David, yes, I am very pleased with how it works! We were out of the chemical at the beginning of the season and I was getting eaten up. My husband went to a company that sells the chemical and bought it for $92 and put it in himself. It took about 4 or 5 days until I noticed a reduction in mosquitoes. I was outside in or near the pool most of today and didn't get bitten once. I'm trying to locate the business card to give you a name. I can't remember since I didn't arrange it, someone else did.I believe the value listed for taxes (we won a pool, kitchen and the mosquito system)was about $2000. The newer system chandlers is talking about sounds good. Our tank sits next to the pool equipment and when it mixes it's louder than the pump. Not a big deal though. I'll try to locate the name of the company although I think it was a small one just here in Houston.

a2: Point taken on the too much factor. I don't want to dilute the sink and panel behind the stove, as kitchendetective pointed out. As for the pulls, I like them but am not at all decided on pulls or knobs or style/finish yet. I just didn't bother to crop the pic :). I do like those curved pulls, though. Pooh: if we decide to go DIY with metal, it seems that copper would win over zinc. I guess we'll have to wait and see how the final $$ work out. Could always live with plywood countertops and save up, too for some ceasarstone. I do like Peanuts lovely patina'd counters. Badger: Oh, I never wrote you back to say thank you! I'm sorry... duh. Thank you. :) I'm excited to hear back from them and as far as backlogged goes, I asked them if I could get penciled in on their waiting list. Anyway, with this being DIY, I think we probably wouldn't be ready for cabinets before 6 months from now, lol. I'm also having them do an estimate on built in closets and the LR entertainment wall/bookshelves/window seats. I was amazed at the price they gave my friend from work... it was 10 years ago but still.. if the price was double what they paid it was not bad. Pretty amazing, actually. Guess we'll have to wait and see what the finances say before making the final decision on counters. kitchendetective: I'd love to see a marble with green in it but I haven't thus far. I have to be so careful though as my sink is very particular about what works. (such a demanding sink!) Anything with a strong pattern or speckling or movement doesn't seem to look good. I am very excited to see this kitchen take shape! I hope it turns out IRL as good as it looks in my head! Ctycdm: I am considering having an area of butcher block set into the counter top to the left of the sink, actually. DH might nix that one but we'll see. Soapstone, while beautiful is a bit darker than I'd want to go in this kitchen. Thanks for weighing in!

I have stainless countertops in my scullery. The backsplash is a sheet of stainless as well. I love it, so easy, so clean, no worries about messy projects. It will show streaks and drops if you don’t wipe it dry after washing, but it’s really no big deal. Word to the wise on installation though— my stainless counter came from the fabricator perfectly square and straight. My brand new walls, not so square and straight. Headaches ensued. I’d still do stainless again, but just go all OCD making sure the walls are perfect.

Whatever you do, don't end up bonding the new hood to the old cabinet. Ideally, the cabinet would have been removed, re-bottomed (and topped, perhaps) and then new holes cut. If you just want a smooth shelf there, perhaps a new bottom resting on the old one could be constructed. 1/8th toe kick material might suffice, or 1/4 hardwood plywood.