You might want to keep some of that sand around too - incorporating it into the soil will aid in drainage, especially in pots (and if you go for a lot of containers this year, you'll have to fill them with something). The freecycle idea is a great one to get rid of the extra sand, and to get pots - I have picked up quite a few nice pots that way. I'll second another already mentioned place to get cheap black 10-12" pots - nurseries - they sell new ones usually for a buck or two, and some of them will sell their old ones. I once bought a couple of dozen used ones for 25 cents each. If you see professional landscaping guys doing any planting you can often ask them for their empty pots - sometimes they're very happy to get rid of them easily. Come late April, once the garden centres start selling all their stuff, I also take a walk around the neighbourhood on recycling days. I get tons of pots from the bins. I use big rubbermaid bins from Canadian Tire for tomatoes, and I have bought big round 'utility bins' from them to use too - they're less than $10 each (supposedly they come in a terra cotta colour, but I haven't seen them). Drill holes in them and they make great big planters. Your idea of scouring the renovation sites for leftovers is a great one. You can use wood, bricks and tiles to make nice planters or hide big rubbermaid bins. If you're feeling ambitious you can make hypertuffa containers. They're like stone or concrete planters, but they're lighter. You can look up instructions, or ask here - many people have the directions tucked away in their to-do list folders :-) Since money is on the short side, your sister should set aside a space for some serious composting. It's a great way to get a lot of high quality free soil in a year or two. Ask the neighbours if she can have their lawn clippings and leaves. Ask around the local coffee shops and see if any of them will allow her to take home the old coffee grounds. If there is a small fruit and vegetable store nearby, they may be willing to let her take home spoiled produce. Don't overlook workplaces - some offices churn out a lot of coffee! BP

I was going to say panels, too. I don't see white being that great with the cream and I think the stainless might fight the wonderful copper...Unless you maybe include some stainless accents in your backsplash, maybe also on your hood, to tie things together. Have you chosen a range? You could go for some color or cream if you went with BlueStar or LaCanche with color choices...Maybe they have copper?

I think you should make a plan for your kitchen, before you dig in. In how many years, realistically, might you change the countertops or do a full gut-remodel? If you honestly think either one of those could be in the next 5 years, that would change my answer. My gut feeling is, you just bought this house and you have a lot of things to furnish and complete. If so, then I'm guessing you're 7-10 years out before a full-scale kitchen remodel? And in that case, I'd gently suggest you do the following: 1. Assuming your cabinets don't have peeling veneer, or details we can't see, then I would leave them dark as mayflower advised. 2. Get cabinet hardware as andrea advised. 3. Tile the backsplash. You could add instant bling by buying the cute mini-tiles, already on webbing at Home Depot. Some have a bit of metallic or jewel tones. With labor you could be at a $1,000 for this item alone, but I really think it would perk things up. Also, aesthetically, your top cabinets seem to be floating in a sea of wall right now. The backsplash will connect the bottom cabs to the top ones. Also, please continue the backsplash down behind the current stove 6 inches.(see point 4). 4. Replacing appliances: Mayflowers is correct that this would also update your room. I would replace the stove. But, since you MIGHT want to open up that wall, you could be looking at a stove on an island someday. So leave your options open: Buy a slide-in range that could be used against a wall or on an island. A backsplash will be even more useful then, because your stove won't stick up above counter-height. See the sample photo of a slide-in range that I've attached. If you were to replace any other appliances, my second choice would be a white fridge. Fridges have gotten so much more efficient, you will actually save some money on their operation. Somehow the D/W is less bothersome to me. Also, most busy families wear out a dishwasher every several years so I'd milk it to the end before replacing. 5. I am not sure you need to repaint unless you have worn spots from the previous owners. You have a nice neutral color on your walls. See what you find for your other accessories before deciding. Here is a link that might be useful: Sample of a slide-in range

Without a dimensioned floor plan it is kind of hard to say exactly. But I would relocate the vertical wall to make the passthrough room large enough for a dining table. Have your formal living room up front with the bay window and make a smaller family room in the back. If you want to spend big $- move the kitchen to the family room on the left and move secondary family room into the raised area that the kitchen is located.