Feel free to just show up with or without plants (brownies however are just barely optional). We really don't have a lot of rules, even fewer than the northern Virginia swap had. Prearrange trades or not, post a haves list or not, as you like. I tend to prearrange for the stuff I have in shortest supply or that I won't dig if no one says they want it. The only real rule we have is the stuff that is labelled with some one's name is a prearranged trade--Its not nice to help yourself to those. Everything else is up for grabs and most people don't worry about one for one type of trades. Its mostly if you like it, here take some home. After the potluck lunch, we do have a tradition. If you pick up a plant to look at, you have to take one. If you ask the person about it, you have to take two.

Here's an idea for you: I moved the fridge closer to the DR so it's easier to grab milk or whatever else you need to grab to put on the table. It also means that anyone in the LR or DR won't have to traipse through the cooking zone to get to the fridge. The downside is that anyone coming from the FR will need to walk through the kitchen. If that's a concern, consider adding a bev fridge in the island facing the pantry. The fridge is a counter depth fridge. If you prefer a standard depth fridge, you should increase the aisle width and decrease the island's size accordingly. I moved the clean-up sink and DW to the windowless wall. That's the only wall where I put uppers. You could do uppers on each side of the range or you could enlarge the windows and bring more light into the kitchen (helps with your concerns about creating a dark kitchen). I put a prep sink in the island. I didn't realize until I drew it out and did the math, how large your island would be. You've more than enough room for a prep sink, plus it will come in handy whether you use the island for art projects (water for water colors) or for baking (water nearby to rinse sticky hands). I did not place the prep sink at the corner of the island on purpose. I wanted to keep that end clear to give you a place for putting bags of groceries carried in from the garage. There is a row of shallow (15") cabs beneath the island. Use these to store seldom used items. Or maybe kiddy art supplies. They won't object to climbing under the counter on a daily basis like us adults. ;-) The island is large enough to accommodate 5 seats. The post is at the edge of the island's counter, not part of the island, like this: [Modern Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by New York Architects & Designers Bates Masi Architects LLC Or this (less beefy support, of course) [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Palo Alto Kitchen & Bath Designers European Cabinets & Design Studios Or this: [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Traverse City Kitchen & Bath Designers Bay Cabinetry & Design Studio

I don't hate the windows (I remember these from before). They are a particular kind of architectural expression that came out of the short post-modernist period, I think. (Applied to a more traditional house here) I think if you built bookshelves that had a thick divisions that lined up with the vertical grid of the window and had a horizontal grid element like the windows the whole thing could look very intentional. I would take it right up to the sill and line it up with each side, I think.

I haven't taken halloween decorations down, but will today. I only dressed my goose, and put up some orange lights on the bannister. Today I'll dress my goose in his Thanksgiving outfit. I am totally depressed because I didn't get one trick or treater! I bought an 85 piece bag of candy, and not one kid. Last year I got several. I'm not sure why no kids. When my kids trick or treated 15 years ago, the neighborhood was packed. Parents would drive the kids over to the neighborhood because we are on the lake, away from the rest of the town. I guess there are just no kids left in the neighborhood, which is sad, but not sure about the parents not coming over. Maybe no body but me handed out candy last year.