DH and I have the paper organization divided. I keep the things like manuals, kid's papers, health insurance, etc. in small hanging folder baskets on top of a bookshelf. DH keeps track of monthly bills and investments, etc. He has a cubbie hole system on top of one of his desks and items are divided up into those cubbies. That way he can easily find a current bill, the stack of donation places when we review in December, etc. We each have home office spaces in this house, but in our previous house I just kept things on the top of the cabinet in the formal dining room. It wasn't pretty, but it was easy to use. We keep no paper in the kitchen. Paper and kitchen counters just don't mix for us. DH use to open the mail and then restack it right next to the stove. Harping on him didn't change that, so I gave him a couple of warnings that anything paper piled on my counters would be trashed. I told him that I didn't keep my pots and pans stacked on his desk, so using the food prep space for paperwork was making my life difficult. After having me throw away all of the bills and everything else in the pile, he finally decided he could make the effort to walk a few steps and put it elsewhere. We are not really filers. More specifically, organized pilers. Our files are things which we rarely need. My piles hang, his piles are cubbies. Works for us right now. Gloria

Went to Houzz. Searched for "Hidden Desk Kitchen", some ideas: [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Boston Kitchen And Bath Rob Kane - Kitchen Interiors Inc. [Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Boston Kitchen And Bath Divine Kitchens LLC same cabinet as above, but closed--see on right? [Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Boston Kitchen And Bath Divine Kitchens LLC [Contemporary Dining Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2103) by San Francisco Interior Designer Mark Newman Design The "cabinet front" pulls out to reveal a bench (probably with storage) [Modern Living Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2105) by minday.com [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Vancouver Interior Designer The Sky is the Limit Design [Traditional Living Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by New York Interior Designer AMI Designs

Bee, LOL using Marcolo's shoe-glancing/"anyway..." technique, I just read that thread, it was great. mtnrdredux, those are lovely == and that's my favorite knob shape. Coincidentally, after I told him I didn't want the distressing after all, my finisher came up with the idea of adding in some brush strokes. allison, thank you! for the David T. Smith link. Wish I had known about him previously, and am saving the link for my freestanding island (to be added.) My kitchen is already built, awaiting painting, and has some of those elements, though my doors are overlay. Thanks for all the photos, can't help but love most of those distressed pieces. I especially love your sofa table. jdesign, all these years I thought Downsview cabinets were from England! They sure are gorgeous. I've decided I'm not going with distressing at all, because the only kind I'd want would be the very subtle. My finisher is extremely talented, but I do not yet have within me the sense of exactly how that should be done, and I'm not sure he has that experience or sense within himself yet, and my experience has taught me that if someone doesn't have "the vision" within themselves on things like this, it's not going to come out in the product. So, I'm going to play it safe. I'm very grateful for all the ideas and instruction you all have given me, it's of immense help!

Very helpful that you gave your pallet and thoughts. Choose your countertop and then your desk and cabinet colors. Countertop colors are limited, while paint colors are infinite. You can color match to Silestone Altair since you like that one - then go a shade darker or lighter for a nice color flow. Your pallet is very dark - except for the golden/beige walls- ranging from a black/brown to a brown/green. These are tones we used more in the 2000's so be sure and choose updated lines in the furnishings or the room will look dated already. The floor is beautiful! For the rest of the furnishings - choose a light colored rug, chairs in a beige or bring in a pop of a rich blue. Definitely add some greenery in natural stone pots on your shelving to bring in nature. A large, modern art piece would keep the vive fresh in this traditional space.