I remember what my realtor told me when we bought our house on the steep hill, 1/2 the people will like it/not care the other 1/2 will not like/will care. It's always interesting that we have such divergent opinions on everything! Go with what YOU personally like and try not to be double minded when you hear the opposite opinions. LOL! :)

Buehl: You are right - I am the one who does most of the prep and cooking; although DH definitely helps. He just doesn't want to see the frige when you walk in the house and from the DR (but if you sit at the end of the DR table near the french doors, you'll see the frige anyway.) earth_pal: there are no windows in the kitchen -- I know -- it sounds scary. I am hoping that we will get a lot of natural light from the dining room and the sunroom. I will think through the meal process - that's a good idea. palimpsest: we tried to get the frige on that side and I think we actually found room, but it boxed in the kitchen even more and made it feel too small for an island. We can't move the stairs because it impacts our plans for the lower level (a family room, home office, bath, laundry...) This process has been a bit frustrating since we justfigured out that we could have done the layout that we originally wanted, but that our architect said wouldn't work for various structural reasons... anyway, I am trying to get over that, move on, and do the best with what we have. I love the house and it is definitely a huge improvement from where we are now. The other option - which I think I have explored here before - is to simply switch the sink/dw and the range (and leave the frige in the left corner). But it scares me to have the sink as the "focal point" along the back wall, since we both work f/t, have two kids and... dirty dishes. Thanks everyone for your input.

parma42, thanks for the Blonde chuckle! Those furniture sites are addicting too.. I spend so much time there! I like the one you posted a link to as well, but now (I am such a nut) think I found another... and after really studying the space and playing with photoshop, I decided the bombe chest #3 is too bulky for the area, so I am ruling that out. My list is shrinking and once again think Les is correct on her thoughts. So, I found this one that is a console - but is a chest too. The size is right, color seems to compliment floors and other furniture.. not sure if the 'style' really flows with the other wood pieces (bTW - I don't like the dining room furniture. It is new - but darker and plainer then I would have picked for this home). Here is my newest find, which is similar to kmcg85 posted. I like the bottom shelf, and that it is also open, but yet has storage. It's simple, yet my dining toom furniture is very plain and simple.

Thank you for the feedback. Still looking for more suggestions. The countertop is rosemary caesarstone and it is a gray-green color, I guess almost similiar to limestone. The only thing is the stone appears to have white blotches throughout and I'm not sure how that would look as a larger slab. nishka- Thank you for raising a good point. I should wait until countertops are installed before choosing backsplash. I'll choose what looks best. Even though I'm looking at the terracotta patterned tile by ann sacks. It has a pretty charcoal and paparika hand painted design. Still not sure what countertop to go with. Anyone think of something I'm not thnking of that would be absolutely gorgeous with these cabinets. I was even possibly thinking of soapstone or slate, but not sure how these would work in my kitchen.