I see so you're saying the issue is that I checked both wires for the hot one when they were both disconnected and really I need to do one at a time? What do you make of the fact that originally two out of the 3 wires were spliced together at one switch. Is that even possible? Thanks a bunch Joe!

I have used wireless switches for many years to do exactly what you want to do. Very few stores cary them - your best bet is buying on line. I have used both X-10 and Insteon brands - my new house is loaded with Insteon switches. You can buy them at www.smarthome.com. For your application, look at the 3-way dimmer kit which comes with two switches that are pre-programmed to work together. They make both decora paddle type and push button switches. You will need a hot & netutral wire at each switch location for these switches to work. The switches communicate wirelessly as well as over the neutral wire to provide a dual network. To work with maximum reliability, the neutrals connected to both switches should connected to the same breaker (best) or at least on the same phase - this allows the over wire signals to pass between the two switches. If you can't get an over wire path via neutral wires directly, the switches will still work through the wireless path but depending on the seperation - you might get some intermitant results.

Buehl: I do not have to do anything in the layout options and am open to any ideas that make the most of the space I have. We are gutting everything. The original designer had pantries 24" wide by 15" deep so I just kept them that way and concentrated on the kitchen layout by stealing more space from the dining area than she originally allotted. In her design I had one 30 inch drawer stack and the rest (other than the trash pullout) were 12 inches...yuck and a major reason for pause! I discovered the help on this site only after family issues forced postponing the kitchen remodel. I have two 24" wide x 12" reach-ins now, and they hold a lot of staples and appliances. If I kept her original idea but increased the reach-in width would it be too much visually? I think I would rather have more reach-in space than so much counter and wall cabs in the "hutch" area. She did show me a rendering of all reach-ins along the back wall, but it was just too much solid wall-to-ceiling door fronts for me visually. Right now, I have a hutch that will be moved to an in-the-making office/memorabilia room so DH can finally display his "treasures." The wall does not need to stay, but one of my husband's biggest concerns is "Where are the light switches going to go? Unfortunately, the French door swings in (only the half farthest from the back wall; the other half is stationary( and it leads to a deck. The only time that door is used is during the summer when we host family parties. It cannot be changed...we replaced a leaking sliding door 10 years ago. I like my brick and stucco exterior, but repair is expensive, costly, and it's almost impossible to find the craftsmen to do the work. I think I answered everything. I do want to sincerely thank you for sharing your PPT design file!!!! As a retired teacher, it is a program I am comfortable using, and your templates were so easy to use and manipulating the design elements was a breeze.

Well, here we sit again....cabinets delayed another week. Have e-mailed Lowe's store manager on 2 weeks ago, again 3 days later re-forwarded the e-mail saying I thought he may have missed it over the 4th holiday and then again one week ago. ZERO RESPONSE. Z-E-R-O! Can't believe how unprofessional this is! I get it people are busy but to just not respond to a customer who has spent $30,000 in your store! And my contract said all work would be done by early April! It is now mid-July and this part of the installation MAYBE will be complete next week, then after countertops are installed (another company) there has to be more measuring for some decorative panels that they suggested we don't measure for until after countertops are in. After a call to Lowe's corporate in which they "escalate" the situation and said the store manager will get this "Urgent Customer Care" email and he must respond within 24 hours....still NO response! UNBELIEVABLE! So have put in another call to Customer Service and now they escalate to the District Manager and I am supposed to hear from him within 24 hours. And by the way, Lowe's Credit Card (Synchrony) said that it just takes a call from a Store Manager and they can push this final payment out and extend the promo (6 months same as cash) on out beyond the original 6 months. I have pretty much done EVERYTHING else myself since I placed the order with no communication from their "install manager" or kitchen designer. I communicate with the installer directly now since the install manager also can't seem to return a phone call or place or follow up on the incorrect orders that keep getting placed. I communicate directly with Schuler (their Customer Service has been phenomenal!) to correct orders that are placed incorrectly---even after going over it several times and putting it in e-mails. Cabinets ordered the wrong size by and inch (at least 5 times), finished ends ordered on the wrong side of the cabinet, etc. Hopefully there is a district manager who can straighten this out and get these people to get this project finished!