Thank you everyone! This had made me look at the counters MUCH differently! I can't wait to get rid of the yellow and the flooring and carpet and see what it looks like. I went and looked at backsplash tile yesterday and saw a few fabulous styles that incorporated greens and grays. I am concerned about the cabinet color- is that golden oak? The house was built in 1993. The cabinets (minus being dirty and having yellow paint around the tops) are in great condition. I had not thought about painting them until this post. I mentioned it to family yesterday and everyone was quick to say NO don't do it! I am playing with the idea, or possibly restaining them darker or lighter. I'm afraid they may be too orangy for my taste in colors, but again, I think that has a lot to do with the dang yellow. I will be replacing the hardware for sure- it is vary dated/not my style. Now I am trying to think about flooring ideas as well, but there is too much to choose from and it's going to be weeks till I get in to any of this so I am trying not to stress now. Our budget for the kitchen is small (the whole kitchen window has to be replace as there was a fire out the outer deck behind the window which melted the window/screen/siding around it, so that is something we have to tackle before the interior) but I think I can do enough in the next few months to at least make me happy for the next few years.

Yes, scone911, Washington has excellent laws on the books that prevent manufactured homes communities owners from the predatory behaviors you're talking about. Our lot rent here was recently raised for the first time in ten years, from $245/mo. to $280. Rent covers water (well) and septic. I should say that we're out from the city and surrounded by farms, and it's a very small park, just 38 homes. The former owners live here in their MH, and the wife is still the manager. They are super laid back people; the park rules haven't been changed since 2002, lol. But in WA, you can't change park rules without a meeting at least six months in advance of the change. And if the land is ever sold for another use, they have to give you notice a full year in advance. WA also has a fund so if you do have to move and are low income, they give you $7,000 to help with the move. That wouldn't cover it all, but would help. But I agree with every single thing you said! I look forward to ranting on your new thread ! ;-) By the way, my best friend is writing her dissertation on employee owned businesses. I bet you'd really like it. I should also mention that today's manufactured homes are constructed very well. Regular wall board, studs, and subfloors, no different from a site built home. But back to our regularly scheduled programming...no, I wasn't there on the KF back in the day, but I've read some threads from that era, yikes! It definitely has mellowed since then. Formica is an excellent company that makes products that can stand up to families with children and last for decades! I never knew there was anything else until I was in my 20's, haha! A granite slab would cost more than I paid for this house, lol, and while it can be beautiful, I'd probably ruin it by setting a hot pan on it, cutting into it while slicing an onion, forgetting that I have a cutting board, or never getting around to sealing it... While I do cook pretty much every day, it is very simple stuff...I enjoy cooking, but I'm no gourmet. I don't need a chef's kitchen or a show kitchen; I need a working kitchen! My kitchen does follow Marcolo's infamous ice, water, stone, fire, but the "stone" is sorely lacking...there is very little counter space. So for me, the footprint will not change, but I'm knocking out that china hutch and replacing it with a counter height island/table. IKEA base cabs (drawers!) with a butcher block counter top. Counter height, comfortable stools with backs to replace the table. Wendy makes an excellent point. Just as we don't want to be judged for our small, NOT six figure kitchens, we should not judge someone else's remodel based on pictures that look just fine to us. Believe me, there are millions of people in Zambia, where I just lived for a year, that would find all of our kitchens to be opulent! Formica counters--are you kidding? They're doing their kitchen prep on the cement or dirt floor! Wendy, I do like the way your corner sink is facing two nice big windows! I'm feeling like a hermit here. Joy and I have moved into our house, but my friends (the hoarder) haven't moved out yet. She doesn't allow any curtains to be open, ever. OK, here's the built-in cabinet. You can see the LR to the right, and the K to the left. Please remember this isn't my stuff! It's the hoard, lol! A straight-on shot of the kitchen. You can see, from L to R, ice, water, stone, fire. Notice the location of the range. It can't be opened all the way because it bangs into the cabinet under the sink. Also note lack of counter space. Even when it gets cleaned up, it's still very little. This is shows the back side of the china cabinet and the "eat in" portion of the kitchen. My friends use lots of bookcase like structures to hold all their stuff. The bump out here houses the furnace. I'm hoping to go to a mini split heat/air system, and then I can knock out that bump-out and get some more counter space. I'm eliminating all the uppers because I can't reach them. This is a house where you have to picture the possibilities! :-)

Lots of people do stupid things that don’t comply with design best practices. Like a 400 lb on top of a laundry set that needs to be pulled out and cleaned regularly. Or an incorrecyly sized standpipe subject yonivethlow because they didn’t want it to show above the washing machine. Or other very silly form over function decisions.

Kristi, if you live in Calif you have a boat load of legal help from the contractors state board. There's a specific way about going about it though that's allot quicker. Otherwise it can be painfully slow. The strategy if available. Does he have a bond? Liability insurance? If yes to any of the above. Stop the project. As soon as you say I don't feel comfortable doing business with you legally he has to stop. Business and professions code. My gut is telling me a permit was not pulled, unless you live in the hills of Tennessee I think every city requires one. Although your outlet has a GFCI at it's current height it's problematic. I don't want you to be alarmed. Everything you've shown can be easily remedied to how it should be. As far as the die lot of tile. Lol drama okay. It's white you'll find a perfect match. Do yourself the favor, rid yourself of the aggravation by having to point out the obvious wrongs. My greater concern, those things in which you can't see. Really hope you're in Cali. Tons of resources.