Susan- this is off topic, but I had to respond to your and others who are calling for donations in multiple threads. We as Americans do dig deep, but sometimes the funds don't get to those in needs. Billions and billions have been donated already. Where is all that money going?? Today there was a large article in the paper about some NO refugees here in the area who haven't seen any of the money, food, or other help that has been donated. They've contacted authorities and businesses, and still can't get any help. It's sad. I was in Miami shortly after 9-11 for the IAS and donated to firefighters, who stood in the road collecting for the victims. Later it came out that they used the money to go to a softball tournament. Very disillusioning! Our church and others in our area sent trucks of food, clothing, and other supplies to Louisiana. They reported there was no one there to take the supplies when they arrived, and the local people had no way of knowing where help and supplies could be obtained. No tv, phone, newspaper, remember? I'm willing to cut people some slack on donating. If donations go to the Red Cross, fine- they will use it for other emergencies. When my local radio station is asking for cash donations, I draw the line! But then I'm a cynical old crab.

I helped my father make wine during my entire youth. He had upwards of 1000 ginger ale bottles (still have over 500 with wine in them dating back to the 70's), and I helped him cap many of them using a simple hand press with beer caps that were lined with cork. I just opened a bottle of 93 vintage today, and it tastes beyond belief good. He never added sulfites to his wine, just pure grapes, fermented in a wood barrel for a year then bottled the next year. So, an occasional bottle would go bad, and it would land up in the vinegar barrel for some of the best vinegar to be had. So, old fashion cork beer bottle tops, if they can still be purchased, seems to be a good choice. Actually, the cork I took off this bottle was cork lined and said Lemon Lime Soda on its top. Who knows where he got these corks things from. Oh, he stored all the bottles in a cellar, just standing up. Of course, there was build up on the bottom of each bottle that was not drinkable. One just carefully poured from the storing bottle, into the serving bottle to not get any of the stuff which had built up over the years at the bottom of the bottle.

I can't speak to design rules but I can say it is wise you are not trying to take the cabinets all the way to the ceiling in an old house. We too, live in an old house and decided not to take ours all the way up because of sloping ceilings. I think our gap is about 4 inches.

Hi malhgold, my ceilings are 8 ft also. The top part at the ceiling is 30" widening to 50" with frame. From ceiling to bottom of frame (without decorative molding yet) is about 31. I used the 46" ventahood insert. My guy made it look very easy, he just framed, boarded and finished it pretty quickly. My pics show a little of what it looked like framed only and the inside. I am deciding on the finishing details now. I thought it would be difficult or a lot of work, but my guy said it was easy. My space is smaller than yours, but I wanted to limit the stainless steel. The 48 range and the ss refrig. I felt were enough. Hope this helps, vic Here is a link that might be useful: vic's progress