My best suggestion is to ignore a lot of the hype as you make your plans. Putting money into the high priority it-has-to-last-for-years things is essential, but not particularly glamorous. Don't stint on plumbers, electricians, structural advisors, and financial advisors. Be sure that your carpenters, installers, etc. actually know their stuff. It's so easy to get caught up in the fun parts. Some months ago I was feeling that we needed a little sobering up on the GW and I posted a "don't stint on infrastructure" thread that was apparently a downer for some readers. But I also got some private mail from people who said "thanks thanks thanks." Safety, heat retention, efficiency, financial solvency, reliability, and durability are truly glamorous when compared to folly and catastrophe. Anybody with money in their pocket can gussy up a kitchen, but doing the really useful stuff requires deep thinking and if money is tight, requires recognizing alternative options when they're available. Serendipity sometimes does come into play--Craig's List or reuse centers or closeouts or such--but you can't plan around them. Since "chance favors the prepared mind" you need to know brand names, products, colors, options so that you can recognize a good deal when it appears. Give yourself permission to pay full price for something, though. You can't live on wishes and get this kitchen done. There is a lot of distraction, esp fashion and advertising and peer pressure. You will do well to make lists of things that are Wants and Needs and Don't Needs. On the GW, I believe some of the most useful helps are the discussions of what is good or bad in a floor plan. It's also very helpful to analyze the finished kitchens so that you see what they're trying to illustrate. There are indeed smaller kitchens here--modest, attractive, functional ones. Using your Wants and Needs list, go find examples of them. It's also important to try to fast-forward your family configuration so that the kitchen is designed for all of you as you grow older. Your kids become adults and you become old. This is inevitable so plan ahead. Also plan that as soon as your kitchen is done, fashion and product lines will change so you need to tell yourself that you actually are satisfied and not chase the rainbow. You need to think about the importance of visual things vs functional vs personal and decide who gets to make the initial decisions and who gets to edit or veto. If necessary, create a straw person or two to include in the conversation. In my case, there was a fictitious old lady who would need things that might not be required right now. But don't let things paralyze you--the quest of the perfect gets in the way of the quest for real life solutions. You've all waited long enough--get on with it!

Another piece of the puzzle got put in place this week. Way back when i first envisioned this little house, I wanted a leaded glass transom in the foyer. Fast forward 5 years or so, here it is! I have a friend who is a local stained glass artist, and she made this for us. It is inspired by a window in the little country church we attend. Clean and simple.

Hmmm, so I fuss over "girl" AND "guy" stuff. When it came time to have our electrical box upgraded from the old 100 amp service to the 200 amp service...I was the one asking the questions to the electrician. When our electrician was here this weekend to replace an old light switch that sizzled and fried (littlerally...black smoke coming out and everything!), I was right there, asking him about it. And I LOVE that he explained it to me as a human and not as "okay, little lady, here's what's up with it." When we were getting ready to build a house a few years ago...it was me that fussed over the dual zone heating. And me that fussed over the geothermal heat pump. And me that was asking about the relative advantages and disadvantages of Superior Walls vs. standard foundations. My husband came along for the ride on most of that. In our house, in many cases, I do the research (be it "male" or "female" based. Narrow down the choices to what I find acceptable. Present findings to DH and then we work on finding a decision. But, me, heck yeah, I'm going to be SO excited (seriously!) when it comes time for us to have the HVAC people in to replace our old furnace. But, I'm a little odd like that.

3 years into the new kitchen and I can say I am very very happy overall. A couple high level thoughts for those making decisions.. Love love love: Induction cooktop. Risky when we did it, cause it was newer tech. Love the control, the easy clean and the look. Warming drawer - get used many nights a week with kids/family schedules Soapstone counters - whoa.. The are are gorgeous and indestructible Drawers for all lower cabs- sooooo much easier to use! Miele MW/convection oven - so great to have a second oven and a mW in one box. Things I'm less in love with... Oven is very large, takes a looong time to preheat. Dislike digital Really wish we could've afforded the built in fridge.. Backsplash is ok. I don't hate it but I don't love it. Simple to change, will probably do sometime. It took us a long time to get the kitchen done and it was a major remodel (tore down walls and stuff. But I am so glad we did! Good luck to everyone on the journey!