“Do you have any exposed brick?” All of the brick is covered in plaster, but I would seriously consider exposing a brick wall. “Are your stair treads and risers wood?” No; carpet. But a future project will almost certainly be removing the dark laminate floors and replacing them with a lighter hardwood. When that happens, I suspect we’ll also remove the carpet from the stairs and install hardwood rises and treads. “Do you like the mood of your current dining room? It reads dark, without much ambient lighting.” Yes and no. I like the colors in the dining room – green paint, some original red-brown wood on the door and stair rail, white trim, and black cabinet (painted white inside). We have similar colors in the living room – the same green paint, white trim, reclaimed wood shelves supported by cast iron brackets, and a new (modern-ish) stained glass transom window over the door. There is a casual slipcover couch, that is white. The former fireplace, that is now a built-in bookcase, is also white. Red-brown piano. What we don’t like: the dining room is still a little dark, although new track lighting and brigher lights in center of the room have helped a lot. In some places the space in and between the rooms flows oddly. So I guess my overall inclination is to try to embrace some of the things that seem warm or quirky about the house - but open up the space, improve lighting, etc. “Have you decided what you are doing with the opening to the DR?” The plan right now is employ Rebunky’s idea. To cut away some of the left hand entry – the deep side – and infill the right wall only as deep and high as is necessary to cover the sides of the new cabinets. That keeps the space open for light to pass through, and it prevents any new visual barriers from hampering conversations between people in the kitchen and dining area. We have also tentatively decided on the skylight, and additional lights in the kitchen. There is a single overhead light in the kitchen now, so while the ceiling is out we’ll put in a series of new lights. “If you go with timeless neutrals you'll be able to decorate with color rather than rip out a backsplash when your taste changes.” This is very good point. And it sounds like everyone agrees that in trying to match the warmth and colors of the current house, we're getting too dark. I'm going to step back from the backsplash idea and try to think about what might keep the look a little more light or open. My original idea - gray and white - would certainly have been airier. We could, of course, still chose this. Then again, my husband likes the red-brown cabinets, and they do fit the setting. So maybe what I should think about is how to complement and balance the choice, rather than trying to layer on elements that dark or rich.

If demo means ripping everything out, then as long as you are comfortable disconnecting it at the panel then you can do that no problem. In fact, once it's disconnected, you don't even HAVE to remove it. You can just abandon it in the walls because at that point it's just metal and plastic. It has nothing to do with the electrical system anymore. Obviously anything visual (boxes/outlets/etc) would have to be removed to make it look good but the wires behind the wall can just be left. But it's possible that you won't be removing whole circuits. Some of the circuits that currently feed your kitchen may be supplying power to other areas of the home. In that case, maybe when he says demo, he means removing the kitchen stuff and hooking the rest of it back up. The only way to know for sure is to ask him. And be aware that even though it's an itemized quote, you can't necessarily pick and choose which items you want. It may be quoted as a whole with just basic estimates of what each item is worth and if you remove one item he may want to re-quote the job. Or he may not want the job at all if you remove some of the work. You'll have to discuss it with him.

Pardon me for struggling to be convinced on a single tier counter. The island would not be a slab of granite or quartz. It would be a high grade laminate. If anything it should be less of a problem because laminate isn't as heavy as stone. Stone really needs extra support. I'd suggest asking on the kitchen forum and actually calling out Joseph Corlett as he's the resident expert on countertop fabrication. The part that overhangs the back of the cabinet would need to be supported. How do you support that? The overhang also would need to be 14 to 16 inches. Same way You'd support a stone counter. Hidden brackets between the end panel of the cabinet. Outlet wire would run through the cabinet and then you'd have an outlet on the side of the cabinet? Plug in a mixer, now have a kid or pet walk by and snatch that cord. Horrible design. Pop-up outlet? That costs how much? That lasts how long? That doesn't get crap and water in it??? Please! What is the idea there? Or you could do what I'm doing on the side and put a strip of plug mold up right under the counter overhang on the side. Gives you more than 2 plugs and it's not far enough down to be a problem. You're creating problems where there are none actually. What is your guy's idea of the bar height I speak of? Is it 42"? Or is it more like 50"? I'd like the facts so the decisions are easier. Standard bar height is 42" high. Counter height is 36" high and table height is 29-30" high. I don't see the benefit of one height when I don't need that big of space since there is plenty of counter space on the cabinet side. I can't physically reach 40" from me. That's how wide it would be. Do you have children? Do they like to do homework near you? Guests who like to help you cook? Elderly family members? Very young children? I know slabs of stone look good at one level. So does laminate. Just because it's laminate doesn't make it an inferior product. Just a note. I'm on the wrong side of 60 and while getting up into the bar height stools was not a problem even 7 years ago, I find that each year it does get a bit more difficult. And I train at a gym 3x a week doing things like step ups with weights, so it's not like I'm out of shape.

I think you have a lot going on here -- the varied tones in the cabinetry are strong, and the cabinets have to stay, so everything else must revolve around that: - Replacing the appliances /having them match will go a long way. Whether you go stainless steel or whatever, matching will make a difference. I put my hand over the black refrigerator, and the picture looked way better. - The window looks unfinished without a curtain, and it is an opportunity to bring in some color. Once you do this, repeat that color in floor mats and other linens. I think this will make a big difference. - The up-top portion of the cabinets looks empty. I'd like to see some baskets or some platters and bowls displayed. This'll come together. You're just not there yet.