I have realized I really do love the idea of some sort of clear bubble/sphere light over the sink. But I can't get past the glare issue. Then I found this on Houzz.

If you like it, let me know what size you think would be best.

Reminder: Sink is 33" wide, The faucet is 28" high. The light over the island is a Schonbek crystal chandelier.

Here is the info on 2 sizes I'm considering:

Medium option utilizes one 40 Watt 120 Volt Candelabra type Incandescent lamp
Medium Fixture: Diameter 10 In., Height 38.5 In., Overall Hanging Length Adjustable to 62.5 In.

Small option utilizes one 25 Watt Candelabra type 120 Volt Incandescent lamp
Small Fixture: Diameter 6.5 In., Height 28.5 In., Overall Hanging Length Adjustable to 46.5 In.

Photos from Houzz:

(I think they show the one with smoked glass, there is a polished nickel with clear glass option)

Here is a link that might be useful: Original Thread with lots of great choices.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miscellaneous from

I saw it on the Internet, so it must be true!

Here is a link that might be useful: Houzz Ideabook

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.houzz.com/photos/155274/Amagansett-Beach-Retreat-contemporary-bedroom-new-york

Here is a link that might be useful: The Galley Sink

Originally we were going to go with standard cupboards and a Pearly Shores Quantam Quartz benchtop. What we ended up with was Tupac, Granite, and soft close drawers and cupboards. So happy we spent the extra. Here's some finished pics.

What if, instead of lowering the counter, you had a toekick step that you could just pull out and step up on? That way you'd have a full run of countertop but on the one day a week you bake a pie, you'd have that extra few inches of height to lean into your rolling pin.

Does someone already make that? Is it practical? Is there a reason why it wouldn't work? How would you make it?

EVERY tile will have both a 33% and 66% overlap, like this:

Rectified tiles continue to increase in popularity, particularly in the commercial arena. For years, the industry and Dal-Tile have recommended that Rectified tiles can be installed with a 1/16" grout joint. However, from the contractor�s perspective, installations have become more time consuming and difficult to ensure compliant installations when attempting to install a Rectified tile with a 1/16" grout joint. In response, the new TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook addresses this issue by recommending that the width of the grout joint used be determined by the ANSI A108.02 specification which states that the actual grout joint size shall be at least 3 times the actual variation of facial dimensions of the tile. To simplify: Rectified tiles, regardless of size, shall have a grout joint width no less than 1/8". As a result, Dal-Tile is changing its recommended grout joint width to be 1/8" for all of its Rectified tiles.

In addition, we will no longer recommend in our literature that Rectified and Non-Rectified large format rectangle sizes (Ex: 12" x 24") can be installed in a brickwork or running bond pattern where the overlap is 50%. The reason for this is that the allowable warpage for a tile based on ANSI specifications can create an installation issue when large format rectangular tiles are installed in a brickwork/running bond pattern. This allowable warpage can create a scenario where lippage is inevitable given the overlapping pattern. To mitigate this effect, Dal-Tile will be removing the brickwork pattern from our catalogs and literature. This will be replaced by a new pattern that will be referred to as a "Staggered" brickwork pattern where the overlap does not exceed 33%, and the grout joint width must be a minimum of 3/16".

There was a good thread here on some of this (but with 12 x 24) you can do a partially staggered (no more than 33% overlap)... at least with 12 x 24.

What's in my kitchen thanks to GW advice!
Never empty soap dispenser
Franke orca sink: Love the removable grid
Air switch
Lee Valley drawer dividers
Cabinets are Kraftmaid Garrison in Canvas: Love all pull outs, Blum motion, and drawers!
KA Dishwasher
KA CD refrigerator
GE Monogram range, hood and 240V Advantium
Granite is Giallo Ornamental
Paint color: BM Bennington Gray (looks green by the windows, it's more light the other side)

Here is a link that might be useful: Frugal Farmhouse Design Off White Paint

Here are some pics and a few details:
Island:

Overview:

Refrigerator and pantry:

Message center:

Breakfast nook:

Our KD wanted an extremely large window area to bring in light, but made it fit into the old house by breaking it up and using leaded glass:

Sink w/glass filler, runnels, & built-in compost bin:

Built-in compost bin close-up:

Mug shelf:

Charging drawer. This entire cabinet is deeper than it appears because it is built into the interior wall behind it, gaining an extra 4" or so of storage space without creeping into the walkway in front of it:

Island cabinets:

Miele ovens installed as flush inset (I searched and never did find pictures of this, so hopefully these will help somebody else):

Cleaning closet in "invented space" from interior wall:

Extra depth for the vacuum was made by reducing the depth of the drawers under the pantry:

The placement of the outlet underneath the music player shelf allows the nasty cordness to be hidden from eye-level:

Toe-kick heater vent. The toe-kick face under the message center & island is covered with stained oak flooring. From eye-level, the toe-kick absorbs the correct amount of light and gives the appearance of freestanding cabinets.

