PWM, (hope you don't mind my abbreviating your screen name) You sure have inspired me! My mother did a 'village' of these houses under our Christmas tree for as far back as I can remember! (1940's) I inherited her village when she quit putting a tree up. And until about 4 years ago, (when my son 'took over' the Christmas festivities) I had it under our tree. It was always a winter scene, With cotton 'snow' for the ground, mirrors for ponds, etc. She had a number of the type of trees you are looking for, But unfortunately they've gotten crushed over the years. I know I've bought them in probably Walmart in the past, Bur haven't looked for them in a number of years, So I am no help there. But I never knew what those houses were called. I did try to repair those that were coming apart, With a bit of success. And I have added porcelain houses over the years, too, As well as people, etc. My mother never had any people in hers, though. I'm thinking now I just may haul it all out this year And set it up again. Maybe even make some 'new' houses for it! And somewhere along the line, I think before I was born, but not sure, My Dad made a red wooden fence to go around it. Sorry to ramble on so, But thank you for reminding me of a very pleasant memory That had sort of fallen by the wayside. Rusty

Seems like all of you agree with me that it could be a lot better. I had thought it should be wider if not all the way across. Les, I'd never thought of iron corbels, kinda interesting and unique for sure. I just know when I saw the timber ones at the home show I loved them. But I was wondering too if they were TOO rustic. Caroleoh, I know what you're saying about my trim and cabinets. The cabinets are distressed but not heavily. My heart says rustic but I've decorated more traditional with some antiques and distressed pieces mixed in. kswl, I purposely told the builder I didn't want my mantel painted because I thought the wood look would be a little more rustic and in keeping with the bricks. It just didn't turn out like I pictured in my mind and I can't say exactly why, so frustrating! gray, I do live in TN but I'm over 400 mi from Dollywood so I can't make a day trip to check them out. Sounds kinda wild, I've never seen a mantel carved with 3D animals. Maybe they have a website. Thanks for the input. Would love to hear from others too about their thoughts on the timber mantel or other suggestions. Thanks!

Hi. I spent over $80K on my Kountry Kraft kitchen cabinets and I sent back my fridge panels b/c they were not the way they were designed in the sketches. It took 4 weeks to get the replacements. That said, some end panels left a horrible seam and the ends were a completely different color. A tech from KK came to my house and spent 3 hours touching up things here and there, including making exposed hinges that were not level, level, and touching up a small gouge my GC did to a face frame above my wall oven. Am I 100% satisfied? Not really. But, I'll have to live with a bunch of imperfections and have learned to say "Oh Well." and consider myself lucky to have over all a very beautiful kitchen. Sort of like the first ding on a new car, it's almost a relief when it happens. I'll never be doing this again, so it bums me a tiny bit that it's not "perfect" especially since it will become less perfect down the road with the anticipated cracks and seams that will show since my cabs are painted white. BUT, I doubt anyone else coming into my kitchen will notice the flaws. AND, I bet if I moved into my house with the kitchen exactly as it will be when it is finished, I would love it to death and wouldn't notice a single flaw. Hope you end up happy and love your new kitchen!

I think you invite complications, grief and disappointment when you try to reshape an installation of this kind. There is always the risk that you hire a contractor who tells exactly what he plans to do and, after he starts, tells you that he misjudged the complexity of the thing or that, once he cut below the surface, he found things he did not expect, and that will raise the price, the mess and the inconvenience. I know you do not like the raised hearth. But is there some modification short of disemboweling the whole thing that will achieve for you the look that you want? I recommend that you go back to square one and rethink your options.