Okay, here are the shots of my main living space. You can see in the last photo the new color I painted in the foyer/hall area. I was trying to work with that family for the kitchen since it's all open to each other. I just remembered (duh) that my fireplace insert is that dark green/black a couple of you mentioned. So it would make sense if that color was carried into the kitchen. I love the idea of something distressed. I'm not sure if I can get dh to go for white walls - although we have some white doors and windows. I have also considered using wood inserts in the cabinet doors and on the backsplash. Also, there are a couple of posts currently on the kitchen board about cabinets painted to mimic wood or at least the colors of wood. What do you think about that as an option? budge - I totally agree about the counters. Trying to make them work has been the biggest challenge. I'm just not into them...even though I have green trim outside and a huge green metal roof. If I could be sure painted counters wouldn't be a big pain to maintain, I'd go for it. I saw on Color Correction on HGTV recently where they painted over ceramic tile counters with some sort of epoxy. I haven't had any luck finding out on the internet what product they used...but it's still on the back of my mind. patricia - great idea about the bathroom refinishing pros. I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to check into that. Can I say thank you again and not sound like a broken record?

Thanks for the input. I lean toward the Raven and Calacatta, too. (In fact we just told our contractor to put the order in for the countertop). I'm still not 100% sold on the marble tile, though, I originally wanted a carrera that would be more muted, but the tile shop we're using doesn't have anything that looks right with Raven. I just worry that the Calacatta is SO white. When I see kitchens like this: http://bungalowhomeinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/04/clients-home.html my eye is drawn to how cool the tile looks next to the cabinetry. Guess I'm also concerned that the calacatta has more movement in it, which could be distracting. I'm loving the look of this kitchen (also with Raven), but I don't know what the tile is: https://www.houzz.com/photos/south-pasadena-craftsman-traditional-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~14622889-Pasadena-Craftsman-traditional-kitchen-los-angeles Does anyone regret getting marble backsplash?

caffeinequeen: Your trap door idea is great! :) It's just me & hubby & hubby is not the 'problem'...so...guess where the blame lies? I do like to be organized, it's just sometimes I'm in a hurry & things get set down on the table. My 12" space includes the wall area - I was thinking of something like this (without the beverage thing) I will also use my office - this will be just 'transitional' stuff waiting for me to put away. Plus, a phone & message place. I got the above from http://simplystated.realsimple.com/home/2008/09/where-busy-moms.html "The Kitchen Command Center" shows a kitchen organization makeover. Here's a great entry/control center (I'll link it below as well so you can see the entire site) yakkinyetti: I was thinking the same thing...a catchall & too high to sit comfortably. Thank you both for your input! Here is a link that might be useful: I'm an Organizing Junkie

"Fortunately, you are not the fabricator. With an attitude like that, you would not be awarded the job." That is fortunate for both of us. "I can assure you that I am a most reasonable and cooperative person. I want the best possible outcome. I take advice from experts when appropriate. But, the decision is mine. I live with the consequences." I'm sure you are reasonable and probably a very nice person, but again, I respectfully disagree. It is your home, and you're writing the check, but it's my job. Any job with my name on it will ultimately be done the way I say. There is a reason that in over a decade as a Corian fabricator I had 2 warranty calls, both ruled customer abuse by the manufacturer. I have virtually no callbacks and I make a living repairing the mistakes of fabricators. "Do you have any helpful suggestions to offer in the area of seam color minimization?" Good seams start with proper planning. The rarity of the material and the sheet size play into seam placement. Some folks would rather have another inconspicuous seam than spend the money for another sheet. This type of trade-off needs to be discussed with the fabricator. The movement, color, and particulate of the material will affect the inconspicuousness of the seams. A small particulate estone with edges machined on a CNC machine with proper color match will near a solid surface seam in quality as pictured above. The larger the particulates and/or movement, the more conspicuous the seams become, no matter how good the adhesive match. Methacrylate adhesive manufacturers make estone color recommendations based on in-house testing. Many granite installers mix and color polyester on site; I'm not a fan. Men have seven times as much color blindness as women and polyester doesn't resist water and sunlight as well as methacrylates and epoxies, plus with the time it takes to cure, installers have incentive to add additional hardner. Collaborate with your fabricator as to seam placement. You're not out of line insisting on a color matched methacrylate, especially if you seam at the sink. I often cite the Marble Institute of America's Residential Installation Standards, but I don't like sink seam detail they specify and show with the stainless washer. If that ever fails, you've really screwed me when I come to fix it. The key to a fail-proof sink seam is proper cabinet installation (on plane, minimal non-compressive shims) in combination with a Hercules Universal Sink Harness, which turns one of the weakest areas into one of the strongest.