kitchenaddict--thanks so much for attaching the photos. It does look very similar. I wish the countertop was a laminent so that I could copy off it. I think it looks really nice and have trouble visualizing it all put together. The taupe does look pretty also. I wonder if that is the better way to go instead of the "yellow" family. I am just afraid to pick something that is too blah and everything just looks dull together. biochem101-- thanks for the advice. I agree that is probably the best thing to do because even though sometimes things looks similar, once you put them side by side they can bring out the wrong colors in each other.

3) I've heard that it's a good idea to buy all one brand of appliances so the stainless steel matches. After reading lots of reviews, I'm leaning toward Whirlpool Gold. Any experiences? I'm especially concerned about the wall oven as Whirlpool is not known for ovens. No! No! No! NNNNOOOO! The same brand generally uses different factories to produce different appliances. The sheet metal will come from different suppliers. Even if the same factory with the same supplier produces two appliances in the suite you are considering it is probably a different batch therefore slightly different. The reason some people buy a suite of appliance from one brand is for a rebate. In general you are buying some good appliances and some bad appliances.One brand does not make the best appliance in each category therefore not much of a bargain. Some buy a suite of appliances to match handles,dumb reason IMO to buy from same brand. You can buy DW with integrated handle and cooktops don't have handles. It it best to buy each appliance on it's own merit; just take care you are not buying an appliance with such a unique handle or style it clashes with the rest. My recommendations A) Frigidaire SS 27" Double Oven FFET2725LS $1343 +$166 for 30" http://compare.ebay.com/like/360395237582?var=lv These are better than Whirlpool Gold and as good as any in the mid-priced category. The reason they are cheaper is Frigidaire's brutally efficient factory not cheap parts. The next signifciantly better oven is Electrolux at twice the price. B) Samsung RF263AERS 26 cu. ft. French Door $1452.55 http://www.wdcappliances.com/ProductsDetail.php?SKU=RF263AERS&cse=4 Samsung four-five years in a row JD Powers #1 French Door. C) Bosch evolution 300 series dlx $619 http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=BOSHE43P25UC&id=BOSHE43P25UC&l=FROOGLE Whirlpool Gold is a nice DW that uses a food grinder. This makes it loud. Before enzyme based detergents,you needed a food grinder.Almost all modern DW detergents are enzyme based and work well with DWers with filters. Bosch is a quiet DW with filter. Bosch has been at the top of Consumer Reports rankings and near the top of JD. JD ranks Miele #1 but that outside your price range.CR says you need to spend $500 to get a DW that does its basic function well. I say $600. That leaves room in the budget for a premium cooktop. D) BlueStar RBCT365BSS $1800-$2200 You have to get this local.It depends on local dealer. If your local dealer has a price match policy then abesofmain.com has it for $1800 with free shipping in it's area. Below is a vid about BS burner. Total $5214.55-$5780.55 What are you doing for range hood(Ventilation)? 4) For the amount of money I'd spend on a cooktop and double wall oven, I could get a really nice range. I bake and cook a LOT so the double oven is appealing, I think I may be romanticizing the idea of a double wall oven. Thoughts? Is it worth it? If you like baking in your toaster oven and think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread then you may find yourself only using one oven and the toaster oven. If you find the the toaster oven bakes uneven and dries out food you will probably turn on both ovens. I would get the double ovens. BTW Did I mention I think it is a bad idea to get all appliaces from one brand? I know someone will post they got all their appliances from one brand and they just LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Still a bad idea IMO. You should get the best appliance for your money not just appliances that are much better than the old appliances they replaced. BTW II I will leave questions 1 and 2 to someone else. Here is a link that might be useful: BS Link

Wednesday came and went. Guy was really dragging his feet to get in 6 lower cabinets. Then, he placed scribe molding. I stopped it. I have these beautiful panels and I wish to keep them that way. In an ideal world with an unlimited budget I would have had the board scribed. He tipped me over the edge with a couple comments, including that I was having him take away more cardboard than what was packaged around the cabinets. Beware my contract said nothing about sweep clean up, it did say he would remove the cardboard for $9.00 (prepaid).

I agree with beckysharp. Glass tile looks good in a more modern kitchen and would go well with your counter and floor. It would probably be my choice. Another one to look at might be the metal subways that are available; they come in various textures and designs. Perhaps just for behind the stove. I also think that you can mix a dark bronze with brushed nickel, as long as the bronze isn't showing reddish/coppery glints, because you have the dark island and appliances. Just be careful not to do too much dark in that small space.