The freestanding appearance is clearer here:

Drawers under nook seating area:

There is a powder room off the kitchen. This wasn't our first choice, but ended up being our only choice in this old house, and has been okay, especially considering its placement is directly next to the hallway and away from the primary cooking area:

Adjacent mudroom, which became part of the kitchen remodel. The door is to a laundry chute which we use mostly for kitchen towels & napkins.

Here is a link that might be useful: More pictures

It is very tall--it's much taller than any of the ones that y'all are showing pics of. I read in a design article on headboards to have them go 2/3rds up the wall so that there is no "dead space" above the headboard. So I have 9' ceilings upstairs--the headboard is about 7' high. We'll see how it looks once I get the bed done up with propped pillows, etc. I want it to make a statement, but if it's too gargantuous, I can always hack it down from the bottom. (I also thought of hanging a unique gilded medallion on it, which would also bring it down.)

Anyway, this queen headboard was not cheap to make. Foam is expensive--I had to use 3 strips at $30 a pop (and this was a fabric outlet/warehouse in Dallas). Plus batting. My dad picked out some good wood that set me back another $60 or so, and he was able to piece it with dowels so I wouldn't have to purchase a second "slab." Then my linen fabric set me back a ways.... it's an easy $300 at least. Plus extra wood for framing, spray glue for foam, buttons, staples and time. So maybe store-bought isn't too bad---unless you really want a 7' headboard. ;)

Reno, here are my seams. I've always had a hard time matching patterns, but if I can do it, you can do it. (My camera skills make the seams look crooked, but they are lined up with the edge of the board.)

Can I get a woot-woot? :D

And Lyban, here's a pic of my first button. I pulled it as tight as I could from the back of the headboard; I think it's only "indenting" the batting layer. It makes a soft tuft, and does not distort the pattern.

I'm going to try making a deeper tuft, whereby it "indents" the foam as well, but I need to get DH's muscles to help me and hold in the button from the front side while I tie it off on the backside. I think that type of tuft will create the "pleats" you sometimes see.

But I'm unsure which tuft I will do yet. I'm guessing the former. :)

We went from this...

There was one electrical outlet in the hole bathroom and it was in the medicine cabinet.

We closed off this door and moved the shower to that side.

So here is our new vanity...

Our new shower

We will put white wood blinds on the window and a cover for the heater

Here are the details:

Shower fixtures, towel bars: Restoration Hardware Asbury
Floor and shower walls: 12x12 honed carrara tiles set in a running bond pattern with delorean gray grout
Floor in shower: Cobsa thin basketweave
Light: Landmark Lighting
Knobs: Lookintheattic.com
Vanity: Custom built
Makeup Mirror: Kimball Young hardwired
Paint: Trim and vanity is Glacier White and walls and ceiling is Stonington Gray

The glass shower door is installed now:

Someone asked to see the upper cabinet opened. I have 8(!) outlets inside of my tower.

Our contractor built a beautiful cover for our baseboard heating that really blends with the woodwork on the walls

This is the final version of the vanity with the mirror installed.

THINGS WE LOVE:
--Our cabinets were so reasonable and they work beautifully. We LOVE Precision Cabinets! Their install was immaculate and perfect. When we had a glitch with the warming drawer, they fixed it perfectly! While I couldn't afford every "bell & whistle" inside the cabinets, I love them.
--White Princess honed. It's gorgeous and I no longer have the OCD urge to constantly wipe my counters (our old granite was polished). I also love my backsplash done in the same material--I am attracted to visual simplicity so couldn't pick a tile :)
--Cheap dishwasher. Paid $500 and we love it.
--Deep cheap sinks. Our main Ebay sink is awesome($500)! Love the 10" big single bowl. The island sink was cheap too, and is the perfect size, $150.
--White everywhere and one big room. Not for everyone, but my DH and I love the big open light-filled room. Far cry from the dark rancher that it was. We tore down two walls and raised the ceiling.
--The soapstone buffet. It was a remnant piece and I love that it doesn't match the rest of the kitchen. Sets it apart and boy does the texture feel nice!
--The papertowel niche. Not important, but I like that the towels are off my counter and totally accessible.
--The two hidden cabinets in the island near the stools. All my Xmas dishes, Thanksgiving platters and everything fit in here!

THINGS WE WOULDN'T DO AGAIN:
--The Vent Hood: Modernaire was a NIGHTMARE to deal with here in the NorCal area. You have to go through a distributor who will upcharge you $2,000 to order a hood. Modernaire won't sell directly to anyone who is in the area of one of their distributors. The rep here was a complete idiot, ripped me off and in the end didn't deliver what I had ordered. I had to then hire someone else to fix the goofs. Not worth it!

