Aktillery - I hope you don't mind I posted your kitchen but I do truly love it!! I hope you keep us updated with your new kitchen. Bet your house sold fast b/c of your previous kitchen!! jenanla, your kitchen is gorgeous!! I love all the elements you have chosen!! I hope you keep us updated - that reddish color would be perfect in my house, too:) Homeagain, thanks so much for the pics - an island just like that one has been in my mind!! I also like the idea of open shelving over the pennisula - I wouldn't have to change the pendant lights - I have tried to keep my eyes open for an antique piece I could repurpose for this spot. Parma & Teacats - yall are so funny!! I can't help it:) My Dh says save your ideas for the next house - but with the market like it is.....I am here for awhile!! Amac, I am so glad you posted!! I totally hear what you and Senko are saying! I did have a sisal rug in there but my puppy thought that was his personal litter box:( I still need window treatments & could add cushions for the barstools at the same time - great idea. Simpletaste - great ideas, too. Pattycakes, I would love to see pics of your kitchen!! Thank you all so much for your advice!! I am sorry if I didn't call out to your personally - it would be a looooooong post but I appreciate the vote of confidence!! This will not be an overnite thing like Reno! It seems like I have been in percolate mode with this kitchen for years! It just doens't feel right to me yet even thou it is fine. I also feel that for the neighborhood the kitchen could be better. BTW, I kinda like this rug for under the table & if I got a small island - get one to go under the island that matches. What do you think? Of course, everyone has seen this one, too but this is the eat in kitchen part. I still need window treatments & am leaning towards the pheasant fabric in a roman shade - maybe with a red border. You can barely see the white trim by the table there is a window that is 69" wide so it lets in good light & I love to look in the back yard where the bird feeders are! Old pic... > I found these chair cushions at Ballards for the barstools in the red check Smiles:)....

My pet peeve is watching these 20 something first time home buyers moaning that the house doesn't have an "Open concept" or that the 5 year old kitchen cabinet doors have curves and there is no granite or stainless steel. "We will have to replace everything!" Obviously they have more money than we did at that age, but do they really want every house to look identical? My favorite house was the one with the most quirks. I like having something to decorate around - either to highlight or to try to distract from.....lol. Maybe because I have always had to.... but too much of a blank slate is really intimidating to me. My own mother told me yesterday that the leaded glass windows in my dining room look dated, and of course, the picture frame paneling in the den. When they become the trend again is when I will consider getting rid of them!

On January 2nd, I demolished (really did! Loved that hammer! And had a great time after an argument with my 22-yr old son! A gal has to find some stress-relief, right?!) all the cabinets and soffits, re-mudded the walls and ceiling (after installing some pieces of sheetrock where the soffits used to be) removed the old vinyl flooring and old glue, and now I am starring at blank walls for another few days. In my spare time (3-6 am, hey! I am a 58yr old woman who can't sleep!), I designed on paper my ultimate kitchen (of course on a small budget!) I found an incredible cabinet maker who is charging me about $4500 for great cherry cabinets with soft close doors and drawers (no extra cost), glass or wood doors (my choice), full extension drawers, all drawers in base cabinets as I asked. Total of 26 cabinets including 2 giant floor-to-ceiling special designed/built large pantries, crown molding and all my little special requirements (oh the price also includes install of cabinets and granite). See his website: http://www.gwkitchen.com/index11.html. The granite I chose for my 2 long (39 sq/ft) countertops is "absolute black" 3CM granite for $1400 (you can check out their granites on same website). I just cannot be happier! No fancy name brand but great quality just the same. Scrimp: DIY design and planning instead of hiring a kitchen designer or contractor. Using a handyman to help me install backsplash and flooring I have a white 2-yr old french door fridge so I am going to buy the brushed stainless steel soft metal (http://cgi.ebay.com/Update-Appliances-to-Brushed-Stainless-Steel-softmetal_W0QQitemZ250103259621QQihZ015QQcategoryZ46124QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem) to refinish it in SS until I can afford to buy a new one! Not buying top of the line appliances. I am sticking with GE Profile for everything. I have American Home Shield and through their purchasing dept, I get extremely great savings on all american appliances. What an incredible saving there too! I chose double ovens with double self-clean and double convection, top of the line dishwasher, great microwave and best looking 36" glass cooktop (black & SS) that has a bridge and several other cool things. I chose granite tiles instead of 2CM granite sheets for backsplash ($400 including install). I am leaving my concrete floor as is until I can figure out what I want to do. Most likely go to Ged's carpet & tiles outlet or other builders' outlets and choose some really nice tiles at half (or more) the price of major stores. I will then purchase the tiles, get my handyman to help me install them (cheaper if I help) and that will be that. Splurge: - Used electrician to wire for recessed lighting, wiring and tying together over-cabinet, under-cabinet and inside-cabinet lighting to ONE switch - dimmable. Also to move the wiring of some appliances to new locations and switching hard-wire to receptacle for new microwave and disposal. And a load of other little things. Total $745. - Used plumber to work on plumbing lines for new sink, moving the fridge water line to new area and wiring for deck-mount pot filler. $400. Buying 1HP Insinkerator Excel disposal instead of smaller (even though I don't one that powerful) because of their jam-sensor circuit & low low noise. Could not afford all SS appliances so mixed and matched with black and SS. Both will look great with black granite. And nowadays, everything gets mixed and looks great. And most importantly? Researching and shopping on the internet with companies who offer free shipping and tax and reading every single blog on this website and getting incredible ideas from you guys to make my kitchen even better and elegant. Should be done within 2 weeks and will try to post before and after pictures.

Everdebz - I don't like beiges or tans. I use to, until I learned NOT to be afraid of color. Whatever style the following is, I have to say that it is what I am now. lol This one is my favorite! You asked me about why I painted the outside of my door teal? That is where it all began. I saw a door painted that color and I loved it. My door leads from the kitchen to a large sundeck. I have an old wicker set that I am going to paint a very light teal color to coordinate with the door color. I already purchased material to re-cover the chairs. My son is an upholsterer so he is going to do them for me. (lucky me) Here is the pattern. The solid color for the seat, the floral for the backs and cushions. My patio sat is very similar to this brown set ( this is just a pic I found someplace) Here are the patterns for the cushions. The are all made now and ready for spring! I will also use Tidewater in my kitchen (someplace) with a darker subway tile. Still haven't selected the tile as yet but it will have to work with Tidewater. I want the colors on my deck to go with my kitchen. There is no entry into the kitchen. When you open the door, you're in my kitchen. lol Patio Set (patterns) Seat Cushions Back Cushions I hope this explains a little better why I painted my doors Really Teal. This is the tile that I picked. I love this one. What do you think with Really Teal and Tidewater? The walls will be painted Oxford White.