Hi amelie325: I checked out the roses you listed in HMF. You have a great selection, that's the first time I see William Jesse, it's beautiful ... please inform when they bloom, would like to know how they smell. I am leaning toward Old Garden Roses for the scent. I have 15 Austins ... but when I bought and sniffed Comte De Chambord, Jacques Cartier, Paul Neyron, Annie L. McDowell, and Gruss an Teplitz .... I'm hooked ever since. I'm excited about these 6 roses coming this Wednesday.... I got them for $8 each during Roses Unlimited's summer sale last week: Lawrence of Arabia, Summer Samba, Duchesse de Rohan, Angel Face, Le Rire Nias, and Gene Boerner (this has no scent unless the weather is cold, but it's almost thornless & DR).

I did some tweaking of your design to show you other options - e.g., moving the DW. It turns out the sink is almost centered on the island when you put enough prep workspace on the side opposite the DW - so if you don't like that, then consider eliminating the seat on the end and moving everything over. That would also give you even more prep space - although I think you have enough now (approx 45"). Regarding the pantry, I presented 4 options - they each have pluses and minuses (I think I like Option #1 using Zelmar's pantry the best). I switched the pantry and the refrigerator b/c the island was a "barrier island' b/w the Prep Zone on the island and the Refrigerator. By moving the refrigerator, the island is no longer a "barrier" to the refrigerator. Ideally, the island would not be a barrier to either the refrigerator or the pantry, but if has to be one, generally it's better to have the refrigerator in the more accessible location (i.e, not "barriered") In addition, you now have separate floor space for the Prep Zone, Cooking Zone, and Cleanup Zone and someone working at the cooktop won't run the risk of backing in to an open DW door (and stumbling) while holding a pot of boiling water (or other hot pot/pan). On the cooktop wall, I tried to make it symmetrical since it appears that's what you want (or at least your KD wants!) Note the 12" cabinet b/w the 24" Easy Reach and the 48" cabinet on the cooktop run. I think a 36"x24" Easy Reach would probably be better, but if you cannot get it or prefer the 12" cabinet, I suggest using a pullout cabinet instead of a standard cabinet. Here's a link to one of Rev-A-Shelf's versions (others make them as well): Cabinet Pullout Hood Organizer with Wood Adjustable Shelves Wall Accessories (12" Wide) Some options for the cabinets flanking the cooktop: * Two 24" cabinets on left + hood + two 24" cabinets on right (both with12" doors) + 12" cabinet + 24" easy Reach with 12" cabinet door * 18" cabinet + 30" + hood + 30" + 30" (18+12) + 24" Easy Reach w/12" door * 12" cabinet + 36" + hood + 36" + 24" + 24" Easy Reach w/12" door Before I discuss the pantry options, here's the layout: Zone map: So, about those Pantry Options (see picture below)... Option 1 (in the main layout). Either the 30" standard pullout your KD is probably planning from the looks of it or a cabinet w/drawers on the bottom and shelves above. Zelmar has such a pantry (so do at least two other GWer, but I can't remember which ones right now!) Unfortunately, Zelmar's pictures are no longer available, but I had saved one for future inspiration - I've posted it at the end. [Zelmar, if you're reading this - I hope it's OK with you! Let me...

Hi again. Sorry for the delay. Holiday madness struck! I ended up using the clear torpedos for a couple of reasons. The drippy tipped ones won't work with shades when I get them. And they were just the easiest to go with when I had a thousand other things to do to prepare for the parties I was hosting that week. DH installed a dimmer, and we were good to go! I can't explain how luxurious and grown-up I feel now with the light fixtures completed in this room! ( We'll ignore the rest of the bare bulbs hanging out around the house still. One room at a time!) Now all I need to do is get some sort of little backsplash on the bar area and find a couple more antique oak chairs and that room is DONE! Hydrangea--those clear bulbs in the photos above do have a bluish tint to them. They were those clean, bright white kind of bulbs that are tinted blue. Took them back! A2--I did see and posted there last night. Not sure I had much to add other than I'm so glad your ovens were quickly and easily fixed without much fuss! Here's how it looks with the remainder of the bulbs in place. Thanks again everyone for the encouragement and opinions!

sf_treat - how do you like your floor? how is it holding up? I'm looking at some floors from hardwood bargains. the samples are impressive, but I'm in Philadelphia so I'm going to have to pay some pretty hefty shipping. The price is low enough that even with the shipping it will be reasonable compared to some other options, but I'm concerned about ordering something that I basically can't return. (I could but I'd have to pay ANOTHER shipping charge)