july.....most folks don't have pots that tall!! That sounds like it might be commercial type pot. There is no way you'll be able to look straight down into these pots on the rear without getting ya glasses or contacts or eyes fogged over....:( Did you tell the KD about this? If you did(and asked the same questions you have here) then the KD is at fault. If you 'have' to be able to see straight down in these pots in the rear, the builder can change out just those cabinets above this area with shorter cabs and it shouldn't cost that much......but you will probably have to pay for this. If the hole in the brick is not in the correct place, since this is new construction, a brick masson can fix that very easy and you won't notice it. Maybe an hours work at most. You say you are building with a 'mass' builder. If you change those cabinets out, they can probably use them in another house to save you some money.

Thanks for all the advice y'all! Breezy, the counters are stainless steel and "Bardiglio" marble (same slab as backsplash). I'm not happy with the marble counter edge as it's huge and doesn't go but we had to have a thick edge to cover some supports and I had to go froufrou to avoid an obvious seam. Looks like something you'd lay a corpse out on, but I hope it'll be fine once I get some junk back on it. I wasn't always planning on moving but a very similar slightly larger house on a much better lot on a less busy street in our subdivision came on the market so we just went for it. Not completely baked, but we like the neighborhood. :) So. Paint and light fixtures and knobs. (The lights aren't quite as blinding in person--they photograph badly.) Pinchme, I know things will get changed. I guess I just don't want to scare anyone! I'm hoping they don't notice all the drawers. People think it's weird if they notice. Peanut's avocado green mixer. You know I want it. Artemis--that's interesting about the fridge. I'll check with a RE agent. When I moved here the sellers offered to leave their large appliances for a low price and we accepted since you DO leave washer/dryer/fridge where I was. And the new place I made SURE the sellers wouldn't be leaving any appliances. The street is a little busy and sidewalk smarmy with pedestrians but not a bad view. Probably opening the blinds or removing and something nice over the top would do. (Note to self: measure windows in new house built by same company same year 3 blocks away.) (I'm really cheap, aren't I?) It's not a first-time homebuyer area so I guess people might be picky. Becky--those are all wonderful! What are you doing this weekend? Wanna come shopping? :) Alku, a leave the paint vote? I do gravitate toward the easiest option. Although, technically, I need a permit to change a light fixture, and technically, it would have to be fluorescent... Good tips, Mtnredux. I will research! The windows do open into a covered porch but do get a decent amount of light. Privacy not so much, but nobody will notice that. :) Thanks, IC. Li'lsmokie, you must be right, right? Swap 'n' stage. I mean, that marble counter is seriously morbid all naked like that. Honorbilt, thanks--the blinds definitely need to be up at minimum. As far as the cabinets, well, next ones will be even better, right? --although I'm not sure the cabinet guy would be stupid enough to work with me again! hehe. Stacy, yeah, it's induction, and it's a brand with no recognition. If it were a Miele or something, at least it would have THAT, but it's a Windcrest which has perfectly respectable performance on paper but what the heck is a Windcrest!? Kathy, thanks for pointing out that it doesn't matter what it looks like in person, it's how bad it looks on a computer! Now I'm totally in agreement with paint. It wasn't quite the right shade anyway. :( I could probably do the tape on the blinds. It does snazz them up. I bought these blinds even before the moving truck brought my stuff to this house because the previous owners had left the windows empty (with a valance) to sell the place. But at night it's like being on a big screen TV in that kitchen. (I have started walking the dog at night to spy on my neighbors' kitchens for ideas. If they don't pull the blinds, I learn a lot!) I have that jar! It has dog food. I can change that. Thanks for the book recommendation--I'll get it. LWOak, good points. A subdued sagey green (is that still trendy?) might work. I do have the blue ceiling to keep in mind. So a nice enameled pot instead of and 80 year old cast iron Dutch oven that is so scary I use it as a Halloween prop? OK. I see where you're coming from. Will accentuating the baking area make it too obvious that the oven is a cheap 27" non-convection single? I really do very much appreciate all this. Thanks so much!

I have off-white kitchen cabinets from Holiday, now almost 4 years old. Though I agree that the off-white makes decorating a little more challenging, we have been pleased with the quality of the finish and the joinery, and they look like the day they were installed. Two years ago we put similar Holiday cabinets in pure white in our guest bath, and Holiday white thermofoil in our laundry room. Again, all the cabinetry looks flawless. Both those whites looked warm enough to me. Six months ago, we put Woodland white cabinetry in our master bath, and wow. I can already tell it was not the best decision, but it was the only brand the contractor we wanted to work with used. And he was an excellent contractor overall, and did a fabulous job. Nonetheless, Woodland requires you to sign what they call “painted finish waiver“ and now I know why. Several of the miter joints are cracking through the paint. It doesn’t look terrible, and we are careful with our cabinetry, so I think in the long run they will be fine. But cabinet quality really does matter, especially if you don’t plan to baby your cabinets. Good luck.

Remove the shelving system and take pix so we can make further suggestions. My pet peeve is a lack of towel bars. I don't like to see towels hung on the shower door handle. Maybe a nice pair of towel bars in place of the shelving. If there's an electrical outlet behind the shelves, then consider adding a towel warming unit; that would sell a lot of people on the bathroom. Put robe hooks on the back of the bathroom door. Do the shades match others throughout the house? You might upgrade those to something a little less "off the shelf" looking. Move your toilet brush holder to the other side of the toilet so it isn't seen upon entering the room. For showings, turn on all the lights, including the ones in the toilet and shower areas.