I wonder if my name should be Pragmatist or Semanticist rather than Palimpsest. When I am trying to get a feel for what a client wants I literally ask things like "What color cabinets do you like?" "Plain doors or lots of trim?" "Shiny countertops or matte?" All the design shows have pushed the need for a "catch phrase" or a "theme" and I think this actually creates confusion. This is why pictures of what you like are so helpful. I know a woman who was "shopping" for a designer who said "I love French antiques" and nobody is showing me what I am looking for!" So, she was shown more French antiques and got really angry and frustrated. Finally she was told "You know what? Find a picture of what it is you are thinking then!" She didnt like French antiques at all...she liked English Regency and she just thought it was French. So even when there is a real historic style (as opposed to the American coined "Old World" which conjures a general, rather non specific feeling)--there can be confusion.

You can hire someone to build and install the Ikea cabinets. We hired a carpenter to do ours as we were not living in the house at the time. I would be concerned though that it might be difficult to match existing cabinets perfectly. Since you are doing an island, have you considered doing something deliberately different? It's fairly common look and that's what we did in our kitchen even though it was all being installed new. We did white perimeter cabinets and a black island, with the island designed to look like a piece of furniture--back and sides covered in beadboard with the island on big onion-style feet.

On the topic of cabinet finish.. as many stated the finish from the manufacturer will far surpass an onsite paint job. It is true you seem to save if you paint yourselves, but through the upgrade option, do you also get internal upgrades? Is all the hardware soft close (hinges and drawers) Is your overlay a full or standard? Look up cabinet construction Another question -if you switched out cabinets after- is the countertop. If you plan on a solid surface, removing cabinets to switch out after the fact could be VERY expensive... 1- can the stone be salvaged, 2-If not you will have the cost of a whole new countertop! I also considered doing things to the kitchen after we moved in and opted out of that.. Boy was I glad. Life moves fast and when you move in you really want to move in. I'd go with builder and what you really want and avoid all the small surprises that will arise doing work after the fact. Good luck in your process!!

Pitiful but may be ok. You are looking at it all wrong. It is not the lumber it is about if it is plumb and leveled esp at the windows. It is not about foundation bolt - it is about if any of them are missing more than 6' apart and and 2x at the corners. It is not about the OSB flooring, rather if OSB was glued and fastened properly.... Sheathing same way can not end in the air.