Thanks for the links to how to upload photos..I'm not too excited about yet another subscription to use an external site for my photos just to do this..The "test" page brings up a "browse" box which I assumed allowed you to pull up your image, but when I actually went to post, only the URL box showed up. I'll have to look into this a little more to see if there is anyway to avoid using another service. KitchenAddict & Circuspeanut - I Love your kitchens! KitchenAddict, if I ever get these posted, you'll see that we alomost have the same countertop, faucet, and all of us are even using white roller shades! (Tip- They can be hung backwords so you don't see the roll but the opening on the fastener is at the bottom so it could fall out easier. If you don't open and close it a lot, it's well worth it. I'm just super careful when I do it. For me, it's just a quick fix until I figure out what I want to use but considering painting a cool pattern on mine once I get a little further along into the project. I'll share those too as this progresses. Thanks for sharing the photos, they help a lot...Still hoping for more! Would love to see someone who has taken the tile all the way up around the sink window to help me decide.

Marta, does it look like this? Our window is roughly 30" by 50" (casement) so probably not cheap to replace with fiberglass, maybe $1000. Still going back and forth on what the most cost-effective option in the long term will be. Since we're demo'ing the bathroom I'm tempted to replace the window. If the window gets warped, that's not too bad as we don't need to open the window but if it gets rot it will definitely need replacing. How much more costly would it be to replace later rather than now?

line the cabinet to the right up with the blocked spot above. It's ok to give exposed hoods some room on sides. I actually prefer this to give a more open look & keep the occasional heavy steam that did not get sucked up off the surrounding cabinets. same sizes on both sides for symmetry. Tile all the way up. Read the stove and hood instruction manuals for suggested placement. It also depends how much you cook, in what is the best type of hood & the spacing needed. Here's an example, that explains why.. From Proline Range Hoods FAQ section: "The third variable which affects the effective capture area of your range hood is the size of the hood. You can have the strongest and most powerful vent hood, with the best design, and if you don’t cover the cooktop and trap the cooking exhaust you can never get rid of it. This is especially true for range hoods over island cooktops. Once you have considered your cooking style consider the size of the range hood. Try to size the hood 6” larger in width than the cook top. Most range hoods come in 22-27” depths with some of the range hoods being 30” deep. The more coverage the better for the serious cooks. If you use your cooktop and you are serious about cooking then remember “coverage is king” especially in an island range hood setting. You can also help yourself by trying to keep your cooking over the primary capture area of your range hood. BBQ and Heavy Smoke cooking environments, both indoor and outside need coverage so size of the range hood is critical. Again, if you can catch the smoke and exhaust you can get rid of it but if you don’t “trap” or catch the smoke it is almost impossible to get rid of without removing an inefficient unnecessary amount of additional air in the room. All of which must be heated or air conditioned in most cases." http://www.prolinerangehoods.com/1-801-973-3959/support/common-questions/

Bridget, thank you for the link to the Roman shades; I hadn’t thought about something like that. Patricia, I’m posting some photos below. I’m in the process of buying this house, so these are photos of the current owner’s furniture, curtains, etc. I am planning to make quite a few updates (new paint, lighting, refacing the fireplace, etc), but am concerned about getting something to cover the windows as soon as the painting is done, before I move in. The first pic is a view of the 98x30 window and front door, taken from the area by the French doors. The second shows the French doors as you walk in the front door. Third is another photo of the French doors, but the size is skewed by the camera, they aren’t that wide. I will be painting them white. Walls will be a neutral color, maybe a light greige? And while you are looking at these... I was thinking of taking the tile off the fireplace and replacing with white ledger stone to the (8’) ceiling. I thought it might look batter if the tiled part wasn’t as wide as it is now, would you agree? Do you think built-ins on both sides would look good? Thank you!