I can keep them going if I have trouble. Thank you!

The link will take you to a holistic Overview of Good Growing Practices, which has a strong emphasis on grow media why a grower's choice of a growing medium can have so much influence on how rewarding the growing experience turns out. Also, I wouldn't be too concerned about mold as it relates to the plant's well-being. Plants live in perfect harmony with thousands of species of fungi with only a few capable of causing infections with potential to jeopardize the plant's viability. Al

That's a really tough call there. You might end up feeling like the countertop looked grungy or dirty next to white cabinets. Any chance you could choose something with more pronounced coloration or darker?