fustian -- Restoration Hardware has a very liberal return policy. So while you'll be out the shipping charges, if you choose to not use the RH pulls you can absolutely return them, no problems. I purchased & installed on cabinetry (in the old kitchen) some of their longer pulls (in hopes of using them for appliance pulls). Then, when we realized they weren't going to work for our application we removed them and returned them without a single problem. At first I was hesitant to try to return something I'd opened up (they come individually wrapped in plastic baggies) but as I was going in to purchase something else thought I'd at least try to get a store credit. They were willing to return it outright! Not just for store credit. So you'll be okay opening them up and even putting them on a scrap piece (as I'm assuming you won't want to test on your new cabinetry), even if you decide to go with something else.

kharamarie - Your kitchen choices so far sound beautiful. I have been quite enamored with gray these days. I am curious, do you like more of a single tone from counter to cabinet (say white cabinet and danby marble counter) or a little contrast (say gray cabinet with the danby marble counter?) But don't think I am lobbying for marble, you can get the same looks with the quartzite and swapping the counters. Personally, I appreciate both but lean toward contrast - where are you? Full disclosure, I have a white quartzite island but LOVE marble (didn't think it was a good fit for our family) so I guess I am not really biased. You are choosing between two lovely stones. The surprising part of the quartzite is it isn't as 'loud' once on your counter horizontal and it looks amazing with soft white cabinets (my island is BM Dove Wing which is white with a slight gray/almost green to it.) It provides a some contrast to the white without being as dark as a soapstone (which I also love with white.) I did hone mine, which was a fantastic surprise (soft with small areas of quartz that shine slightly in certain angles.) Here are a couple of photos to get the big picture and see if it is the look you are going for (we have gray pietra del cardosa counters in the perimeter.) One of the first things that everyone comments on about the kitchen is the island - everyone (non-GW :) thinks it is marble. Shot of kitchen with super white quartzite A higher angle, just of the counter Another thing to consider for counters are your "views." My perimeter counters are viewed from a distance, it is a more softer subtle look - like a gray soapstone - with tone on tone lines, some white and black veining - I call it calm and relaxing. It is a great 'backdrop' for the kitchen but when you are working on it or looking up close (which most people don't) is has a lot of interesting detail. I view my super white at both a distance and up close when you are sitting at it. You see the 'whole enchilada' were the perimeter is more bits and pieces and on an angle because you never sit at it. If you were to use superwhite on a perimeter you would even soften it more because it was viewed at a distance and in bits and pieces. So the three questions I see are: (1) Do you prefer more single tone to contrast(this hinges on your cabinet color) (2) do you prefer white with gray (marble) or gray with white (SW) and (2) do you prefer the clunking of SW (my husband said it reminded him seeing glaciers from an airplane) or the linear look of the marble. Last question - is there an island in the kitchen? Would you consider quartzite on the island and the marble on the perimeter (or vice versa?) Not sure if that would be too busy for you. It is another play on the traditional soapstone/marble kitchen. I love soapstone and understand there are different varities that have different colors (gray, black, greenish) as well as durability (my friend has soapstone and I love it but there tons of chips in the sink which would bother me, must have been a softer one.) I think you can't loose here - just what speaks to you. I have included a link to my nearly finished kitchen album. I could not get enough of photos of counter and cabinet combos when I was in the process. I would also recommend searching google images for "marble island" "gray cabinets." You may find some real inspiration. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: My kitchen with Superwhite island

brickeyee-a remote mounted fan appears to be what I'm looking for. Do you know of any nice ones? Our kitchen is not very big (11' x 12'), so a modest size vent fan would do, something very quiet to draw out smoke, etc. It gets cold here in the winter, so we need an exterior vent that would prevent back draft. oldhousegal-those laurelhurst fans are beautiful, but we already have an antique grill.

funny- I went through the exact same thing as you. Also have white shaker cabinets and I was really attracted to schoolhouse lights but was hoping to do something a little more modern with my lighting. I felt "so confused" too. I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you what I did- I went with the schoolhouse, but I chose a shade that has more simple clean lines and therefore can read a little more modern to me. Just put this pic in a reveal but here I go again... Anyway they live in the same space as a much more modern light that I have over my table and the two styles seem at peace with each other. Got the pendants and shades at Schoolhouse Electric.