One other picture. Excuse my horrible edit job but I don't have photoshop on this computer so Paint had to help me out. What are the opinions on this smaller, less ackward shaped island? I'd get rid of the seating as there is a table 5 feet to the left and I can still reuse the granite with this design. I can (and probably would) make this a little narrower as well. Plus with this design, I gain even more storage as I am using some space from the seating. I don't think I like the peninsula, but I can definitely love this smaller island. FTR: I have a straight walkway from the sink to the fridge...I know it looks like the island is in the way, but its not. Since I am gaining extra sapce on the island. What would your thoughts be in installing the microwave shelf there? I've seen this is a few newer homes but am uncertain. Thoughts?! This post was edited by erinf83 on Thu, Feb 28, 13 at 14:41

When I had clicked on it, I did not see any such pics. I also wanted to show you a great site for glass tile backsplashes that you can actually create your own custom blend and adjust the amount of whatever color you prefer in existing blends. I played with a blend using your colors: black, red, a slateish color, some mottled white/cream all together. It was fun to adust percentages of each color and see how it looked plus the tiles looked wonderful. The overall site has infinite combinations and is a great place to start. Many people on this forum have bought from this place and have been very pleased. I'm no where near that point yet. Here is a link that might be useful: Glass backsplash choices

Thanks again to everyone for responding. We had not considered a white island, but that is something to thinks about. Wow, kalapointer, thanks for posting the pics of your cabinetry. The colors are very close to what we were thinking of. We're beginning to back off the dark cherry, though, because of worries about its darkening further -- with only one window (and a large skylight), our kitchen might not be as bright as yours. We're not sure. Cabinet buy says cherry darkens, but maple yellows ... editionk, you're right, kpasso's kitchen looks very similar to ours, it's about the same size, and it's laid out almost exactly the same with a similar size island! It's very helpful to see those pics. And in answer to your questions: (1) Do you have a pantry / larger food storage somewhere that I don't see in your layouts? Yep -- in the second picture you can see a door beyond the fridge. That's the door to the utility/laundry room. The pantry is to your left as you go through the door :-) (2) Have you considered changing the door/drawer on the left of the stove to a bank of drawers? Ditto on the one on the left of the sink. Hadn't thought about that. I think the only three-drawer stacks now are next to the dishwasher (for utensils) and across from the sink on the island. (3) You mentioned dark areas/shadowy areas in your house. A dark red cherry finish in a kitchen with just one window might feel too dark. A few glass uppers can lighten the look a lot along with the right paint and backsplash. What are you thinking so far for those elements? We are planning glass uppers on all the upper cabinets around the sink (two to the right, one to the left) and there are 1-foot cabinets on the wall across from the sink that don't show up in these renderings but that also have glass uppers. We were going to do glass uppers around the range as well, but decided that was too much. (4) Will you have a microwave? I think I see a TV in the layout, but no micro (unless it's in the island). Yes. The microwave will sit on the counter in the corner under the TV. My husband doesn't think it's safe to lift possibly heavy hot dishes from a raised area, and I see his point. (5) I expected your door style would be Craftsman considering the renderings and your description, but the Merillat door style is quite traditional. The cherry Paprika color is nice, is that what you're considering? I think that is the name of the color. It does seem to be pretty dark when you look on their website. I am not sure what a Craftsman door style is, but the cabinet design guy has mentioned Shaker style a few times. It's a bit too plain for our tastes, though. We are also considering Kraftmaid cabinets. The frameless drawers are appealing because they have several inches more width for the same cabinet size. But the design we like would be about 35% more (!) than the Merillat Classic because not only is Kraftmaid more to start with, the design is much fancier, including curved wood on the face of the cabinet door. I can't remember the style name and it doesn't look easy to find on the Kraftmaid website. I wonder if those fancy doors would overwhelm our smallish kitchen anyway.

TT, the painted cabs should be solid wood, with MDF panels only. no reason to have all fiberboard. 3K more to paint as opposed to staining? wow. Sounds a bit high. Confirm that the doors/drawers are indeed solid wood, with only MDF center panels. I had my cabinets painted last year. I have solid wood (birch I believe). but the drawers weren't the same as the doors, so for another 2K, I got all new door/drawer fronts in the same shaker style. They are all solid maple with the door center panels being the MDF. my floors are white oak, and I have walnut around the vent hood and window. You will have to see how he does the stain. You say you don't want it to come out like your last pic. so how can you be assured that it won't? Elkhorn would be safer since it doesn't have any yellow. And like I've said, your other two pics are on oak. not birch. you understand the difference in wood, yes? you like the kitchen stain colors w/oak. So get oak and not birch I'm just concerned that you want blue lowers/wood uppers. Have you found a picture w/that combo? even this one is all wood w/blue island. As for the walnut butcher block, 4K is ridiculous. is this a builder home ? you know they make their money on all the upgrades, right? It's cheaper if you go w/base options, and have things redone once you move in. like countertops or backsplash choices. take the included option on the island. when you move in, pay to have what ever you want. I guarantee you it will be cheaper Don't they offer a standard white cabinet? I think you should rethink your two tone options