Haha, no kitchen nudity and I have been living with it just like this since moving here in late January. Right behind that open fence is our neighbor - this is our side yard. That wouldn't be so bad, but they run a horse boarding operation so there are actually alot of people from about 10am-8pm wandering around just the other side of that semi-open fence. Longer term, a beautifully dense evergreen hedge is going up against that fence, but for now I want a bit of privacy since sometimes, I want to be able to dance and sing along with the radio while I am cooking dinner without an actual audience, the imaginary one in my head is enough. :) I really don't like ruffly curtains and valances. I do like a more structured cornice, so would consider something like that over a blind or shade of some kind. I started out thinking wooden blinds but just hit me it would almost look like that heavy look of lots of wood cabinets. I thought about curtains, or open cell/pleated type shades or blinds, but this is a kitchen and I want something that can handle the occasional water splash. I just can't get my mind around putting in cafe type curtains either... so i keep coming back to the wood or bamboo option. Thanks for the tip on the photobucket. Other boards I frequent you post the img tag, not the html. I can't figure out how to edit posts in this forum so I couldn;t go back and fix it!

Hi Everyone and thank you so much!! When I get back from an errand I'll address your individual responses! I love the ideas you've shared (e.g. simple shaker - and to make the trim width match those of the uppers')! For now though, I feel the need to clarify: I realize that because I bombarded you w/ so many questions, it appears I'm freaking out or too indecisive...but if I'd asked only one question, then waited a while then asked another and so on, you'd probably think I was fine - haha! ;) Meanwhile - with the exception of the cabinetry issues - there is NO real rush on most of this. Yes we don't have a counter/sink but he was going to re-use the old, non-original doors until yesterday when I decided I'm willing to pay more to have them be flush-mounted like the upper ones. He'll figure out the final dimensions e.g. degree of angle of bump-out on Tuesday, and everything else necessary is already waiting to go besides the counter which can be ordered on Tuesday - and will take a week. So anyway, I'm actually not anxiety-ridden, just excited. And I ask you people not because I can't figure it out (I have ideas and lots of magazines) but because I've found more GREAT and unexpected advice on this forum than anywhere else. Everyone here is very experienced (at least in their research after having seen so much!), and focused here, and sometimes it's more fun and easier to give others advice, you know? I know I love to! I disagree that the options are all over the place by the way. I don't think one decision leads to another and can throw things off because most of the kitchen's original already and I'm making this a relatively period kitchen and there are only so many choices, most of which won't clash with others. E.g. a schoolhouse or other period light will go w/ wood floors of any color, will go with cafe curtains or pull-down shades, will go w/ the original cabinets. I just want to know if you have specific favorites or a quick "vision pop" like "flush light in center and pendant at window" or "...with bright-colored shades" or "angle the bump-out instead of square" or "don't put a microwave there." If I just *HAVE* to narrow down my questions ;) the most necessary ones are w/ regard to the lower cabinets (how not to compete w/ the uppers and still have something appropriate) and then the general idea of what the bump-out should look like (angled or straight edges, with or without those decorative side pillars)...maybe whether I should add feet? I feel like the cut-off upper cabinet above the stove will just work itself out by default but advice would still be nice. The rest are all just fun details that can be added at the end and are simply fun to get advice on. Wow - I sure know how to rant & ramble! Off I go...will get back to you soon, thanks again!

Two sofas, one floating to give the feeling of an entry hall. Place a long runner at front door. Put t.v on the wall opposite your front wall picture window. There is no fireplace, so do something extra special and make it a feature wall. Great inspiration photo for your mid-century style. Everything works for two sofas. The other end of the room, where the front closet is, needs no furniture, but wall decor to the left of closet door would add some interest.

I think light and airy is the way to go, and you can do that while warming up the room by the thickness of the material. I’d pair drapes with bamboo or other woven-type blinds or with roller shades. I don’t think it would look odd to have curtains at all because of the step, I’d just make sure the lengths were the same in relation to the floor. You could have the curtain division be where the step is or just treat them as two different windows (separate rods).