Typical instructions from hot water tank suppliers (see link) specify two grilles, one high one low, each with 1 sq. inch per one thousand BTU of total input rating but not less than 100 sq. inches. Check the manuals for your heater. Local Codes may differ, so I would check with the utility supplier to be sure. Here is a link that might be useful: Heater Manual

What a treat to see all your decorations. The Nativity is lovely, tho I have a special fondness now for the Lenox white with gold trim pieces. I started collecting the Christmas ones last year. Found my Nativity on eBay. I LOVE your antique cabinet! What a beautiful piece! The 5 o'clock Somewhere Santa is a hoot. And I seriously envy that wonderful kitchen window area you have to decorate! hugs 'n Happy Holidays, Karen

Good advice above. I work in hvac and have some suggestions. For now, make sure all lighting is cfls. They throw off much less heat than incandescent. Keep window coverings closed to eliminate solar gain. Consider a bathroom type ceiling fan to exhaust some heat. They are not all that expensive. If you have not yet used the government energy tax credit then see if it can help with costs for adding insulation. Adding insulation is the best way to help. The warm ceiling tells you that. Is there standard attic space above. Do you have attic vents to help the heat escape. Do any adjacent rooms backbup to this room with AC vents. If so the you may be able to easily add another vent to get more conditioned air into the space.

I don't think kitchen cabinet colours have to tie in to other built ins. Our kitchen cabinets are toffee-coloured maple and all our trim will be white in the rest of the house. I've always liked the crispness of white baseboard against wood floors, so I have no problem mixing white with wood. Here's a pic showing white trim with wood. See the little bit of baseboard on the lower right corner? Crown molding not up yet. It will be white everywhere, but matching maple over kitchen cupboards. So, I'd say pick whatever cabinet color you prefer. White would be fine, but not compulsory.