Hi all, I didn't realize this post was getting comments sorry to take so long! onedogedie - I sincerely hope you have power now??!! We got ours Sunday (UGH 43 hours) and it's such a relief. If not, let me know.I've had some really success tweeting to WTOP and Dominion for a couple of friends also without. Ok...After a month with this Armstrong "Luxury" Vinyl tile, I still love it. It's hard enough that you never think that it's vinyl. It doesn't have that soft smooth feel to it at all. These are big 16 inch tiles and the grout is sanded grout. We LOVE it and it gets as much "oo-ahhh" response as the brushed Black Pearl granite does from visitors. LOL My backsplash is in now. The album can be viewed, here's an image (I just realized my photos never showed Oh.My.Gosh. How embarrassing.) From Kitchen Renovation Before During After The full album: https://picasaweb.google.com/109216653852709251058/KitchenRenovationBeforeDuringAfter?authuser=0amp;feat=directlink Deborah Here is a link that might be useful: Armstrong, Alterna Luxury Vinyl

Gardenwebber, Good for you! I bet that feels good to make that decision! Anyone who has been following my remodeling process KNOWS I have been agonizing over every decision and we are also trying to decide on the sink (silgranit being one of the choices). There will be fireworks here in California (illegal or not) when I can finally say, "OK-so-it's done, I've ordered "x" and ALL decisions are made!" So, congrats to you, let us know when it's in.

Hi kell0382 I've seen the cork floating floor used in a hunting cabin in your neck of the woods. When it comes to the big swings of temps/humidity cork can handle it SO LONG AS the gaps at the walls and the transition strips at doorways are observed. Cork floating floors are VERY dynamic. They LOVE to expand and contract which is why the 1/2" gap at the walls is super important in your situation. If you are worried that the temp swings are a big concern, the installer can use an adhesive on each of the click edges. The short edges being most important. If you are going to use the bead of glue on the edges, then ALL the edges of ALL the planks will need it. This makes sure the ENTIRE room will move as one unit instead of stressing just one or two joints. Talk to Anne at iCork (not the people at head office in Canada...I've heard they have ruined a few floors). Tell her that you sent a message to Stephanie her old colleague on the Houzz website. Get her to WALK YOU THROUGH the install. She's the one who helped the gentleman install cork in the hunting cabin (which is why I know about it). Ask her how that install is going. She helped put that floor in 5 years ago (or so). She gets feed back from that owner from time to time. And remember: Tasmanian Burl looses all the beautiful light brown colouring when exposed to sunlight. That's normal. That is to be expected. The 'black tiger strip' stays nice and crisp looking for the entire life of the floor. If you want to keep the darker colouring, then look at the Walnut Burlwood. The Mahogany Ripple will also loose 50-80% of it's colouring as well....but it should keep SOME of the colour after a year or two. Ask Anne about her experiences with fading. I know we have faded a few colours in our windows over the years and have come to different conclusions for each colour. If fading concerns you then a quick chat with Anne will help you find the floor that you want.

First, I am not sure how much of the cabinet color in your inspiration picture is cabinet color vs lighting . . . See how these cabinets change color around the room going from very off white to pretty darn white. But to get to what you want you have a few challenges, but it can be done. First you have to decide on the wall color. The wall color has to work with your flooring, the extra white trim, the countertops and the backsplash. Then create a new color to test for for the cabinets that is 3/4 extra white and 1/4 wall color. It should act as a bridge between the extra white trim and the wall color. You may have to play with the mix to get it exactly where you want it. This usually works, but I have had times where I picked a neutral that was actually complementary to the trim and ended up with mud. . . Then I needed to just lighten with a brighter white than extra white and keep testing the mix against the wall color and trim till I got the mix right.