unfortunately the room is too narrow to have the sofa facing the fireplace. I'm pretty much stuck with that being there. Great thoughts about the coffee table, I keep trying to love the trunk but its just not happening. Oh well it was only $20 so maybe its Scouts new toy box. Interesting point about the rug - admittedly I'm not too polished on the rules of design so I end up having to learn along the way. I think I'll try a bigger rug. Also I'm going to hold off on the TV. Maybe once I finish the kitchen reno and use the room more otherwise I'm fine with just going to the basement which I'm also decorating slowly but surely. Its becoming my favorite room in the house and has another massive fireplace which makes it so warm and cozy. I'll post some pics and get everyone kind help AFTER I vacuum the couch (yellow dog & brown microfiber - UGH!!)....

aekekk - Would hate to have one of those little devils get stuck! I found some nice decorate metal grate at Rockler that will look really nice. marti8a - Thanks. I am actually having a really good time with the tiles and am thrilled with how they have come out. We are starting the next phase and hopefully it will not be long and they will be up on the wall. go_figure01 - Our kitchen is around 20'x23'. We are taking our old kitchen/breakfast area and making it one big kitchen. The island is 6'x10'. The island is about where the old peninsula was, the fridge will stay in the same place, the stove will be where the old cooktop was. The two tall cabinets on the right side of the sketch are the 6' of pantry :) The bottom picture is one of the two slabs used to make our island and sink. We are doing this all in phases so we will have a working kitchen during the remodel. We both work full time, we are doing all the work ourselves, including building all the cabinets. I will post more pictures as we go along. I decided that some stained glass panels would look nice in the top part of the pantry and in the cabinets by the refrig. So then I decided that since I have a kiln why not do a combo of fused and stained glass. I have no idea what I am doing, but I am looking forward to the fun of learning how!

I never posted on either of the forums, but read them all a lot. I have followed your other thread. I have few questions: *Do you think you'll eventually replace cabinets & renovate the kitchen? *If yes, when - few years from now? much longer than that? *Is the existing layout satisfactory to you or is there anything that has to be changed soon? Almost everyone suggested that you keep existing cabinets as they are. I personally like dark color too. BUT you are and will live in that house. Looking at them every single day. On top of it you mentioned that they are pretty worn out. So you should do it the way you like them. If you are not planning major reno soon, I would think it would be best to invest some $$$ & have them painted professionally. It will cost you little more, but results would likely be much better. (My daughter paints & I wouldn't have her doing my kit cabinets - walls, trim yes, maybe laundry cabinets!). Just don't forget that the frames/boxes (hope that is correct term) need to be painted same color. That has to be done on site, but it is much smaller/narrower area so maybe your husband can do it. Same paint color as door. The panel by the fridge should be as wide as the appliance - you mentioned that. Would you carry it to the top of cabinets? (I would). Then you need to make upper cab deeper - I am sure you know that & it can be done. Definitely replace tiles. Bar could be just drywalled & painted same as walls (I had something similar & it looked great). Is the counter appropriate depth?(looks just bit shallow, but that may be just because fridge seems to be sticking up too much-lack of proper width on that panel). I had caesarstone organic white counter & loved it. My cabs were darker brown with greenish undertones. And my backsplash was white tile (white on white subtle design). Together it looked great. Sorry, don't have photos to post. If you like gray cabinets (or any other color), I would suggest to go to paint store & p/u color chips that you like. I would take them to IKEA (or other kit showroom...) & look at all gray (whatever color) kitchens they have, comparing the color chips to cabs you like most . That way you'll see how the cabinets will look. You may be able to get ideas on backsplash & paint color too - usually, the showroom kitchens are set up to impress! I am not good in suggesting colors, but having paint chips will help again. Check them against existing walls. If you think it looks good, buy a small sample of paint, get larger piece of hardboard or drywall, paint it & put next to adjoining walls. You will see if they 'go together' much better from the large sample (make it at least 2x2', even bigger). Most important, I think, is not to rush. You will spend more $ than you think (it always works that way...), and you will have to live with result for a while if you don't like it. So rather take more time planning. Your kit is in very good shape for a while longer (even if you are sick & tired of the red cabinets). Don't get pressured into something you don't like, and don't do it so-so/good enough...just my opinion... Rina

My first project with glass tile involved my removing two columns of mortared mosaic glass squares because I didn't like the angle of my tile cuts. In the process of pulling it down I cut myself (no big surprise). What was a bit of a surprise was the surgery I needed two months later to remove a shard of glass lodged on the tendon of the middle finger of my right hand. It could have severed that tendon at any time, which would, of course, have been disastrous. He needs a wet saw, a diamond blade for it, personal protective equipment (I wore goggles, boots, gloves, but my gloves weren't leather) and health insurance! Regarding the tile, seeing all the samples together, Tusk has the right undertones, and would be my choice. You can choose anything you like, of course, but I don't think Gardenia is the right one. I am partial to the glazed thin brick and show it below in Alcatraz and Glacier. I totally get it if you feel you already have enough brick! But this may be a better color family for you.