Thank you all my lovely valentines! I guess the sleep deprivation yesterday had me even loopier than I'd thought, because I didn't explain very well! Some replies and clarifications: Bmorepanic--excellent point!! Thanks for the reality check! (Not stupid!) Pickle--great point about the reaction! I've just been trying to answer all the comments and suggestions and realized I was sounding defensive. But it was for one or the other (i.e., against "E") rather than one against the other. Rhome, I think my problem is that the difference on this probably won't bother me. I didn't communicate well on my window casing and the tile setter cut the wrong end. It looks fine, and in some ways the color flows better, but that's the thing that's going to always bug me because it makes the casing top heavy. I mean it really bugs me. But not enough to stop them installing it and order more tile. But it's always going to really bug me. Neither of these glass choices would bug me, or it would be an easier decision. I like the Masterpoint/Pointal a little better, but I'm just not sure it's worth double. All of the strong votes for it are starting to sway me though. :) Which is the purpose of asking for a vote! I have a bunch of samples from Bendheim of patterns I liked on screen. Fine Gauze (aka Linen, but that's my brain mixing up my fabrics, not the real name) was my favorite of all of them. Masterpoint, Pointal, or whatever other name by which it's called is one I've only seen 1/4" samples of but love more. Too thick or too expensive. Re Rhome's concern about "high visibility", it is visible from deep in the kitchen, or some angles from the dining room when the door is open, but it's really pretty low visibility for an area that's open to the kitchen. There's also a separate switch on the lighting in there (no lights in cabinets--ceiling and under cabinet across the aisle). Re Doonie's question about finish, the cabinets are finished in the picture. It's natural bamboo on the outside (1" stripes, pressure latches (no hardware) or small brass knobs if the pressure latches conflict with the hinges). The inside is natural maple. Re Country_Smile's point about seeing the pretty glasses, yes, the cabinets are visible, and yes, the stemware is nice enough, though not cut crystal or anything formal. It's all colored in one way or another, and some of it's $2.00 water tumblers. I don't want frosted privacy but I don't want to display them either. I'm hoping for a shadow of the contents for interest, but the only reason for the glass is to break up the bamboo forest, and I'm mostly looking for contrast rectangles rather than pretty display cabinets. (And boy, oh, boy, I should have explained that before, but I've been living with the design for so long I kind of forgot what a "normal" person would think!) But Country, I really do appreciate your honest opinion and your input!! As I do everyone else's. And I especially appreciate your point about the "artwork" and Peanut's about all the groovy finishes. And y'all haven't even seen the circus dots! I think I was looking for something with some clarity (transparency) but that would be pretty calm with everything else that's going on in that room. Especially since the husk board came in so much darker than the sample, which is good contrast with the bamboo, but too close in value to the soapstone. Andyman, thanks for the pretty picture. Leaded would look very wrong in my house, but I do love it (I gave up glasswork when I was younger because of vanity--I was tired of nicked hands--but I love leading.) The stemware: I have Huge balloon glasses with amber bowls and etched palm trees. They were a closeout. They were supposed to be clear. But the amber looks good with my white and gold dishes, and the price was great. I have Italian goblets with gold key bands. I have clear tumblers. And I have a dozen each of martini, goblets and flutes with carnival colored and gold hand painted beaded stems. And some assorted "kitchen" ones, including three goblets with peach stems and turquoise waters with hand applied lampwork. That's over 12 dozen glasses of Not Waterford. So, Pup, the answer is seen less, and thanks for all the votes for clear, I get the point, but that would make me nuts having to see all the glasses full on. I appreciate the look in other people's designs, but for me, seeing them from across the room while I'm working on the island, I'd feel like they weren't put away and it would make me nervous. Re ReFla's and Peanut's beautiful patterned glass, thanks for the suggestions! I have quite a few similar samples, and IRL I really liked the plain Gauze better. I appreciate Riverspots's and Circuspeanut's fluorescent cover point. I didn't see that! Re Malhgold's and Bostonpam's questions about the cost: Because of the location and proximity to elbows it has to be tempered. The six panels at Bendheim are something over $400 plus shipping. The right thickness of the Masterpoint, locally, barring a miracle from John, is over $800 plus tax but no shipping. $400 might not have been a really big deal if there were a really big difference in the glass, and if it weren't at the end of a very expensive project, and if I hadn't just had to have my main water line dug up through three terraced levels and replaced with proper, non-leaking, copper (think multiple Gaggenau prices for that one!). I mean, I can spend the difference. I just don't know if I want to.

I thought my budget was reasonable too, but most of the sofas I see in that price range just look really cheap and poorly made. I have seen some that are good quality, but are very modern looking with the square arms and block feet. Do you think I could do a more modern sofa with my chairs (which are being scratched to death by the cat even as we speak)? Thanks for the options dee and yayagal. Those are lovely, but I should have mentioned that I have a real aversion to leather - not sure why. I should also mention that I'm in a small city in Canada so furniture prices are (I seem to be finding out) quite a bit higher. Here are links to a mid-priced brand of sofa many retailers carry here. If anyone has an inclination, have a look and see if there is anything that would go with my chairs. Here is a link that might be useful: van gogh sofas

One thing to consider here when you're looking at these colors posted by others is what kind of wood it is. You used my floors in example C which is the nutmeg, and my wood is 4" white oak. I believe a red oak would have more red/gold undertones than the white oak which will stain a little browner. I'm sure not an expert here and I'm not saying one is better than the other, just pointing out that that's a consideration when you choose your color. You're going to have to rub some on the actual wood to see the result then even wet it to see what it looks like after the finish is on it. This was probably my second hardest decision in my new build after choosing granite color. My builder laughed at me as I agonized for a couple of weeks. He's the one that would wet them to give me a truer look. Hubby liked the Nutmeg best which is what we went with. I was torn between that and "Medium Brown" which was quite a bit darker. I think marketing won out in the end. I truly couldn't decide which look I preferred so I went with the cooler name. Gotta decide some how!!

Yes, the blue is beautiful with that wood. You can do as you've shown with an area rug to brighten the space and keep the brown from overpowering the wood and leather. I personally would never pick a black or brown leather sofa with that beautiful wood. I like the orange chair, but would probably select blue for it and bring in a second chair in an entirely different but complementary style, in a print incorporating blue and another color (orange if you like, or green, or ?). That leather does not look like a light sucking blue, but one that would make the room vibrant without being too bright.