Thanks for the comments! Writersblock - yes, that's the 25" Vault, which also comes in a shallow depth (7" rather than 9.5") to alleviate back pain for DH. It's working out beautifully and is one of our favorite features of the new kitchen. My Mom just bought the same one for her new kitchen too. Localeater - the tile is AKDO, frosted in a color called Seashell. I also love the frosted look and it seems that options are more limited in frosted vs shiny. Sadly, I would not recommend them to anyone else. Their quality control is terrible and our first batch was all mottled and defective. So we waited 9 weeks for a new lot and many of those were also mottled. In the end it worked out and we love the look but if you can avoid this particular brand I would do so! A2Gemini - I love the patchwork quilt garage door! Looks like modern art and it might have been tempting to leave it like that. I like the little paint sample time capsule behind the ovens - what a fun little thing to leave behind to make the next occupants scratch their heads. Steph - those are great ideas, thanks! I hadn't thought of a darker grey for the half wall. We could use the same BM Pewter that is in the living room - that could easily work. And certainly we need a little green paint in there somewhere! I think I need to take some new pics and do a little photoshop action. Personally, I want a plum color behind the sink to add some punch and pick up the garnets in the Wild Sea stone. DH isn't into that idea but maybe some photoshop might be more convincing?

I recommend reading the sticky at the top of this forum and sharing a bit about your budget and what you hope to achieve with your remodel. It's a great idea to start with a 3D kitchen planning program to work on the layout, even if you don't use that manufacturer. I really liked the one on IKEA.com. I am very happy with my choice to use IKEA cabinets with custom fronts. Installation in progress :)

Imalm53 - I usually avoid offering opinions on color because its so subjective and personal, and because monitors affect what you see. But yours is one of my favorite kitchens. Plus I appreciated the step-by-step granite install photos that you posted awhile back. So here goes . . . I agree with some of the previous posters that bold colors would detract from your beautiful cabinets and granite. But I LOVE the colors of your accents . . . burgundy and yellow. Those are the colors of my kitchen. Sort of a mustard yellow on the walls with a burgundy rust on my window soffit. I love it for me, but I dont have the dramatic cabinets and granite that you have. (Its not done yet, so I dont have photos. ) I do like your idea of putting color on the fireplace wall. Hows about putting your burgundy on that wall, with your yellow on the mantle trim. Then using a softer coordinating color on the rest of the room. Then pulling those colors into your window treatment to tie it together. I was going to try to do a mock up but my monitor is playing havoc with the colors (getting mauve and some strange yellows). I just did a search and saw Benjamin Moores Pottery Barn Collection. Looks beautiful . . . at least on my monitor. Can you imagine doing some combination of this? (not sure if you need the green, though) Benjamin Moore's Navajo white Wedgewood gray Brick red Hampton green HTH!

Thanks for the comments/compliments! bmorepanic, I had to look back for the "safety slippers" ;>) Probably wouldn't be OSHA approved, but then, that is one privilege of do-it-yourself! The curved front detail adjacent to the sink was recommended by my granite contractor (Lowes) in response to my concerns about water and things falling off behind the faucet. It did turn out rather nice even if it was for functionality. dianalo, the two stoves is because I had the electric stove already and added the gas as an afterthought. We have hurricanes and electrical outages. I guess I could have gone just gas since I prefer it for making jellies, candies, and even when you need to simmer on really low heat. Issues I'm still working on and would really appreciate input (as always) are: Where to put the garbage so it is easy to access from the sink but also to keep from having to go all the way to the sink when clearing the dining room table. How to trim out the recessed backsplash behind the stoves. I am leaning to Absolute Black granite, 12" tiles cut and shaped to form a pieced border about 2-3" wide. A "keystone" at the top might enhance the look. I am going with a tumbled travertine "subway" style brick on 12" mats for the rest of the backsplash.