This might take the prize for the biggest bump, but I ever so accidentally stumbled upon your lovely forum today and then in a moment so serendipitously immense it is beyond Kismet, found this particular post giving me the answers to questions that have been niggling my brain far too long. Thank you, thank you! Urm.... Thank you!!! Rain

Thanks a2 - You probably saw most of these in the original reveal but there were a few new ones. Any progress with Photoshop? I know you are going to have a lot of fun with it. Ginny20 - Thanks!! We've been surprised at how well it turned out. The nicer it gets though, the nicer we want it to be. I'm thinking about redoing a few things here and there.... Angie_DIY - wish you would and wish you were closer so I could come see your kitchen in person. Hi Renee, so glad you like the tile and kitchen. I always smile when I see your name and remember the help you gave me on my hose reel thread. (I really like the ones I ended up getting by the way). How goes your lovely garden? kristi-stl - I'm so sorry I didn't reply earlier. The Island is Cherry with the cordovan stain. What I'd do differently with the door is to have a flat outer edge (ours is raised). Also, the cordovan is pretty red. In hindsight, I was looking for a more traditional, honey cherry color. kateskouros - Thanks for the kind words! While it may not look like it, your gorgeous kitchen was one in my inspiration file. Obviously I am not very good at copying elements:) We are very much enjoying the layout and new space. seosmp - It's 8.75 inches from the wall to the start of the window trim; just about 12 to the actual window glass. The bumpout shelf was an afterthought. I'd wanted one but forgot to specify to our architect. When our builders started framing the window, I remembered. It was a fairly easy adjustment. I question sometimes whether I should have continued the bumpout at countertop height but in our case, the window is visible from the front of the house and I don't think I would have liked seeing objects on the countertop from outside (if that makes sense). I planned originally to have plants on the shelf but it looks a little messy from the outside so usually I leave it clean. I am planning on a Torquay shelf in this space at some point.

Thanks luvspring! I first saw the tile at a local tile store called Devon Tile Design (they have amazing stuff) -- but found for less at a larger store (Avalon Tile in Wilmington DE) and able to have the price matched. I also tracked it down by looking on the Walker Zanger website to see who their retailers are. shanghaimom, they also call the marron cohiba "antique brown" i think. I do love the Amerock pulls - - and I think they are better quality than the twice as expensive RH bistro ones I was looking at! breezy, I just checked the invoice and drawings, and all it says is "sigma fan" -- I know it's venting to the outdoors, and that the motor and everything else is in the hood (I'm vaguely recalling that it was called internal)...wish I could be more definitive on that! As for noiselevel, this is hard to describe, and I've got no expertise in decibels. On low, it's like a quiet background hum, definitely quieter than my microwave vent was before the reno --but if I'm cooking under it, I can't hear my kids' normal talking voices in the kitchen (of course that can be a good thing!). On high it is pretty loud, and I wouldn't want to run it for longer than necessary (unless those same kids are bickering!) As for whether the 600 cfms will be enough for you, think about you'd like to be cooking -- if you'll grill steaks inside or do alot of stirfries, it might not be enough. Good luck!!!

You're so welcome Mary, Melinda, and Shirley! Shirley and Margo- the cotton seeds were given to me by a farmer in Alabama. I can't tell you much about them other than he grows the stuff by the acre so hopefully it'll do the same and produce for you. Sara- your package made it here today. Thank you for the seeds and everything! I've thought about getting a mother's journal but just never have so that'll be put to good use. I also love the earrings! Love fun dangling things!