--Order our range through AJ Madison. Total pain to get this stove delivered. The rest of our appliances came without a hitch but the delivery of the range was a disaster. They refused to deliver it until we had a concrete pathway, but our city had some issues with solid pathways and the runoff, etc. Had 4 delivery dates and they turned around each time and refused to bring it in the house. In the end I would have purchased this through our local store (there was no discount on this by buying on internet, unlike the other appliances).

THINGS WE STILL NEED TO DO:
--Help me pick kitchen table chairs! Those pictured are folding chairs for holidays. Our old ones were falling apart, so we ditched them in the move. What should I put there?
--Shades ordered and we are waiting for them to come and be hung.
--The stools (CB2 Vapor) are too tall and we need to have the legs cut down. They only come in 30" or 24" and one is too tall and the other is too short. Sigh.

THE DETAILS:
Cabinetry—Precision Cabinets, Brentwood, CA; painted in stock color which matches Simply White
Walls—BM Simply White
Kitchen Counters—White Princess granite, from DaVinci Marble & Stone in San Carlos, CA, with 2.25" mitred square edge
Buffet Counter—Brazilian Black soapstone from Texeira, SF, with no edge finish
Door and Drawer Pulls—Top Knobs, Square Pulls, Polished Chrome; ordered off the internet
Main Sink—Ebay purchase 36" SS Farmhouse w/apron front , single bowl, flushmount
Island Sink—Dawn 19X17 single bowl, undermount
Main Faucet—Blanco Meridien Semi-Professional in Brushed
Island Faucet—Santec Penza pull out in Brushed
Refrigerator—Electrolux WaveTouch; ordered off Homeeverything.com
Dishwasher—Whirlpool Gold Quiet Partner III; ordered from AJ Madison
Microwave Drawer—Sharp 24"; ordered from AJ Madison
Range—Viking Range w/6 burners and griddle; ordered from AJ Madison
Hood— Modernaire custom hood
Trash Compactor—GE Profile in SS; ordered from AJ Madison
Warming Drawer—Kitchenaid Architect Series II; ordered off Homeeverything.com; panel from cabinet co.
Backsplash—White Princess granite
Windows—Semco
Flooring-DuChateau pre-engineered floors in Lugano
Big Slider Door—Custom made 10’ bypass doors by McFarland Doors, w/custom screen
Island Pendants—Hudson Valley Pelham 13" ordered from Butler Lighting
Breakfast Table Pendant—Round 26" linen chandelier by Restoration Hardware
Buffet Sconces—Boston Library Sconces by CircaLighting.com

Before:

Family room:

After:

We are almost done. Just a kitchen table, island stools, desk area chair and accessories to go. Our project started in June and was substantially complete a few days before Christmas.

Unfortunately, I don't have before photos handy and used my iphone to snap these shots. Sorry for the quality. Our old kitchen was L shaped as well, a galley style with eating area. We had white 80's cabinets (solid door) with soffits. Counters were white square tile. Our worst feature was the powder room in the kitchen space and window that faced into our neighbors house (current range wall.) We expanded our kitchen by pushing out the range wall. Other than that we had to work within the space. Our main goals were moving the powder room out of the kitchen, storage, fitting in an island and eating area and respecting the age of our home (1906).

I am happy to share any details if anyone is interested.

Thanks again to all esp. those who helped me through a mini-marble crisis.

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the cabinet maker came in today to work on the folding doors for the baking center and breakfast bar. i love the hinges we found for the baking center (non operable) but we need a few more for the upper glass front cabs.

i think the appliance garages for the breakfast bar look cool, but i can tell already that i went a little crazy with all the doors. while it will be nice to hide that section away when company is here it will no doubt remain open for business the other 363 days of the year!

we're waiting on the flooring to be completed to install the legs for the island. while i initially thought it would be a little too big, i find the size is comfortable for the space. it affords a lot of extra storage as well as houses my turbo-chef oven. while i HAD to have that oven, i'm not hot on the look of it. -i know, everyone loves it. except me.

i also thought i'd include a pic of the mudroom pendant. i bought it from an ebay vendor. it may sound crazy, but it is one of my most favorite things about the house! it's absolutely stunning IRL!

they finally started doing the millwork on the fireplaces and our stairs are being installed. as soon as they're complete we'll go over our punch list, paint and do the floors. while some lighting is in, i wouldn't let them hang any more until the floors are sanded. yeah, i'm crazy like that.

i'll be back soon. i have to break into my bottle of happy pills.

A huge thank you to everybody on this forum who helped graciously with advice, photos, experience & info. What an incredible resource this is. Shout outs to Erikanh & marthavila for hood help, willowdecor for tile, all the stoners, and many more.

We moved in last week-bottom trim on fridge & dw are still missing, excuse the messy bottoms.

I'll be happy to provide details if anyone wants them.

Thanks for looking!

Marble Close Up

Soapstone Close Up