terrilynn, I am confused about what to do for the island and also the desk/coffee bar/bar area. I'm going back and forth on wood or soapstone for the island. I'm pretty sure I want wood on the desk and soapstone on the bar/coffee area. (just for maintenance purposes). I'm not sure if I do the base colors on the other areas the same as the island or different. We aren't doing any stainless except for the range, but that desk is pretty cool! Lavender, thanks, and I love the idea of red accents. I hadn't really thought that far, but that will be perfect and will blend with the rest of our house. I guess I need to figure out if I can really do the painted island and how much maintenance that will be. Here are my options, in case anyone else is as confused as I am: 1. Wood colored island with soapstone top 2. Sage/light green island with soapstone top 3. Sage/light green island with wood top Desk: something with a wood top....I'm thinking base should match the island, unless of course the island base is wood tone, and then it would either match the yellow cabinets or the coffee bar area. Coffee bar/bar: definitely soapstone top- either yellow cabinets like the rest of the kitchen, green, or wood colored. I'm even confusing myself, so if anyone is following this, I'm impressed, and thank you for any thoughts!

I hate it when people say they just ordered or are about to order without taking time to get questions answered or details worked out. Just answering your questions about the counter heights on the peninsulas and the wall cabinets on the bar side -- I wouldn't do the wall cabinet over the peninsula from an aesthetics standpoint. If you have a lot of glassware you want to display, keep in mind that it may be hard to reach up there. Could you reverse the door swing and hing from the center or put a sliding door on that cabinet? It's also a good wall space for art and color. Whatever you do, make both peninsula counters the same. The way they are positioned, that are like two halves of the same wall. Beyond that, I hope you are still working on this plan. I'm not a huge fan -- yet. Potential is there, but both have issues for me. Not my house, so I'd want to know how you live and how you entertain, for starters. But if you're already committed, I'd hold my tongue rather than going further. Let us know what's going on......

Heatheron40, very nice. I asked a question about doing a tile countertop in our guest cabin recently as I feel like the look would complement the cabin aesthetic. Also I’m dying to learn to tile and thought it would be a fun place to start as it’s not an everyday space and I could take my time. Most of the responses were against. Basically stating the grout would make me crazy. The guy at the said what you’re saying I think, he said that modern grouts are more resistant to staining and such, and also to go with a tinted grout of some sort. I love your use of pattern to give it interest and intention!

I think we are moving in the direction to do the island, perimeter counters and backs splash (all the way up the wall) in the same White Santorini Quartzite. Any feedback on this? Im sensitive to adding too many different materials into the mix. Is this too much of one thing?