Peace-rose, it turned out terrific! I am not seeing the clashing that concerns you, and think bluish-grey and brown can play well together. I like the Navajo white walls. White or off-white walls that are enlivened with splashes of color are very 2011! I like the splash of color where the temporary pantry is. It makes me think that a coordinating color for the pantry would be nice. I love the idea of repurposing a Craigs List sideboard or hutch. I also agree with painting the pantry in a coordinating color-- maybe the pumpkin from your pretty fabric, possibly a few shades paler. The window trim I would leave the same color as the walls, and see how it looks once you get your cafe curtains up. You could also place a rug under the dining table. It might be nice to place some painted pottery on top of the cabs to bring in some color. Congratulations, and please post pics when you are done. I am not spending a lot of time on GW these days, but check in from time to time to see how projects progress. So glad I got to see this!

THanks for the honest feedback about cost. I cant believe this could cost $120K, but I guess I better be prepared to get blown away when I get these figures. And then get used to our existing floor plan, or move.  And unfortunately, no, theres really minimal work we can do ourselves. We have 3 little kids and my husband is not very handy and works really long hours. I still want to come up with an ideal solution and work backwards if its way out of our price range. THe original contractor who suggested a similar layout to above, I believe was implying that such a project might run about 60-70. I believe he said though that opening the structural wall up with about a 5-6' archway opening was more realistic than removing the majority of the wall entirely. Does that sound accurate? We are lucky to have a large finished basement where the kids mostly play now and I imagine when they,re older, that will be their getaway with the door closed, so we honestly do not have too much use for that formal LR. Although, I do occasionally sit in there and enjoy the quiet and the tidiness, since it�s the only room that stays clean! We moved furniture around last night! We put the kitchen table extended in front of the fireplace lengthwise. We pulled chairs up to the wall facing into the kitchen, as if we had a peninsula there. Ill attach a picture of 2 rooms I've seen online that made me think we could do this layout. We liked it and I really think we could do something similar. I agree Id miss the Fireplace in the FR, a lot. But I do think it'd be really pretty to have it in the kitchen/dining area and something that would make our cookie cutter house feel kind of unique! But we can,t figure out a good furniture arrangement for the 'new' Family Room. I feel like it could only work if we switched where the coat closet is, moving it down closer to the Entry Door, so we'd have wall down that end of the LR to put the TV on. If we cant make the new Family room feel comfortable, all this will not be an option. I'd love to see what you mean about bumping out the back wall of the kitchen. I've always thought that would be easiest rather than messing with the rest of the house! All I need is a little more kitchen space to make me happy!! Just a counter to work on is all I ask! But I have been told that will be way more expensive to add on to the house than it would be to reconfigure the existing layout. Might be a question for another thread on another board? But, if you have ideas I'd love to see it! Although, we don't have much room along the back wall of the house, especially on the kitchen side. Id only be comfortable bumping out 4-6 feet. After that, it would encroach on the back yard too much and behind the powder room, any larger would block our entrance into our backyard. We could add on adjacent to the family room out the back, but I don�t even see how that would help much. I don't need a larger FR, I need a larger kitchen. Plus I'd prefer to not lose backyard space, but I would consider it. How hard is it to move a powder room to the complete opposite end of your house?! I am overwhelmed :( Here is a link that might be useful: [Similar layout I think we could do[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tiburon-home-remodel-traditional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~46400) This post was edited by homebuyer23 on Thu, Jan 10, 13 at 16:08

I think the tiling choice (same through all spaces or different) is a personal preference. If you use the same all through, you'll have a nice visual flow. If the 12x12 is a compelling cost savings in the laundry room and mudroom, I would consider doing some kind of transition in the pantry. It could be something as simple as the same tile style but in different sizes, set up to look like a 'rug'. (See examples below.) Or you could use some of the same type of tile but add new colors for some pattern and interest. Or of course you could go nuts with some gorgeous mosaic tile rug (I think it was Igloochick who found one on eBay) but you have to balance that tile and install cost with the savings on the 12x12. Stuff like interesting tile makes me stupidly happy, so I would do some kind of transition pattern in the pantry, whether simple or fancy. I'd start by looking at what other sizes and shapes your tile choice comes in, and what other colors are in that line that you like. But that's just me and you might have something else that makes you happy! simple tile rug: transition with a simple border - this is probably the easiest (and I think it's good looking) if your tile has some kind of coordinating 2x2s; then the inside of the border could be the 12x12s, set on an angle if you like: two colors:

Pat, mine are all different brands, from Maidenform to Calvin Klein, but they should be similar to these: http://www.hanes.com/onehanesplace/womens-panties/panties-brands/hanes-panties/hanes-womens-microfiber-bikini-panties-122962 I do think they could handle warmer wash temps, but I had a couple of bright pink ones dye the load pink when I used warmer water, so I now stick with lukewarm. I really hope you find something you like - I remember that cold damp sensation after hiking or exercising in all cotton undies and it was not pleasant! These dry so much faster. Here's more, apologies if the link comes out funny since I'm on my cell and in Croatia right now (in case it displays the prices in Kuna): http://m.herroom.com/microfiber,panties,141,002,10.html http://www.barenecessities.com/search.aspx?search=microfiber&drv=4294962084%2c4294961469&drvOld=0&ft=1