worldmom- I love the photos! Your house is beautiful, your remodel is really fantastic, it sounds like you are doing a really great job finding that 1910 original. I'd again say, when it comes right down to it, this is your house, and you need to do what makes you happy. If you really think just painting your dining room white would do that, then you should do it. However, I think it is really beautiful the way it is. I don't mind the dark stain at all, I think, in fact, that it rings historically true. The dining room was a formal space that during that time would be very dark. Painting woods dark to make them look like more expensive woods was very common- our pocket doors are painted a dark walnut brown, and this is original (the edges are painted white- kind of frustrating). So, although it was done in the 70's, it's not historically inaccurate. For me, painting that amazing mirror would be painful, I don't know that I could do it. However, I'm having the cabinets and shelves in my kitchen stained almost black (a deep mahogany), so I clearly love dark wood. Did you have a clear color in mind for the dining room while you were thinking of painting the woodwork white? I think having it a green would be really nice, I actually think several of the colors you have next to the mirror would be really lovely. I would say that you could use the exact green you are planning for the hutch in the dining room, I think that woodwork would look great with just about anything. You can also try SW Shagreen, in our old house, we used it in my boys' room and I really loved it. It's a few shades darker than celery green, so I think in the right family that you are looking for. To deal with the darkness, I think the ideas of working with lighting as suggested in your previous post is the best idea. You can paint the woodwork, walls, and all the furniture white and because it is on the north side of the house, without more lighting it would still be dark. Another idea could be lightening it feeling-wise by putting up your children's framed artwork. Sometimes countering a somber feel is best accomplished by dealing directly with the somber-ness. For the columns, I would make them oak. I think having the one side white and the other side oak would look strange, and your island is oak, so it would be fine. Good luck with your choices, I think regardless of your choice your home is amazing and will look even more so when you are done. Out of curiosity, where did you find the original blueprints for your house? I think our home is pretty much the same, but it would be so neat to see the original blueprints. Thanks for showing the pictures!

Tile, Here's a suggestion for a layout. What I've tried to accomplish: * an open, airy feeling created by storage mostly below the waist and avoiding bulky items around windows/doors/openings * sink and island prep areas allow window views * friendly seating area provided by 15" countertop overhang * min. 36" clearances (OK according to Sarah Richardson kitchen designer) * use mostly drawers - the IKEA ones are super practical for almost everything * replace the corner unit with the 37x37 one, which is generally considered more functional, especially if you put in 32" super susans (mine holds all my pots *and* small appliances) * suggest a smaller, cuter fridge that is more appropriate to the scale of your kitchen - the layout below shows the 28" wide IKEA one, or you could use this adorable model: e.g. Northstar Model 1950 in buttercup (29.5" wide) * put microwave on a shelf below the counter in the island * I would not clutter up your walls with upper cabinets - minimal open shelving for decorative and frequently used items cabinets below are: 1=37" corner, 2=18" drawers, 3=30" sink, 4=edited-dishwasher, 5=24" wide+12" deep, 6=18" wide+12" deep, 7=24" drawers, 8=36" wide - put microwave here, 9=18" drawers This post was edited by feisty68 on Thu, Apr 10, 14 at 14:41

I can't imagine that putting a door to the DR would be very expensive--it's a DIY project if ANYONE in the family could do it in a weekend. The two houses I've dealt with that had pass thrus to the DR drove me nuts. It would be so much nicer to have a door there! That, and having a 1/2 bath would be absolutely top priorities for me, but the 1/2 bath could add more cost than she might be able to pay for. If you use a small corner sink, the pocket door will be fine. Since she wants electric, I would STRONGLY encourage her to look at the positives of induction, and get a range with an induction top. It is SO much better than regular electric--easier to clean, much safer, absolute and immediate control of temperature, boils water faster, doesn't heat up kitchen, it's energy efficient, etc. My induction cooktop is by far our favorite feature of our kitchen! Even though it cost more than we'd planned on, it was definitely worth it. It's not that difficult to learn how to use. (I'm only a few years younger than she is, and I don't usually like learning how to use new stuff, but this was easy.) Of course, that might mean new pans, but maybe the family could go together for a present of one of the more inexpensive sets that works with induction. Also, you may have the extra expense of running electrical to accommodate the induction, but from a safety standpoint alone, it might be worth it to have the induction. It seems like plan #8 might work best, especially if you switch the double sink with the prep sink. That way, your mother could also use the prep sink (make it a large one) to work with her plants easily, since it would be right by the back door. Also, this end of the kitchen could have her tea materials, beverage cups and glasses for the rest of the family, the MW, toaster oven, and she'd have the large window view and lots of natural light to do these pleasant daily tasks. The double sink under the smaller window would put it, the DW, and the dishes closer to the DR. If she wants more storage, I'd get rid of the curved upper shelves (in one of your plans) by the smaller window, and add 3-6" to each upper cabinet, unless she has lots of knick-knacks that she wants to reach up and dust as she gets older. Obviously, an island would give her more storage than a table. If you make the island 36" w x 48" l, you could have two 24" wide cabinets opposite the range, and a 12" deep "table" overhang on the dog dish side. Anne

I like this plan a lot. I had sketched it out this way but wasn't sure it was really enough space. Thanks for taking the time to show the dimensions. My one concern about the refrigerator placement is whether of not it will make the kitchen feel "boxed" in when I am working in it. Maybe just when I am at the sink?. Question- could I put the DW next to the refrigerator without struggling with the DW door when it is open? I would most likely house my dishes and silver ware in drawers at that end of the island. It's nice to be able to move things straight from the DW into their storage spots without having to first put them on the island and close the DW door. I like the idea of the pantry. Do you have the space next to the pantry as a coat closet or the W/D? Thank you so much for responding and taking the time to sketch and upload. I am very, very appreciative.