Hey, thanks for the ideas and nice cabinet comments, guys. All good. I'll check that rainforest brown, too. Um, it's not really grabbing me like the green does but good thought, thanks CIC! Romy: I loved the hardware until the first screw stripped out and then a handle snapped off the first time I pulled on it. Oh well, that's what you get for buying cheap crap hardware from overseas. I needed something with a flat projection and that seemed to fit the bill. They are sending replacements, no questions asked, though. Now Fori, you are on to something with that embedded tile thought..... I'll have a wine tonight ;) and mull over that idea, but I like it! Maybe we could cut the tile so it was more rectangular and inset one into the center of the oak? Oh! I have so many tile samples of all sorts that might work for this... have to drag out my box and look through it. (what does one DO what all the samples when the remodeling is done, anyway? There's a thread to start....)

Wow, what a surprise to see this thread at the top of the page. Very bittersweet, because my last post mentions my husband's plans for the tops. He unexpectedly passed away just a couple of months later--how I wish he was still here. My brother graciously volunteered to help me with the tops. He cut them after I templated, then I finished the sanding, buffing, installation, runnels and seams. Coincidentally, I just finished cleaning the tops in anticipation of a family celebration planned for this Sunday. I polish with a cloth saturated with mineral oil, then buff off the excess. Makes them shine like new! They are holding up well--I don't notice any damage or wear, and I sometimes put (semi-)hot pots down beside the stove, although I wouldn't put a large, really hot baking dish from the oven. One casualty though--my DD dropped the lid to a china tea pot. The lid shattered, but no damage to the counter. I'm linking my kitchen album, starting with the pics of the counter top, and also the album that has info on the runnels. If you click on my user-name you can find all my albums, as well as my kitchen threads. houstoncrafter, best of luck!! I haven't been on GW much lately, as I've had some other projects to do, but feel free to email me if you need some hand-holding. :) Kitchen/lab top pics DIY Runnels

One question, since the measurement is cut off on both of your posted plans - what is the actual measurement of the current stove wall including the pantry? I see 11'6" plus pantry, but I'm guessing the pantry only adds 3-4 feet, for a total measurement of 14.5-16 feet? That doesn't actually leave you a lot of space for aisles around your island. I assume the island is 3x6? If you have 16' you're fine, if you only have 14.5' you're cutting it close, especially if you're not using a counter depth fridge and you want seating on one side. Just something to keep in mind! Regardless, I don't think you need to reinvent the wheel here - just flipping the stove and sink will get you to a nice ice-water-stone-fire layout.

Thank you everyone. I really thought it might be just a tad too big to be open but, I like thinking of it as a wide hallway or passageway as some of you have mentioned. Should I move the bench in the front hall to the table in the sunroom (it came with our large table that is currently in the basement) so that there is a more open feeling in the foyer as well? What are your thoughts on these chairs for the counter? I'd love to have some nailhead fabric chairs but with three boys ranging from 2-12yo I don't see those in my future for quite some time. I thought these might work well as far as comfort, ease of cleaning, allows my 2yo to sit higher, and still has a back to add a more substantial look to the kitchen area. I moved the blue table by the column near the sunroom and it's just a tad too wide for that space. The black wall is actually all chalkboard, I had just erased it to add our new fall quote. I agree that the blue table will need to go once counter seating is added. AnnKH - I've actually had a chair in that corner before. We've also had our Christmas tree set up in that spot. Is this chair ok? Or should I go smaller? Different angle for it so a small end table could fit? Once we bring our large table up to the sunroom the leather rocker in the corner will move to another spot.