I've been in sales for about 20 years and I always resent it when people say that sales people manipulate because I believe a good salesperson gives the buyer enough information to make an informed decision. I think what Trebuchet means when he says they aren't closing, is that they aren't addressing the concerns of the buyer enough for them to make a decision. Tre gives the "dog & pony show" i.e. informs them of the choices and then let's them make a decision based upon the information he gave them. Jakuvall, you say you're not a salesman nor a "closer" but your definition of what you do actually fits my definition of a good salesperson: address the concerns of the consumer and give them enough information to make an educated decision. In a nutshell, you have enough education and belief in your skillset to instill a confidence in the buyer that you're the person for the job. That's why you have a better than average closing ratio: you're authentic. I'm very proud to be a salesperson and a closer.

The base cabinets are in! The granite countertop is curing and the sink and dishwasher get hooked up on Friday. No cooking for a few days...but it gives me time to finish painting and add the floor tiles :) I want to paint the base cabinets the same blue as my little cabinet. But for the backsplash...I do not want to use the granite 4" then paint above. Instead, I found this idea, which I really like! It looks so much better with the 1" x 4" and the beadboard is so vintage. A few pics from tonight..... And I love this little pull-out cutting board. I've wanted one for a long time!

We're just getting started on our kitchen remodel. One of the designers suggested Waypoint. Any reviews would help

I'm sorry you had such extensive damage. Flood recovery is a lengthy process (community-wide as well as personal). A few suggestions, without specifics: be open to doing something new. Don't put different cabinets in the same footprint, just because that's what you had before. Drawers! Most folks have exclusively drawers in base cabinets. And running the upper cabinets to the ceiling will give you a lot of storage space for a reasonable increase in cost. I even put knives in a drawer, instead of on a block on the counter. Others love spice drawers. Plan for the way you really live, not the way you wish you lived, or the way kitchens look in magazines. Remember that your primary prep space is between the sink and the stove. In your existing kitchen, that space is tiny - but you have a ton of space to the left of the sink. If you were to leave the stove on the same wall, move it a bit to the right, and move the sink as far to the left as you can - it does not have to be centered on the window. Think about your previous kitchen: what did you really love about it? What drove you crazy every day? Was the storage adequate? Did you use the island? Would you use seating there, if you had it? Do you host large dinners or bake a lot? All of these things will affect the best kitchen design for YOU. As you go through the design process, plan out what will be stored where: pots and pans, cooking utensils, potholders, oils and spices near the range; knives, cutting boards and colanders near the sink; dishes convenient to the dishwasher and the table; leftover containers, bags and wraps, towels, trash and recycling. Plan space for small appliances you use often, and the punch bowl you use once a year. Consider storage in new ways: cake pans and pie plates in a drawer with dividers, so they stand on edge instead of stacking; cookie sheets and jellyroll pans above the fridge, stored vertically with dividers; extra shelves in the upper cabinets so more things can be stored without stacking. How much pantry space do you need? I don't have a pantry as such, but I have enough cabinet space for all our food. Here are some things on my "must-have" list for my new kitchen: a place for my purse and briefcase (which used to sit on a kitchen chair); a dedicated place for soft drinks and beer, since I stock up on both; a shelf for our large assortment of water bottles (we hike a lot); a shelf for cookbooks and recipe boxes. My favorite is a "desk" area, with small drawers for pens, scissors etc., two file drawers, and a "command center" behind closed doors. This has shelves for envelopes, scratch paper, a ledger (I track household expenses the old-fashioned way), two outlets for chargers (I LOVE not having charging cables all over the kitchen counter!). Inside the doors I have a calendar and a magnetic white board. I used to have a desk in the kitchen - I never sat at it (the table was more convenient, and only a few steps away), so it became a dumping ground. If I were doing it today, I might reconfigure that space to make room for a printer in the cabinet (it is currently on a desk in the guest room). Good luck with the process, and I hope you can turn this tragedy into a blessing, by creating a kitchen that you will love for years to come.