Cool, Anglophilia. I didn't get a KD for my new kitchen because I (like you) didn't trust HD or other big boxes on doing it, and nor did I seem (as far as I know/knew) to have a KD in this area not associated with a line or so of products that I'd be forced into choosing from. Instead, I basically utilized the resources here at the Kitchen Forum to hone down some of my thought processes, and they helped me make a better kitchen than I would otherwise have created on my own. (Under counter drawers; ice, water, stone, fire; landing spot before fridge, induction range, a prep sink, even the brand of sink I went with... a few other things like the entry to the pantry...) Yes, I didn't take every bit of advice, but I certainly appreciated it all. If I knew of a reliable KD in my area who I knew up front (this is hard to determine...) wasn't promoting his or her own line, I may have considered. And again, as long as I have the choice to do certain specific elements to my own needs, after fully considering suggestions I will usually take, a KD could be very useful. EDIT: As of this date, are there things I wish I had done that I neglected? No. Well, discounting the things the GC didn't do that I requested, but I'm so done with 98% of the build (most right but ... ) that I no longer care about those little specific things... place for vertical pans... the amount of drawers vs cabs I originally specified... I gotta remain focused elsewhere.

I don't know the purpose of that arch. It was originally designed that way, and yet nothing goes there. There is an inset shower window but up under there, so maybe the thought was to hide it from the curb. But, I had not considered actually putting something there - a fountain or something sculptural would be quite lovely there. And, I am thinking about a single door with sidelights too. I was just looking a pictures of a house with a wood and glass door, and maybe doing wood on the garage to complement it, though not sure about adding wood to the facade.

Thanks for coming back to show us - it is always useful to see before/after! The cabinets really look good with the new tile and counter

Here's a house similar in style to yours... The colour of the stucco in much lighter than yours although not white. I think you need a bit of contrast with your white windows, this is a nice example.