Will you have a door sample you could take to the tile store? I found yellow/creamy color works well with dark brown cabinets

Buehl-- we're hoping that the spare bedroom upstairs will end up becoming the new playroom, and some stuff will be in their rooms. We'll end up with a small toy chest in the living room and the rest upstairs. So the whole "new space" thats created when we take down the wall will just be kitchen and dining room. After seeing Raenjapan's kitchen I may be swayed back to keeping the kithen to the left side and moving the bench for the banquette along the 94" wall and putting a penninsula between the other two windows. Lyvia-- the two 24" bases you see in the current kitchen are actually an island with a strange overhang. I wouldn't be able to put a fridge there. (I know the drawing is a little confusing, it was drawn mostly to show the layout of the first floor.) I also think I won't really have room for two separate seating areas in the kitchen, even if one is really small. Once I start drawing things in, and factoring in wide enough walkways it gets crowded fast. nini & florantha-- seems like G-shaped kitchens are more popular than I thought!!! That is what I origianlly was thinking for the kitchen (towards the left of the empty floorplan above). I love hearing that you have this same thing and it works for you. Also, we currently have Austrailan Cypress flooring in about 75% of the downstairs and plan to push it right through the new kitchena nd dining space as well. Its really beautiful (here is the internet pic.) LRy-- I think the pendants are from Ikea. if not, they are almost identical. If you go to their website ikea-usa.com I think under other departments they list lighting, and its 3 or 4 pages in. $29.99!! I saw them last weekend in person and fell in love. They are really sharp looking. Mnerg-- there are LOTS of possibilities with this blank space. TOO many! LOL! I am having a terrible time making up my mind. I keep worrying I won't ever get it right! I have also considered a small movable table for the center of the kitchen. I guess if I end up with a large center space I can always buy something like that to hang out in the middle when I need it to. Thanks everyone for all the help!!

msrose: I think you made a great choice with your floors, and other things. I really like your backsplash! You and others on this thread have me re-thinking tile. I've never had a tile floor of any kind. Anywhere. They scare me. I've only ever had vinyl in a kitchen (and asbestos tiles back in the day). DH would like tile and I've been holding out for vinyl in some form. But we were told that the LVT we've chosen is about the same price as some tile, so maybe I should take a better look. itsallaboutthefood: I was reading this on my laptop on my lap, blue merle aussie on the ottoman beyond my screen...I had to do a double take when I got to your post. jellytoast: Do you have a reveal thread or pics in general anywhere? We're doing natural cherry cabinets. We considered seafoam granite and currently have mesquite on hold. It's got a similar tone (in spots...also more white) but a different look. I'd love to see your cabinets with your granite.

There is a pro tiler who is on this forum sometimes, more often in the bathroom forum who has done beautiful granite tile counters. His name is Bill..... last name escapes me now. Maybe someone can help? Also, consider porcelain tile. Someone here did a fantastic kitchen with 24" porcelain tile. It is WOW. Consider epoxy grout but learn how to use it first.