Hi kntryhuman, How fun it must be to start from scratch :-). We have been working on a minor kitchen remodel the past month and have some ideas for you (sorry for the long post). A couple of ideas to consider instead of an island: 1) Create an "L" peninsula, extending out from the window on the short wall towards the dining room area. Place the stove in the peninsula (you would be looking into the family room while cooking). This shape creates a bit of separation between the kitchen and family room and makes it easier to move between the dining room table and the sink and stove. 2) Create a "U" peninsula with the window on the short wall at the center of the "U" and the stove on the right (you would be looking at the dining room table while cooking). This shape separates the kitchen from the dining room a bit and makes the countertop space behind the stove usable while cooking. With our new cabinets, We will be "connecting" our island to the countertop space nearby, effectively creating a "U." We find this gives us more usable countertop and lower cabinet space. In either scenario above, you could create an overhang on the peninsula (more countertop space) and place some stools on the other side. A peninsula also provides more walkway space to get through the kitchen to the laundry room. We think 30" is too narrow. We did some space tests recently between our currently movable island (this will be our new peninsula) and our refrigerator which we moved across from the end of the island. We found that 48" is comfortable to get through with a laundry basket, or for one person to be in the refrigerator and another to walk by. Even 42" was too narrow. (Maybe take a laundry basket out and do a walk through!) For the refrigerator, you could move it to the spot currently marked as "appliance pantry." The door would face towards the family room and swing to the left, opening towards the sink. You would build a 36" wall behind the refrigerator and put the freezer and appliance pantry behind this wall. This would make the refrigerator closer to the work space and dining room table. It would also provide 3" or so of extra space in the area behind the refrigerator wall. This is because refrigerators are not as deep as they are wide (and inches count!). In addition, if the "U" peninsula is used, items from the refrigerator can be placed on the peninsula countertop which would be across from it. How about a corner sink in the corner where the window is on the short wall? In addition to being closer to the stove, it would be an efficient use of space, providing more countertop and bottom cabinet space to the left of the corner sink. Perhaps then you wouldn't need the appliance pantry :-). One more quick thought - if going with the "L" shape, you could place some storage cabinets for the family room on the other side of the peninsula, for games or other stuff. Have fun and good luck!

We replaced our windows a few years ago and the level of comfort improved dramatically. I was very nervous about damage during process but there was none. All I needed to do is be watchful of plants that were in the way. If you don't have plants or don't care it is not an issue. I have seen too many composite decks, vinyl fences and other "sturdy" plastic products truly deteriorate in the TX sun, so we opted for aluminum frames, despite installer trying to convince us otherwise. Back then the installation was done thru a Lowe's subcontractor but installers got wise and went independent. Our installer was excellent about cleaning excess caulking and the windows themselves (inside and out) so I would insist that be part of work scope. I would def. get references but the job is pretty straight forward so the risk of a snafu are pretty low. Ask about old window disposal, that may be extra. i live in ft bend co. Can't give you installer name b/c my contract was with Lowe's so we never knew or asked who sub was. it took them 2 days to do 16 windows,

Anything impact rated will have laminated glass Aluminum is what is specified with regards to roof materials in shoreline application so it does just fine Not true. If the window is impact rated, its impact rated and there are several good vinyl options with in that category. Even wood is going to be fine here. Termites aren't going to hit your windows first. That said, aluminum probably fits the contemporary bill better than wood.

Hi, E Weiss, It looks like you've got a lot of responses to sift through! I just wanted to chime in and ask if you've considered other window materials? I think wood is beautiful but you're right they are pretty expensive especially when you want to replace all the windows in a house or building and without regular/frequent maintenance they won't last long. Even aluminum or fiberglass cladded aluminum windows eventually need to be replaced because water/moisture can find its way behind the cladding. I think I read that you're in an area that experiences lots of rain or snow? If you would consider something other than wood I would recommend looking for a fiberglass window vendor. A quality fiberglass window can outperform a quality vinyl and will certainly outperform an aluminum window. They'll also last longer than wood windows with much less maintenance. I can't recommend any specific product line for you, we're in Texas and used to sell Milgard's Ultra Series but Milgard was acquired by another company and they've left the state. Milgard may have also stopped selling the fiberglass Ultra series. It looks like fiberglass-windows.com suggests Marvin, Milgard, Fibergrame, and Pella as fiberglass window manufacturers. Good luck with your replacement project! - Ariana