That was a very helpful post. I really appreciate all the details and the time spent to prepare this. The results are quite helpful. Unfortunately, now the Thais know how to photograph purple blue flowers from pinks (just kidding). I assume Rox was referring to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. Anyway, loved the article. Thanks. Bill

Look at your inspiration photo (the last one) again. It is not wall to wall windows. There is breathing room and wall space around the windows. While a wall of glass might be different, I don't like a wall of windows, especially without breathing room. Go back to three windows or even one larger and two narrower ones. I like the C-shaped idea, but I would make the cabinets stained like your main ones. Your hood is more like that one above, the barrel shape, right? You are using the chimney style in the drawings and that just doesn't look right with panels around it. I don't think a hood looks sad and lonely if not connected to cabinets -- I think it looks clean and functional, but I wonder where my oils and things, my serving pieces, etc. will go. LOL (You could look into putting in some niche space in your backsplash or to the side.) If you do uppers, I do like the idea of stained better, and I do think the same height is better. Or just put one on the window wall to the counter to balance the one at the other end and forget the other one. (be brave -- the copper is beautiful and can shine on it's own). Make the island less of a cabinet that turns the corner and treat it more like a piece of furniture added to the rest of the kitchen. Give it a different color, different counter, different trim, hardware and even a different (but related - not too different) door style. Maybe put it on feet. My thoughts, anyway. ;-)

Unfortunately, I donâÂÂt have a sample board of the treatment, to use for testing. It would make it so much easier. I do make them now. IâÂÂm afraid I canâÂÂt imagine the warm gray glaze. I want to neutralize the pink a bit, but am having a hard time visualizing how adding gray tones would go with the warm wood colors. I thought of adding in some of the bottom color, but blue-green + pink equals some shade of purple (!) If I remember correctly, adding the complementary color would tone down the intensity. Which for pink, would be a green with a touch of yellow, right? There ARE a few touches of ochre: I added a bit a few years back when I hung some pictures with ochre toned mats. IâÂÂm concerned that if I use an overall ochre glaze, though, it will make the wall look âÂÂdirty.â IâÂÂm thinking now of adding some by pouncing with a dry sponge and a small amount of the diluted ochre color mixed with water. I could build it up gradually so as not to go too far all at once.

I've had SO many butterflies in my garden the summer! They appear to utterly adore my phlox and I've had a LOT of phlox in bloom. It's just now coming to an end. I love phlox - so pretty in a garden. The bees have had a field day on all my hosta blooms (I also have a LOT of hosta in both the front and back gardens!).