Aren't those things a pain? I don't know which bugs me more, the "surveys" or those annoying gum ads.

It seems like you're mostly working with macrophylla. I wonder if there is a lot of untapped potential in arborescens. Annabelle is good, but not the ultimate. Is there a reason that there doesn't seem to be any interspecific hydrangeas out there? Thanks Ted

4. 34% of respondents insist on placing cups on the top rack and plates on the bottom rack while their mate believes any dish can go anywhere. The survey showed that 32% of all females who fight about loading the dishwasher insist that cups be placed on the top rack and plates on the bottom rack, not mixed. Bosch said each dish should be separated by dishwasher tines. BwaHahahahhaaaa !!! Bosh isn't touching that one with a ten-foot pole. But seriously, shouldn't that part in boldfacae go with #2, about 'separating' dishes?

Just for you, bmorepanic: (NOT LOOKING FOR LAYOUT COMMENTS, thanks!) Everything's a compromise, but I think it will all work out. I had initially planned to move the entry to the pantry (that's the top opening on the west wall) and put a french door fridge in part of the current opening, facing into the kitchen. BUT...even with moving the electrical panel I was inches shy of having enough room (and the walls are all the original brick, so they are staying.) So I needed a place for the fridge, and that changed everything. The fridge will be visible from the living area, but I actually think seeing the Big Chill from there will make me happy. I have room for all food storage and small appliances in the open pantry, and that existing cabinet in the corner is tall and spacious so the upper open shelves will be for our glasses, mixing bowls, tea-making supplies, etc-things that are used frequently. (There is a high open shelf that wraps around over the fridge-this will be for display of the less practical of my daughters' pottery. I will have to remember to dust up there!) We decided to put low open shelving in the blind corner area by the range, too-this will hold pressure cooker, cast iron, griddle pan for Lacanche, etc. The curved piece will be a tiny bit shorter than the other cabinetry (that's an Ikea drawer unit in the center) and will have different doors and counter, trying to create the look of a kitchen dresser. Covering the window on the west wall was a tough decision, but on looking at the details of the construction that window was originally a back door. (The first owner's brother lived next door on that side, and apparently he also built the house immediately behind my kitchen . Could have been a polygamous thing, I don't know.) The windows had all been replaced in 1982 with cheapie aluminum single-hungs, so the historical society was fine with me "darkening" the exterior of the window and then covering it up from inside. It was not a pretty view. I'm replacing the other windows in the kitchen to match the wood windows on the rest of this floor of the house. The sink is the Ikea single domsjo, which is surprisingly big in person (looks more useful than my larger double-bowl wit the two small sides.) And we have taken off the doors to the walk-in pantry so it is more included in the "kitchen proper,"(there is an old wooden casement window there which is cute) and are putting the microwave on a shelf there, as well as a rolling island we can bring into the kitchen as needed. I still may end up with a small Boos or something, but couldn't commit to a permanent island when I looked at our traffic patterns. Hope that satisfied your curiosity! Bmorepanic, can you give me details about your hood surround? Is it drywall? Any concerns keeping it looking clean?