DH & I agree with both of you about the gray. It's too much and we will probably tire of it quickly. I am trying to figure out if those cabinets are also wood-mode and their stain color so I can compare that against other color options. Here's one with the perimeter cabinet color I like and a painted island - cannot tell if that's a gray? But DH is getting thrown off as he thinks it's too busy with the backsplash. https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchens-traditional-kitchen-dc-metro-phvw-vp~5787675-traditional-kitchen-dc-metro I also suggested bringing in a waterfall counter for the island and leaving all cabinets the same color as seen in this picture. But DH is worried the waterfall counter is too much of a trend that will go away and also concerned about the expense. https://www.houzz.com/photos/huntington-beach-contemporary-kitchen-orange-county-phvw-vp~162920-Beach-contemporary-kitchen DH is a fan of this slab style and overall color / finish. I like it but think it might look dirty and dated very quickly. https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-clean-warm-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-san-diego-phvw-vp~845494--contemporary-warm-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-san-diego Ayeâ¦.

Thanks again davidtay; I did about a week ago and the closest I could find that was waterproof and had the most amount of lumens per foot in an rgb led strip was listed below, see link. Based on my calculations it would produce 244 lumens per foot and I would assume that's in white mode, although it's unknown which color temperature. That would be bright enough to not need a separate white led run on it's own switch. I would also need a 12 volt 40 watt 4 amp power supply and a controller. If my math is right at 16.5 feet costing approximately $160.00 add a controller and power supply it shouldn't be much more than $200.00? I wonder if this would work. By the way I have one more cabinet to build then onto the doors. eam Pattern 180 degree Color RGB Current Draw @ 12 Volts DC 3295mA Current Draw per Foot 201mA Water Resistance[1] Weatherproof IP65 Number of LEDs in Unit 300 LEDs LED Type 5050 SMD LEDs per Segment 3 Length 500cm(197in) Lifetime 40000 Hours Lumen 4020 Lumen Max Run[2] 1 Polarized Yes Price Per Foot $14.38 Standards And Certifications CE/FCC/ISA Approved/ROHS Compliant/UL Listed Strip Width 12mm Suitable for Vehicles Yes Total Power Consumption 39.5 Watts Type Flexible Light Strips/High Density Operating Voltage Range 9~14.8 VDC Wattage per Foot 2.5 Watts Wavelength 470 nm/525 nm/626 nm Wire Length 48.26cm(19in) Dimensions: 500cm(196.85") x 1.2cm(0.47") x 0.275cm(0.11") Here is a link that might be useful: Superbright led rgb strip

Les, you have some great points. I really appreciate your time thinking this through. We have poured over this layout for the past three years, and short of doing a complete remodel, this seems to be the best layout for us. My first plan was to leave the refrigerator as is and put the dishwasher in the nook. But, the kitchen is sorely lacking in counter space which is much more important to us than a dishwasher. To get more counter space, we need to move the refrigerator. So our options were to put the dishwasher next to the stove or not have one at all. We thought about putting it next to the sink, but the cabinet is not deep enough. I can't recess it into the exterior wall without reframing it. To do that, I would have to tear up the counter for access. The open dishwasher won't be very far from the sink. We'll just have to dry the floor each time we use it. This solution won't work for everyone, but we're ok with it. I'm also planning to get an ADA height dishwasher. That way, I'll have space for a pullout cutting board above it. More counter space by the stove. I will move the stove a few inches from the wall. I want to leave it in the corner because the ceiling has a built-in vent above it - also original to the house. It is a passive vent, but it works pretty well. We have a pantry in the breakfast room next to the kitchen. It's right by the current refrigerator corner, so it is convenient enough. That is an ironing board with Big Boy behind the refrigerator. We will use the top portion to house oils and spices. The bottom will be hidden by the new cabinets or cart. The kitchen is small, but we have built-ins and a pantry cabinet in the breakfast room. The end result is we have a good amount of storage space. I even have a large empty drawer in the breakfast room! Lisa

With Ikea, you get very sturdy cabinets that use excellent quality Blum hinges. You can get just about ANY type of Shaker or other style and color of door from Semihandmade or Scherr's, which are specially designed exactly for IKEA cabinets. You are not limited at all by Ikea's colors and styles. Ikea stands behind its products and if you search within Gardenweb for "Scherr's" and/or "Semihandmade," you will be surprised by how many very happy and satisfied customers with beautiful, functional kitchens, with all kinds of roll-out lowers, trash roll-outs, etc. All of IKEA's stuff is hack-able as well, with examples all over the internet. Finally, the IKEA planner, while not perfect, is fairly user-friendly, and you can work and design your kitchen online, play with the planner, and figure out the best configuration for your situation. People in the Kitchens forum (not this remodeling forum, most likely), are very adept and skilled and willing to help you with the design. They can even sometimes go into your design, online, and help you design. You'll see. It's a great budget way to go.