Wow, what a number of great responses and suggestions! Thanks to everybody! I am beginning to agree the light box will have to go, I'm just having trouble envisioning what type of lighting will take its place. My appliances have already been ordered and the double oven and microwave was installed just last week, so I am locked into the black appliance look, which I really don't mind. I did originally think I would go with the biscuit colored Blanco siligranit kitchen sink, but once I saw the Ladylux Cafe faucet with the black accents, my black appliances and the black streaks in my granite, I decided I would get the black siligranit sink to tie in with those elements. Especially being an undermount, only the sink bowls will be visible and the granite on top I think will help to balance it out from looking too dark. The idea to find another use for my light box is a good one. It has the same crown molding in cherry wood that is on my cabinets so I hate to just trash the thing if it can be recycled somehow. Will definitely think on that for ideas. I still feel the tug to put some type of wallpaper border around the soffit on top the cabinets next to the ceiling....but that is still my 80's thinking talking. Trying hard to think out of the box! I am definitely planning to keep the backsplash and wall paint a more neutral, creamy light tone to pull out the lighter areas of the granite and I also will keep all my window casings, doors and doorway frames painted white. I could paint one whole wall in the kitchen a slightly different color than the rest, which I hear is a popular trend nowdays. One wall of the kitchen, which my pictures don't show, has a gas log fireplace which has a reddish rustic brick front with a solid wood mantle and upper wall wood panels and molding painted white. There is a custom built cherry book shelf/storage cabinet on one side of the fireplace and the wallpapered wall on the other side which leads into the sunroom. I will have to post that pic too so you can all see what I mean. Not sure what I should do with the wall space on the left of the fireplace. I want to start looking also at electric switchplates and see if I can get my electrician friend to relocate some boxes for me. I would love to update the switchplates to dimmers where possible and the newer color coordinated or textured plates, plus add some new undercabinet lighting. Keep the ideas coming! It really helps to try to see the kitchen I've been looking at for 19 years through fresh eyes!

Posted on the original thread: Since I put the old stove in the DR side of the kitchen, I thought I'd add a couple of pics of that area. The cabinets that are lined up against the far wall were in other locations before we added the new back door, and took out part of the dividing wall. I guess I'll have to find a new location for them (probably the bedroom--everything else seems to end up in there), because that wall will house the second school cabinet. The oak pedestal table is an heirloom, but it seems really dark--maybe I can paint the chairs several light colors, and throw on a vintage-style table cloth. They aren't original--what do you think? Here is a link that might be useful: how the other half lives

als Sorry to hear about your misfortune - Right now emotions are high w/both you & likely contractor as well. Lots of good advice here - Is kit on 1st floor? Is there a basement below? can you visualize the kit subfloor fr. basement ceiling? - If that is possible there may have been clues there that would lead one to understand load bearing - perhaps not. A structural engineer would be $ wisely spent prior to doing anything else - this would give you the firm capability of what exactly your options are - So, before you have re-design and compromise see if your GC is willing to work with you w/covering or meeting 1/2 of consult. In the interim I would def put a hold on cabinet order or cancel all together Im not a contractor but I am just amazed that cabs are ordered in renos where the kitchen is being completely gutted PRIOR to gutting and getting real measurements - It happens all the time - and no reason for it. Typically someone has the hurry up and get to the enditis - just doesn't pay to work that way. Take some time to let emotions cool so that you & dh can have a productive meeting with GC Good luck

Hi Marcolo, We believe the beam is a support beam. It runs across the whole house. There is only one other support beam that runs across the house in that direction. The duct work runs through the work zone to make it possible to have an HVAC vent in the dining/great room. There are only two cents in that room, the one in the dining room, and one inthe center of the main room (coming from the hallway). The back office area has a vaulted ceiling and no vents. We keep ceiling fans running 24/7 in that room to keep the air moving through there. We can't get a vent to that room without dropped the ceiling in the master bedroom to 7'. The cabinets are a hybrid. The base cabinets are continuous face frame, but some of the wall cabinets are boxes. The cabinet above the refrigerator is separate from the neighboring cabinets, and the cabinets on the sink wall are three separate units, and are not connected to the wall cabinets on the adjoining range wall. We are hoping to remove the cabinets from the sink wall and build out the refrigerator box. The opening for the refrigerator will fit a counter-depth non-built in, and we can use the boxes that we remove to build up that box.