Michelle, regarding Subzero 700 36inch R/F combo: they have very little crisper drawers. I know couple families that have them and they are not happy about that. The interior is very different from the Subzero BI models which have excellent layout. I passed the subzero for that reason... I have a paneled Thermador 36, just like Staceydx above. Having said that the Subzero design is more 'integrated' in that the horizontal line is at 36 inches above the floor, which is exactly where the counter top occurs. The there are two drawers at the bottom which can be 'matched' with your adjacent drawers and often are. The "look" is more in keeping with that flowing horizontal line of the countertops. If I were you, I would do 27 inch all frig/pantry to match and the freezer elsewhere. i know that this will add to the price but this will be only a fraction of the total kitchen budget. Once you pencil in the cost differential, you will see that it's not that much.

daisymc, Your project sounds similar to what I have going on. 3 years ago this coming September, we started on a 2500 sq.foot addition to the back of our house. We have acted as our own general contractor and have contracted out what we couldn't do like the framing, electrical, and plumbing. For the most part we have done everything else. We too have been paying cash so I really am watching it. I find myself at Lowes every other day looking at the clearance stuff. Right when I think I can take a breather because I have made a decision like when I ordered my cabinets, I have another decision to agonize over. I was agonizing over the door stuff last week too. I went to Menards to special order doors and then I just couldn't decide on arched top or 6 panel. I still don't know. Good luck with your project!! I hope you post tons of pics!!

" The KD says that I could, but the others won't fit as perfectly" and she wouldn't get her cut of those innards either! Go with what is best for YOU and what you can afford. Some innards you can add cheaper later when the shock of the cost of the reno wears off your bank acct. good to hear someone w/ drawers that are so deep and long work out good in the kitchen. can you use a bottom deep drawer (pantry space) for your cat food cans? extra stored in the far back? I do think a rot or 2 up higher for canned goods/bottled items would be better than a drawer. figure out about how many types of canned goods you use and how many of each you like to have on hand. I found I don't use as many canned goods as I did yrs ago. And even if I keep a 6 mo. supply on hand (it's just me here) in many cases that might only mean 6-8 cans of the 'type'. If you get a basic idea of the types and # needed you can probably figure out how many rots you'd need. Wouldn't use 1 whole rot for say canned soup, would you? But you could put like items on the same rot. veggies, misc (beans, tomato types) etc. Might want a bit deeper sided rot for bottles depending on what size you usually buy in. largest size? medium? small size? lots in bottles - mayo, pickles, salad dressings, vinegar etc. you might do them in rows on the rot - soups in left row, beans in center left row, tomato stuff in center right row, veggies in right row... these days I only keep 2 types of soup on hand. crm mushroom for cooking and chicken noodle in case I get sick and need it. 3-4 in a yr would be enough for me (alone). maybe you could use a sort of deep drawer in the pantry area (above cat food?) for snack stuff - chips, pretzels, popcorn... just stuff to help jog your thinking as you go forward. I understand it all being overwhelming. It doesn't take much to do that to me these days. I got overwhelmed with moving and dropped the idea of changes in the kitchen! well, until maybe this coming yr changing one lower cabinet into drawers... but that's not that major. When I moved I put all gadget things that I didn't use at least every week into a plastic bin on the pantry shelf. Took them out as I used them. If it then made sense to keep the thing I put it in a drawer or another bin. As the yr went on everything still in the 1st bin got tossed or if something used once a yr into a plastic bin to live in the laundry room. the other bin in the pantry now holds things I do need occasionally (I only have 6 drawers in the kitchen).

A - Options with marble backsplash with white backsplash with some other backsplash B - Designs #1 (no island, one continuous counter) #2 (island, one tall cabinet at very end) #3 (island, two tall cabinets (one on each side of window)) something else C - Aesthetics make the cabinets in the dining room look just like regular kitchen cabinets make the cabinets in the dining room look more like they belong in a dining room, despite being used for kitchen things something else Last but not least: D - Countertop black with white veins solid black some other dark option light grey dark grey something else Hi...what an exciting time for you and congrats on your adorable house... :) I highlighted my own preferences....but they are MY preferences...why?: I adore carrara marble hands down. I think white tile would be rather industrial looking. In fact, I would do carrara on the island if it's in the budget (and you don't mind the inevitable wear) I have always loved the idea of "extending" the cabinet run into the dining area. You don't have to keep kitchen stuff in it. It will fill up with "good" dishes, games, wrapping paper, tableclothes....all of the things we need on the daily. Plus you can NEVER have too much cupboard space. Also, I like to work at an island. My back isn't facing everyone else... I would have a soapstone counter. Once again I love it, but also if you love the carrara, I think the marbled counter would be too much of a opposite, negative look. Good luck on this. The examples you've shown are just lovely...