Let me just add a bit of “traditionalist history” here. Large apron front sinks had a functionality that goes beyond a typical basin sink. Farm house sinks tend to be deeper than a modern sink. They are typically wider, as others have said, they enable you to wash large pots, pans, cooking sheets, and even the baby. in the old days, there weren’t dishwashers, indoor plumbing, or for that matter hot water heaters. These large sinks, and the materials they were made from allowed water that was hand drawn from wells, rivers and streams to be boiled and heated. The materials those sinks were made from insulated that hot water, keeping it hot. The depth of the sink allowed it to become a “cleaner” place to spritz up with hot water, rather than drawing multiple buckets to handle a tub. As most in the old days were people of modest means, and even today farmers aren’t millionaires, protective elements were often incorporated into the designs and functionality of these sinks. The apron, by its nature and design, served the purpose of directing spilled or splashed water away from cabinets, drawer fronts, and doors on the surrounding cabinetry, which was often more expensive and more difficult to replace or repair than the floor. So, aside from the aesthetics, and given the expense and composition of the materials, laminates, and finishes on modern cabinetry, the apron front does help in preserving your cabinetry...

2006 Edition of Trees of Seattle says there was a 41 ft. Hiro-ha-katsura at the Arboretum at that time. Its accession number indicates it was acquired in 1946 (without delving further, into Arboretum records it could have been anything from a seed to a tree of some size then). The book also mentions a planting of 3 at 1123 16th Ave E, consisting of two on the street and one 25 ft. tall in the yard. With 2 regular Katsura sharing the planting strip with the 2 C. magnificum. You can find out where other trees you are interested in are located in the Arboretum by looking at their web site. Walking around collections like this, with extensive plantings of trees and shrubs - often with some time behind them - is a good way to get a feeling for the visual character of various kinds. And how much space they may come to occupy. Trees of Seattle - Second Edition http://www.arthurleej.com/tos2.html

I would suggest planting your hydrangeas in the garden and watching to see what color the blooms are in that spot. Hydrangea colors can be very variable depending many factors. Color can depend on soil, sun exposure, ph of soil and the genetics of the plant. I propagate hundreds each season and I can plant a clone of a plant in two different spots in the garden and get different colored blooms. You can chose to try to control the color but it is a challenging pursuit. Most change colors depending on the age of the bloom - almost like magic. To me the charm of the plant is this property. Some will change slowly and others seem to change daily. I have one Ayesha that is blue while a clone of the same plant is pink although it is only about 30 feet away from the mother plant. If the color is really important to you then you should buy the plant from a grower near your location with a guarantee that the plant can be returned if not as advertised. If you buy your plant from a box store, then there is no way to be sure that the color will be as listed on the tag. Potted florist hydrangeas bought in grocery stores and box have been grown for a particular color - most potting soils will produce pink blooms, I guess they sell better, and when they are planted in the garden they can turn blue. Most hydrangeas eventually turn blue in my garden under the canopy of fir trees while under the maples in the front garden, there are more pinks. Some plants are listed as 'not dependent on ph of soil for color' or something like that and those may be better if you have to have a specific color in mind.

This is a fun thread! Two perspectives to share: When I moved to FL from NY I kept all of my mixed woods, metals, colorful furniture and rugs. Definitely did not want the tropical white/rattan furniture mentioned above. One of my kids recently purchased a house and her millenial choices have been a deep indigo sofa, teal chairs, a MCM dining table and media cabinet (house is MCM), colorful dining chairs, and will keep the original, beautiful hardwood floors even though two GC’s have come in wanting to stain them gray. She adopted one of my vintage Karastan area rugs which perfectly highlight the colors in her sofa and chairs. She has a long way to go in decorating but definitely is not going for gray and beige. She has a bar area that needs an update and she jokingly said she could reface it in shiplap...NOT! We have seen almost all gray or cream furniture in the stores so colorful prints are usually offered as an upgrade. I think her home will definitely feel like her own, not cookie cutter. Editing to add: the home is not open concept so I guess it’s easier to add color, although cohesiveness is still a goal. And, we are lucky to live near an awesome MCM vintage furniture store. The prices are comparable to what one would find in the reproduction stores but the furniture is solid wood (teak, rosewood, etc.), and pieces like dining chairs have new upholstery if appropriate. It’s always fun to see what’s new in store!