SummerfieldDesigns, thanks for the plan! Wow! It looks lovely and makes me excited to have a real plan, although it's just an idea, still. I'm not sure about the switch of the butler's pantry and mudroom. I was thinking of the mudroom as more "utilitarian" while the butler's pantry would be more of a "pretty" space. So now my kids will have to pass through pretty to get to the utilitarian part--not sure about that :) But I DO like ow you opened it for easier access to the powder room, which was suggested by a PP. As for the kitchen layout, I will take a closer look. Not sure about the fridge's placement (I'm assuming those are the fridge freezer towers?) I'm still on the fence about a prep sink at all. I've never had one, nor does ANYONE I know, so it's hard for me to see the benefit. Yes, I've read ll about them here on GW :) As for space usage, I think my kids will come in and out from playing through the back of the house somehow, more so than from the side (mudroom) entrance. That will be the get home spot, but the playing will be done in the big backyard, for the most part. scrapbookheaven, I do love the idea of bigger windows to the back.. Right now in my current house, I have huge windows to my backyard from every room , and I just love it! I love being able to see the kids playing, and all the light it allows in! That back wall of my house will be south facing, though, so the sunlight could get to be too much? What do you think? cj47, thanks for sharing! Yes, one thing I've learned on GW is base drawers all around :) I WILL do that for sure, just not sure how to change the program I am using to all drawers instead of cabinets. SO I've left it for now, to block out the space itself. And 16 " overhang--good call! I also like how your other 2 stools are on the lower side of your island, not in the sink aisle. But I DO like in jbrodie's kitchen how that entrance end of her island is a bit raised, to hide clutter (which I have too much of, I'm afraid!) But having stools on 2 sides seems more conversation-friendly that all lined up on one side.... oh, so much to think about :) thanks for any and all suggestions, ideas, feedback. so many great minds here...

The Aculux housing in that link is a premium fixture. It comes with a stippled clear uniformity lens to eliminate striations without altering beam spread to help smooth out hot spots as you requested. It has better lamp positioning, too. Use a good lamp like GE constant color. FNV lamps are about 55 degree beam spread if you need it wider. EXN is the 40 degree normal flood everyone stocks. Almost no one stocks constant color so you might have to order. Philips is supposed to have a comparable constant color lamp but I've not tried them side by side. One reason recessed is so popular compared with track is that track adds visual clutter with the strip of track and fixtures hanging down from the ceiling. Many object to recessed fixtures with anything sticking out of the ceiling as some trims do. 4" or 3" low voltage reduces the aperture size for less of a hole in the ceiling. It is not uncommon to use a slot aperture trim and have them painted to match the ceiling for minimal ceiling interruption. For insulated ceilings use IC airtight housings and fully insulate around/above them to minimize energy losses. In the Aculux line there is a lensed wall washer that helps spread the light. It has photometrics listed to work with. This link shows the slot aperture style trim. Here is a link that might be useful: Juno Aculux oval slot adjustable

I went looking for images of those elements. Ribbed glass panels in cabinet doors is easy enough. Here's one in a bathroom vanity: Ribbed glass (or ''seeded'' glass) is also often found in period light fixtures: As for marquetry countertops, if you asked most kitchen cabinet makers for such, I imagine they would gape blankly at the gabbling woman. But there are plenty of companies doing stock and custom hardwood marquetry inlays using CNC laser cutters. Here's the thing - they are doing it in floors. Google ''hardwood floor inlay'' and see. Yes, many of the rosettes are infeasible for a 26'' counter, but look for the ''border'' designs - or create your own. Assemble a 26'' wide section of inlaid ''floor'' on a 3/4'' plywood substrate, encase it in Waterlox, and I do believe you'd have yourself a marquetry countertop. Another option - perhaps cheaper - is stenciling on hardwood, of which this is an example. And so is this What else? Beveled glass is readily available, as is chrome countertop edging, and any furniture or auto upholstery shop can cover a panel of 1/8'' plywood in soft butterscotch leather framed in silver studs (maybe not actual silver, but close enough). I don't know exactly what version of Art Deco you are headed for, or if you even like butterscotch, but the point is, you are not doing yet another white kitchen, you're doing something that isn't being done by the mainstream, so the ordinary kitchen sources are not making this stuff. Sure, there is cool Art Deco hardware around, but what passes for ''Art Deco'' kitchen cabinetry in the online catalogs is . . . disappointing. You are going to have to make it, or at least source it, yourself - and I think if you're comfortable outside the painted lines, you can. You'll find yourself hiring a floor guy to work on a countertop, hunting down the local hot rod upholstery shops, telling your cabinet maker to fit bathroom vanity faces to kitchen cabinet boxes - they'll still look at you like you're crazy, but you'll know you're not. Go for it, girl!

I have a couple of huge schoolhouse maps, the kind that pull down like a window shade. Each one is about five feet across, very colorful, only $60 each at the junktique shop. A really powerful quilt would also work. Or a supergraphic painted directly on the wall. Or stencils. Or take some photos, and blow them up to huge size at a reprographic place. Maybe a photo of each person in the household, blown up to at least 3' x 3', then stacked vertically. In fact just repainting with more color would do the trick. That way you can wait for the perfect thing, instead of just buying random items to fill the empty space.