Yay - there you are! You're absolutely right, I didn't mean to write white countertop - I meant stainless (I noticed they don't offer an edit option either!). Thank you. Yes I'd like to pick a nice punchy color for the walls/ceiling since there's no molding to separate them from each other and since there isn't enough wall space either way. I've also considered painting the West wall cupbaords (floor to ceiling, over the ENTIRE wall, and yes original) something different - like an accent wall. But that's where my imagination ends. I don't know what color would be appropriate and then it would also depend on what I did color-wise to the walls/ceiling elsewhere I suppose. I think though that I'll just keep all those cabinets white and just do something crazy for the little paintable space there is, like a deep rose color or a midnight blue or maybe a really deep warm rusty orangy color! Ooooh I'm outa control now! But I agree that if I feel the counter/backsplash area is too bland, I should stir things up a bit. I'll look further into the polished nickel issues just cause i know there have been some complaints, but if I don't find there are too many issues I'll probably go for it. It's so beautiful and I think it would bring a lot of warmth and class to that cold stainless without clashing. There's another faucet by the same company that has just the one lever/handle (?) instead of two so that might be simpler. I like it cause it still looks "period" which is a look I'm going for due to having SO much original stuff going on in the house, including the kitchen. Translate: it's easy for me to keep things the way they are since I don't have the time/energy/creativity/imagination/confidence to throw in more modern pieces I don't think! That's part of what I love about your kitchen - that you brought in these different elements in such a nice way. Here's a link to the more simpler faucet, although I wouldn't get it in this color of course: http://www.rohlhome.com/pdf/U4702.pdf I prefer a separate sprayer, just from my own experience. These Perrin & Rowe faucets cost a LOT of money - more than I've ever spent on any faucets I've ever bought, put together (!) but I found one place that charges quite a bit less, and I have a history of having lots of problems with faucets. When I tested this one in the store (the first one) it felt so sturdy and sleek and tight and just QUALITY so I decided to go for it. It's probably the first and last time I ever get away with doing something like this. I'm no princess, much as I like to pretend I am! Do you have any opinions on dishwashers? Yikes - sorry I wrote so much!!

Hi there. This was a really hard one for me to comment on because I have such an opposite kitchen with light cabinets. I think you need to choose your direction. Your kitchen can be a contemporary or traditional kitchen depending on a few choices. What is the dominant style in the rest of your house? Your kitchen should reflect your general style If you like contemporary style, then you already have a lot of the elements but need a few focal points. Your kitchen is almost identical to my friends kitchen except that her husband chose smaller metal tiles (And yes-her husband chose everything too. It must be a man gene that likes this particular combination). Their kitchen was really stunning when it all came together. They had several large pieces of art with stark white walls. One of the pieces of art was a huge painting in blue with koi. The other art were 3 pieces of 3 foot long ceramic bars hung vertically on the wall. They did not try to fill the space with lots of little things but instead used very large pieces that were a focal point of the kitchen. You could also go a more traditional route but will likely need to change your backsplash to have it really meld. A glass tile backsplash would be really pretty and might still be okay with the husband? How about a lighted pot rack over the island with baskets, pots and herbs hanging? (see below) Fabric around the windows, baskets on the ledge, chandelier shades, cushion fabric, new knobs, rugs etc would add more visual interest. I think your kitchen has a lot of potential, you just need to make it yours! I am really glad my husband could care less about decorating.

@cpartist How do you like the DXV Hillside? Any pros/cons with it? Anyone else have one? We were originally considering the 36" Shaw farmhouse sink but the salesman said they all end up crazing over time. He said that Shaw makes their sinks they same way they did 100 years ago and it takes 3 days to dry. In those 3 days the sink settles and thats why the bottom can not consistently drain towards the drain (thus puddling) and that the settling enables the crazing to happen over time. He showed us several sinks like the Franke and Home Refinements Julien but those two were too modern for our kitchen (thinner walls). He said if you're going for a really worn in kitchen with lots of character in a 100 year old house, then those crazing spider webs on the Shaw won't matter. Our house is built in the 1930's with white inset shaker cabinets but I still don't want to look at cracks in my sink. The Hillside has almost the same dimensions and thicker walls like the Shaw. He said they poke a hole in the bottom front in the drying process and all the liquid fireclay pours out and leaves a shell of a sink. That leaves the sink sounding a bit more hollow when you knock on it, but also allows it to dry in one day so that it retains its shape. The water will drain toward the drain and the sizes don't vary like the Shaw (+/- 2%). I'm worried if something went wrong with the Shaw and we had to replace it, that it wouldn't fit exactly in the original cutout for the sink. I'm not too aware of the DXV brand though. Any good?

I can comment on Pergo flooring. I had it installed about 12 years ago through Lowes. We had a very experienced flooring installer put them in. He did lots of prep work first: screwed down all the floor boards prior to installing the Pergo and all my flooring squeaks went away. My Pergo looks as good today as the time it was installed. I have dropped items on this flooring over the years: no dings or scratches. My brother who is a real estate appraiser for expensive properties was surprised it was Pergo and not wood. I can not say enough about Pergo. Best of luck in your decision. Always research and read lots of reviews on any projects you plan to do. The time you spend is worth it❣️❣️