I haven't read those, but felt the same way about the Twilight series. I hate vampire stuff and resisted all the hype about books, but then my dil was reading them and she convinced me to try one. They are definitely not high literature, but were so much FUN. The author really captured that feeling as a teen that I remember but no longer experience (nor have I for 40+ years) of emotional/sexual longing without there being any sex at all in the books. They are set in the NW so it was fun to see references to where I have lived my whole life. Then I couldn't believe that I saw the movies, too. Sheesh, now THAT"S embarrassing! I'll check out Pretty Little Liars.

Most items were pretty good...but... Second sink Place it outside of the main cooking and cleanup zone so that a second chef can prep food, wash hands for dinner, or bartend during parties. Somewhat disagree: If you intend for the sink to be a prep sink, it should be in the Prep Zone and fairly close to the Cooking Zone. If you want it to be a sink for "outsiders" to use, then I agree. Bar-tending, etc. should be outside all three of the primary work zones (Prep, Cooking, Cleanup). The second chef can use the cleanup sink (ditto for someone wanting to wash hands). Allocating Project Costs Where's the 10% (at least) for "surprises"?! Keep your current layout. I agree with Rosie! It seems that most kitchens designed by builders or architects are not very functional, so when remodeling you want to fix the functional issues - first. (They even say this on a later slide!) Just replacing cabinets is a waste of money unless the layout is very good OR you don't cook! Blind Corners: Half-Moon Lazy Susan Blind Corners: Double Sliding Shelves Blind Corners: Pull-Out Shelves IMHO, avoid blind corners if at all possible. They are generally less useful than corner susans or drawers, waste more space, and generally the blind corner hardware is far less reliable/durable than susans or drawers. Drawers Versus Rollout Trays It's rare that ROTS are better than drawers - even for small items - use a shallow drawer. Drawer bases usually come in 3 and 4 drawer configurations - some manufacturers even have 2 and 5 drawers. I agree ROTS are easier for retrofitting, though. The Pros (and Cons) of a Pro-Grade Range [Con] Needs a 10-inch duct (versus the usual 7-inch) for a high-power vent hood to whisk away that extra heat. Most decent vent hoods these days require an 8" to 10" duct, gone are the days of 4" to 7" ducts. You've also got to match the hood to the range, both in terms of dimensions (a 30-inch range needs a 30-inch hood) Actually, 6" wider than the cooking surface and at least 24" deep is much better. If in an island or peninsula, then at least 6" wider and 27" deep is needed. Note that in most cases the power needed for venting is dependent more on how/what you cook than the cooking appliance you are using! Smoke/excessive steam/grease/fumes/etc. all require stronger cfms - regardless of gas (pro or not), induction, or regular electric.

It's actually built up and routed. I did not want any hard corners in my bathrooms. I don't believe the coving was $40-50 per foot upgrade because a couple of my shelves weren't much more expensive than that, total. I will try to look back and see.

I've been a voracious and eclectic reader since I was five years old. As a child, my hometown library's children's room had lovely window seats all around the room, perfect for curling up with a book. In childhood, reading was done lying on my stomach on my bed (until my mother found me and pushed me outdoors for fresh air). As an adult, I used to read on a sofa or curled up in a wing-back chair (my feet never could reach the floor), or in bed at night. Since moving to this house, my spot is at the kitchen counter, where I have a wonderful adjustable book holder, food and drink near, my computer at the table, the powder room just around the corner, my radio for lovely classical music, and my cigarettes (sorry to say, I am still doing that dirty deed, but this is the only room I do it in). If I had a bed here, I would just live in this area! But I do not read in bed any longer -- unlike some of you who do, I find that too conducive to just keep reading long into the night. The only place I do not read is outside -- too bright for me, and I get antsy sitting there when I see garden chores I ought to address. I never go to appointments without a real book. I only have a kindle because my DH recommended a series of books only available on that device (which I did enjoy!) but I prefer hard copy reading infinitely more. Every room in my house has bookcases. What is a home without them, I ask? =)