Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in here---As a plumber, I've noticed that both Moen and Delta are going to the nylon hose. Is it better? They haven't been around long enough to determine that. Only time will tell... The pull out seems to be more popular than the pull down, mainly I think because the pull out faucets are cheaper that the pull down. However, the prices are coming down on the pull downs...Moen just came out with a new model, the Arbor, that is priced comparable to the pull outs. I personally like the looks of the pull downs better.--The Captain

You know, I agree with you that the island perpendicular to the window wall doesn't feel as right as the island parallel to the window wall. Interesting. I stopped and thought about why that would be. My first thought was that, with the island perpendicular to the window wall, the end of the island closest to the living room now feels as if it's intruding into the walkway between the kitchen and living room. Even though the island ends in line with the side of the fridge closest to the living room, the island still feels as if it's intruding. However, when I look at the island parallel to the window, I also think the end of the island closest to the dining room feels as if it is intruding into the dining room. Even though the island ends in line with the side of the perimeter cabinet closest to the dining room, the island still feels as if it's intruding. So when you're standing in the living room, you like the perpendicular-to-the-window-wall island orientation less (because the island feels as if it's intruding towards you). And when you're standing in the dining room, you'll like the parallel-to-the-window-wall island orientation less (because the island feels as if it's intruding towards you). Given all that, I actually think this shape island (posted earlier upthread) feels the best from both perspectives: That is because the island is completely and clearly inside the invisible borders of the kitchen as delineated by the side of the fridge closest to the living room and the side of the perimeter cabinet closest to the dining room. A square (ish) island doesn't even touch the borders -- it's well inside them by a foot or two, making it impossible for the island to feel as if it's intruding into another room. This home layout is so open that it lacks some of the normal cues (walls/doorways/floor changes) marking where the kitchen ends and another room begins. So in this island's case, a setback from the technical kitchen border helps to clarify things. The island's definitely in the kitchen and only in the kitchen. Here is an edited version that stops the island a foot or two short of the borders in both directions: I'd recommend having seating just on the living room side of the island. Seating on the dining room side puts those chairs back to back with dining room chairs, and I always think that looks/functions a bit oddly.

I have had the RF28HMED (very similar to the model you're looking at) for a month and love it but also hate a couple of things about it. I'm still getting used to where to put things to maximize space but it's getting better every day. One great thing is that nothing gets lost in the fridge even though it's not counter depth. Cons: Door storage on left side is hardly functional because of the ice maker shoot in the door. I hardly have any condiments that will fit on that side. The right door is very functional but less organized because the bins are so deep so everything is kind of just jumbled together. Main fridge portion seems crowded at times if you're not utilizing the flex drawer. It has a lot of shelves which is nice but for some reason I feel like there's still not enough room to put a bunch of leftovers. Pros: The drawers inside the main fridge are huge and glide smoothly. Again, they are huge. Love them! Flex drawer is currently used for cheese, apples and yogurt. I like that I can put anything in it I want. I originally wanted to store leafy greens in it including the huge spinach container from Costco...and it actually fits but the manual says not to store leafy greens in there. I love the slide away half shelf in the fridge as well as the tilt down shelf. The freezer has pretty good organization, no complaints there. The ice maker works pretty well but dispenses ice a little slow maybe. The water comes out very fast but the way the spout/nozzle is pointing pisses me off! It's angled sharply toward the fridge which makes it impossible to fill a tall narrow neck bottle. Wide mouth are fine as are standard glasses. I did get a 5yr warranty on it and I'd be shocked if I don't have to use it. On the other 4 door fridge you're looking at can you fit a pizza box, deli tray, or sheet cake in flat? That would be my biggest concern with those and maybe the answer is yes. I love being able to open both doors to fit something long in. Most of the time I only have to open one side to get what I need.

I would certainly stay away from Grohe while the company works out its problems and gets comfortable with its new Japanese owners. Hansgrohe, famous for its hand showers, has never had a good kitchen spray -- don't know why. The company certainly has the know-how. Try theIn2Aqua Edge. It toggles between spray and stream without having to turn off the water. In22aqua is a new German company that makes the most impressive line of faucets we have seen in quite a while. Of course, the master of the spray faucet is Moen. Al Moen essentially invented the kitchen spray, and the company has been improving on it ever sense. For our reviews of Moen, In2aqua and over 100 other faucet brands, seeFaucet Reviewws and Ratings.