I say -- don't overthink it. I'm definitely an "I'll know it when I see it" person and it has served me well. Don't apologize for it. I really like your patinated chandelier, your comfortably used faucet (it's got some style!) the stove -- it's relaxed, no-fixed-decade. It's no time to get uptight about finishes! I'd say you have a good sense of your own style. TRUST IT. Don't choose a finish you don't like just "to be consistent" or because someone told you you have to. I have polished nickel, antique brass, new unlacquered brass, old filthy dirty brass, stainless steel, black forged iron -- and a few other things I can't remember in my kitchen. It all gets along. In fact the more things you put together, the better it works, because it's not like you have a big beige room with 23 satin nickel handles and one polished nickel one. You have a rich crazy quilt/gumbo of elements and no single dominant one, but your good taste has selected each, and they get along because you know when they don't. I agree with Circuspeanut that some finishes just attract too much attention to themselves, and they tend to be the more modern ones like satin nickel and ORB. But if you love them, and they work in your particular mix, then go for it. Did you look at the Schoolhouse Lighting custard line of shades? Just a thought. Something to consider is that Schoolhouse, and probably some other companies too, may have options not listed on their Web sites, and may be able to make you up a custom fixture. So if you see something on their site that is very close to what you want, but in just the wrong finish, or the chain isn't right, call or e-mail and ask if that thing can be changed. I did, and the cost was like $30 extra for my particular alteration. It's always worth asking. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for the nice words! prill, the paint is "Pumice" by Restoration Hardware. I found the rug at HomeGoods, of all places! We looked all over the place for rugs and I happened to be shopping for candles and it caught my eye. gwbr, we're going to play with the placement of the dining table this weekend. It's a heavy table so moving it is a pain, but I agree with you the alignment isn't quite right. We just had the movers bring it in and plop it down and we haven't had a chance to find the right placement yet. ummm, thanks for the tips! The dining table was custom made by a LA carpenter who makes dining tables out of re-claimed wood. As for your tip about painting the "brown table", were you referring to the little red table? We don't have a brown table except for the small round table b/t the two chairs.

Wow! What a bunch of great ideas. I now realize that when I ask about lighting, I need to specify that DH is extremely light sensitive and would be uncomfortable with candelabra type bulbs without shades & he thinks that shades are too formal looking for the kitchen. (sigh) That PB glass lantern is a look I really love. I also apologize for not giving more of a sense of what style I'm aiming for. It looks like a typical "Somethings Gotta Give" kitchen except we are using Marinus granite instead of soapstone. If you put a gun to my head & told me to pick fabric for window treatments or banquette cushions, I would say "Blue & cream toile, please." palimpsest expressed it in a way that makes sense to me: go simple for the two island pendants, more elaborate over the banquette table (yes, it will be round) and match the finish for the fan. I know that ceiling fans aren't popular with many on the forum, but they are a blessing in the South. Our AC went out in Houston, yesterday and the family room fan made it bearable until it was repaired. The main reason to include a fan light is there are times that an overhead light is useful. With the beadboard double vault ceiling in the keeping room, we don't want any recessed lights pentrating the ceiling, so the fan would provide the only overhead light. There are things that I didn't put into the rendering like accessories or the front of the island being open shelving to display my colorful Staub French ovens. The door knobs for many of the public areas of the house will be glass, just for the sake of nostalgia and the exterior supports that look. After we got back from seeing the house for the 1st time, I think DH wants to do the banquette octagon ceiling and the keeping room double vault ceiling in stained cypress rather than painted white. I just have to make sure that doesn't look too rustic. Here's a pairing from Capital's Towne & Country collection: I also like these from Hinkley's Britannia collection: I have many more lighting website to look through, but I'm now convinced to tell the electrician to rough in for two pendants over the island. Thanks, so much, for all the help & ideas. Jo Ann

Absolutely! Set the box aside and really explore the possibilities. One thing, a kitchen with a strongly contrasting band of bright "cream/whatever" slicing between large dark surfaces is going to be a very different one from a kitchen with a darker, richer harmonizing combination. Gorgeous as the pictures posted are, don't choose your tile before you choose your look. BTW, if you need more than natural light in a kitchen, don't expect to get much third-hand from whatever some tile will bounce back. Plan on needing to turn on your lights in any case.