Thanks everyone, I'll take your advise and get rid of the crab... probably sometime after the flowers drop and it reverts back to what appears to be an ugly tree. It'll be easier to see it go than when in bloom. Regarding Sester dwarf; I was actually hoping for a slower growing conifer here because the bed is 10 x 10 In this bed I have: Pinus mugo 'Carstens', Chamaecyparis pisifera 'King's Gold', Picea pungens 'Sester Dwarf', Picea abies 'Kellerman's Blue Cameo' (not pictured), plus other perennials and evergreen ground covers. Dave - Here was my plan to fill the space out to create more of a balanced look. I definitely wasn't going to use it as a stand a lone specimen. Sester's dwarf will be the tallest conifer in this bed, Around it you'll have smaller rounded conifers, then some tall perennials, then ultimately out at the edge of the bed I'll have the phlox for color.

you better go look at the library .... the big one sure does NOT look like OS .... but the babe does look like outer space ... in my z5,, tiny babes heave from the ground during freeze thaw .... so i might not want to be digging it up this late.. unless you give it additional protection ... and i would not divide it.. if it does not have a good root system of its own ... ken

Hi romy718, Here is a draft layout of my plan. Other than shifting the middle island slightly and giving it that extension on the bottom end, this is the footprint of the existing kitchen, which is dark and not optimally functional. To give you an idea of the current space, the island on the lower right (with a designation "prep sink?") is where my kitchen sink is now, which is approximately 15' away from my cook top. My oven and microwave are inserted into the top left corner taking up an inordinately large amount of counter space. By moving my sink I gain functionality, and even though I lose the upper cabinets that are on the existing wall to a new window, I gain light. By moving ovens I gain counter space. I lose my desk, but there is still a space for dropping stuff off, which will be smaller and thus I hope it will make for less of a visual eyesore. I am also most likely to use a 42" refrigerator and thus won't need the refrigerator drawers. As for size, the long refrigerator wall is ~17', the range wall is a little over 13', and the wall where the sink goes is ~12'. The bottom side opens to the family room and the lower right opens to a breakfast room, which will remain untouched. Any comments on design? I have the room for the 48" range, I'm just not sure if I want to give up that nice large oven on the 36" range. What about the oven stack right next to the fridge, versus having (left to right) fridge then pantry then oven stack then drop-off place? Thanks to all.

They are polished nickel so I do need to stay in the same finish.