Thank you all so much. I feel so much more confident telling my builder to go ahead and remove it. I think he thinks I'm crazy :-) chicagoans- An especially big thanks to you! That is just what I needed to see!! We will be carrying the stone along the entire bottom of the house (I think they call it the water table) just like you suggested. Can you tell me how you did this? Thanks again.

Don't know if you're at all handy but a chandelier like that in brass is easily and inexpensive on CL or freecycle. A little paint, some new shades and there you go. I really like it but then I tend towards the "colonial" look in my 1937 2 story colonial. Don't know the price so I can't make a determination whether it's worth the work.

I agree with Amber, you are not obligated to drive anyone anywhere. FIL, BM and DH could negotiate who is driving SS. Stay out of it. By all means if you have a minute and feel like it, you could help, but you have no obligations. I never asked DD's SM to drive her anywhere, if my ex wanted to ask her for help it was up to him. Don't let it upset you.

I'm no design person, but I'm not sure about the door style planned for above the MW. It doesn't look as nice as the elongated glass one below it, so if its on a short upper cabinet, I think I would choose to go with the door of the base cabinets above the mw rather than have something compete with the glass doors that really should be the the focus. I think I prefer the chestnut color to tone down the orange undertone that seems more prominent in the pecan. I think the mixed color floor will be nicer with your perimeter cabinet choice whereas the gorgeous grey slate will be very cool toned against the warmth of the wood tone. With that floor, I would then go with the sea grass or harbor mist island (see grass seems best, but I would hesitate to commit to green, but since you love it....). But again I will reiterate that my preferences are based on my instinct rather than on any design expertise. It's a nice space. Good Luck!