I have a Sharp R530ES above my KA. I originally had ordered the KA MW but three things made me change my mind 1) cost, and MWs are not made to last as long as they used to; 2) the KA had a dial and I like a touchpad to program time; and 3) the matching KA MW looked beautiful together in the showroom but it opened like the KA oven, pull down handle, and I thought that would be odd and uncomfortable to use - I prefer having the door swing open. Here's a pic. We saved money by going with the Sharp ($300 compared to KA $800), but the trim kit wasn't exactly cheap at $190. (Not sure how they come up with that price for a few pieces of metal other than they know you want it so they charge what they want to charge.) We're very satisfied with the Sharp MW. Unfortunately we were crunched for space so we were unable to have a border of wood trim on either side of the MW and oven which, IMO, would have looked a bit nicer. Hope that helps.

Oops. I forgot to mention how easy this technique is to do. 1.Two paint colors, I played around with craft paints to find which two worked for the end result. You can have each color matched once you find the colors you want. 2.Glaze medium. (check Wal Mart Color Place for best price.) 3.Enough sheets of thin/cheap plastic drop cloths to cover the area you'll be painting. This is used to get the veined/wrinkled affect not to protect your working area. 4.Satin polyurethane. 1.Paint on base coat using a roller. Let dry. 2.Mix Glaze according to instructions. I usually add a little bit of water to make it workable a bit longer, but it's not necessary to do so. I mixed mine in a Sterilite pitcher. It has measurements on the sides and will keep your mixture fresh for a very long time. 3.Roll on glaze mixture over one whole section or where you want it to appear to have a seam. 4.With help of a partner, hold plastic above the counter and lay down over entire area. Once down you can manipulate the wrinkles to get the affect you want. 5.Pull off plastic once you feel it's where you want it to be. If not, roll over counter and repeat #s 4 and 5.

for the handles, may I suggest something to pick up on the hues in the flooring? A little more copper toned. you have light cabs, light floors. I think throwing in a dark ORB w/o actual copper highlights would be too much of a contrast. IMO. cypress park Sandra, I like the porcelain one better than the other one. Does the backsplash have to be done immediately? If the tones in the porcelain tile you picked clash w/the ivory tones in the counter, it could be a problem. However, I did find some copper toned ones that should be avail. these are porcelain/SS, and treated so as not to stain or tarnish. I LOVE these for your kitchen. timeless and gorgeous. They are probably not super cheap, but it would be worth it for me. http://www.miusartmosaics.com/arabesque-lantern-beacon-copper-tile-in these would also work. the site is here: maybe they have them in stock.http://www.westsidetile.com/arabesque-tiles/ i like this one too. notice the copper faucet. beautiful w/the glass mosaic. if you got the cream countertop, this would look amazing w/your floors. this last one is a copper colored slate/quartzite.

In the first plan, I do like the closet placement in the master, but both bedrooms limit furniture placement. The Second plan makes furniture placement more flexible. It is unfortunate that as you walk in from the front door, you see the kItchen before anything else; at least the first plan leads you through the labyrinth to a view out the windows. And in the second, entering from the garage forces you to walk around to the bedrooms. If you could combine the half-bath and full-bath, you could have the laundry also be a walk-through to the bedrooms (and I just love having circulation opportunities in a house).