Loved #2, but no doubt you'll end up with something you love even more. We had our heart set on a house that was a foreclosure. Even got friendly with the next door neighbor and gave our number so she could call us as soon as the house was put on the market. She called the minute the sign went up outside and we put in the very 1st offer, and the bank told our realtor it was a good offer (and all cash at that) and we would be getting the house. Well it turned into a bidding war and we also couldn't keep up. We were heartbroken. But within 2 months we found our current home, which turned out to be even better and was a price we could afford.

@matdrew, how handy is your husband? how much time and effort does he have to devote to this project? If the answers are very and lots, then the sky's the limit. There are some amazing DIY facelifts that have been shared on this site. I included a link to one below that involved replacing the doors and painting the boxes - if you search or post specifically looking for DIY facelift kitchens, you'll find more on GW and elsewhere in the blogosphere. But it's not clear from your posts here or on the decorating forum if you have a clear sense of what's entailed, both in terms of time/effort and in terms of budget. In a previous post, you mention that replacing the kitchen would be "at least" $6k. I'd guess at least 5 times that amount and probably much more since you mentioned you're in NJ. Doing a facelift with new doors, tops and backsplash would be a lot less expensive, but it's not necessarily inexpensive. In addition to the new doors and countertops, and a new surround for the fridge, you have to factor in the cost of paint, equipment, a new sink, faucet, garbage disposal, new hood, new microwave, hardware, tile and all the other little things. Plus of course all the time involved with the prep and painting and reconstructing the fridge surround - or the money to pay a pro to do these things. You mentioned using points to pay for the counters - have you actually gotten an estimate from a fabricator or are you estimating? Depending on the stone you pick and the number of slabs you need, you may find your estimate to be off. It can add up quickly, and the only way you're going to get the result you want is if you have a really clear understanding of the work involved. Your photos look like a liveable kitchen, but the rest of your house suggest a different style. So it makes to sense to work through what changes are possible. I think what a lot of the posters here are trying to suggest is that you could do a lot to change the look of your kitchen without necessarily doing tons of work or spending a lot. If you're committed to something bigger, then it's good to get a clear sense of the time, money and effort involved. Here is a link that might be useful: browniepie's DIY reveal

Hi, anyone from Vancouver Canada? I have been trying to find a source for a Corian solid surface shower pan but am having a difficult time finding one. I've called a few bathroom supply stores and went to a few Home Depot and they only have the ugly acrylic ones and only in white, Corian.com does not even mention this type of product so why is that? If it's such a great product why wouldn't they advertise it?

Catlady999 the light over the shower was installed by a licensed electrician who was doing a bunch of other work in the house but thank you for bringing that up! *Update* good news: my mom said she's going to tell the guy to stop working in the bathroom area and just focus on getting the other things (painting, drywall) so hopefully this means we'll be getting a real professional who knows what they're doing!