Just putting in my two cents' worth. My tile is Roman Collection French Blue Diamond. Unfortunately, I don't see it anymore where I purchased it (tilebar.com). I have maple cabinets with crema antelope granite, and my island and butler's pantry are white cabinets with marron cohiba granite. It coordinates well with them, at least I think so. :) Good luck with your decision! All the previous suggestions are gorgeous! I will probably be building again in the next 12-18 months and have lots of great ideas to consider!

The island is still a barrier, the fridge door opens the wrong direction to be convenient to that side of the kitchen, and there is no landing space for the fridge, except over the two seats on the end. Imagine someone trying to gather items to make a sandwich (blue line in front of fridge), and then needing a place to assemble it. And forget about it if the seats are in use. The pantry is in a good position though, and it, and the ovens, are the only zone crossing, except for the freezer, and I'd think you'd be taking something from it several hours before you start prep. Your plan with the twins on the right wall is better, IMO, but with the oven on that wall, and the island with seating on two sides, with a bigger prep sink: The end of the island will be landing space for the fridge, and with the shorter island, there is room for someone to stand there and assemble a sandwich or snack. There is zone crossing, but the fridge can be accessed from the living areas without interrupting someone at the clean-up sink. With the shorter island the two people on the end can make eye contact with those seated on the long side--if you are in the far seat, you can see each of your kids as you eat and talk, or if you and your DH sandwich the kids, you can see him, without leaning around a kid. And you'll still have easy access to the work aisle, if you need to retrieve a forgotten item. You will also have shallow pantries, making it easier to see items without pulling out drawers or trays. What material are you planning to use for the island top? If stone or quartz, you won't get the top from one slab if the island is 12'. Maybe not from granite if it is only 10'. So, you'll need an extra slab, and you'll have a seam. You don't need more expensive, deeper cabinets to have a deeper island--you can use a framed pony wall, which would also add support for the deeper top. If you feel that you need more prep areas, you can m/l center the prep sink on the island, so that there is sufficient space on each side (excuse the crazy lines--I didn't take time to re-draw):

"does a house for sale have to look as impersonal as a hotel?"-umm...add to it "spa experience"..)) and a lot about selling a dream..like you can sell a dream, buy a dream, trade a dream.. HouseVixen I love some of the rooms! but they're rooms that are currently not in this house..since with such level of attention to decor, I'd presume other rooms correlate to one in question..there's probably some inner rhythm to everything. You start in one room-you don't finish there. you can't sell a dream. at least not a dream that's worth having lol. you can show yours-or somebody else's as you interpret it. I say-in this case, leave interpretation to others. This room is good enough to not try and wrigle it into something completely else. The curtains will be open anyway-no real estate photographer will leave them shut when shooting. No real estate agent will let them be shut when buyers come. Same with blinds. Not because somebody might dislike curtains but because a) photographer needs more light when shooting interiors and b) it's considered-rightfully so-the buyers should easily see the windows themselves, and what can be seen from them.

Rob...please post it! blfenton...for you... Here's a railing for one of the houses I designed. My DH made it. Note: the base board went in later & the stairs are carpeted. The wood under it is mahogany/salvaged out of a bank demo. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ladypat......For you...my lower patio....