Quick update... I ended up ordering a spoon and fork from Target.com. Here's a pic of it installed on the back wall. Also finished up installing my DIY under cabinet lighting... these lights are bright!!!! So glad I used a dimmer switch...this is the dimming level I tend to keep it at. Also forgot to mention that one of the pantries is a broom closet. After living in my new kitchen for almost of month now, I feel like I got everything right and did the best I could with the space I have. Trash cabinet, baking tray cabinet, broom closet, sink drop down tray, spice rack, plus all of the additional cabinet space makes me one happy camper. :) My only regret is not putting in pull outs for my pots/pans and lids. It's a bit of a pain having to bend down and look back into the cabinet to find what I'm looking for. Maybe at a later time... since it's still possible. Another thing I'm finding an issue with is our fridge. We bought a counter depth so we could have additional room, but it's been tough living with the limited space. Luckily, we still have our old fridge, so we're thinking of keeping it now to store larger items.

Thanks again for the wonderful compliments. We love it, love it. Sorry about your trees, Daisy - I would contact a person who knows - maybe they can be saved. We had a lot cut out of our yard this year. It broke my heart to see so much of nature go, but it needed to be done as our entire yard was becoming deep shade. It is still shady, but we are definitely getting more light in! Les, I will think about that trellis idea. That would cover the wires, maybe with clematis or something growing up, then there is the hose in the corner. Maybe I just need to get a fancy hanger for it. From the wires over to the right needs a remake. Thanks for the idea.

Thank you, Jakabedy,Jlc, Holly and Pinkmountain! Yes I'm happy! It's weird though how sometimes there is a place for perfect and sometimes perfect is not good when decorating. Sort of like when I had the wood look porcelain floor put in my master bedroom and bath. To me fake anything should be done in a random loosely staggered way. Too perfect of a pattern just says "hey look at me I'm perfectly fake". I love my loosely random layout. Now, when I look at the driveway pictures I see a few long run grout lines which would normally bother me a lot. But, strangely in the "whole" it works so well and looks much more natural. I have seen these type of driveways done with a different technique where the lines are taped on to perfection and the top surface is sprayed on instead of hand applied. The result is horrible and screams I am a "perfect" fake. The grout lines are oddly razor sharp in style for an outdoor space. It's weird I tell ya.

Excellent work! I would like to do something similar for a house recently bought and have a question about dimensions and if I have clearance for a large island. You said your island is 4’x8’ and kitchen 12’x13’, how much space is left between countertops? 36”-40”? Thank you so much, the 4’ wide island is great.