Nopushover, would you mind saying what brand and color or grout you used? NICE! Right now I'm leaning towards the Oyster gray color in the Prism line, but it does seem a bit light. Blue, I vote for 1" hex, too. That's what I've just used in my very small bathroom. If it ever does get grouted, I'll try to post a pic. Good luck. pup

Pickle, It'll all make sense when you have it nailed down. Why not start with some blank rectangles--no doors and windows at all, and make your best kitchen, then ease back the doors and windows as things settle. Just about the feeling (no practicality, budget, or anything else), #1 looks squished and #2 feels like "ahhhh, that's better". Practicality: you two fight for the corner. Sometimes. Practicality: big budget bump to move windows. Practicality: I'm not in my kitchen yet. My windows are bigger, actually. But moving them did cut out my favorite sunbeam. I would really hesitate to cut out a window altogether, though you do have three sides windows, and two sides is probably adequate. I'd want the window. Move it, cut it, but keep it. Looks: Do you want that bigger range? I mean lust? Another budget buster? Or not? It looks pretty. If moving windows gains it for you and the whole thing is affordable, go fo it!! Get the dream range! And by shifting the windows, open up your corner too. But I'd like even 6" of counter on the far side of the range, rather than going right to the hutch. If you're an unfitted type that might not do it for you, however.

Thank you very much, everybody. We are used to them after living with them for 2 days and we love them. It's just that we have always had light furniture, until now, and were a little shocked by the contrast. We thought about the espresso tone, but because we will be replacing the loveseat with a red, leather chair ( had to be special ordered, but it's this chair in red, and won't get here until May: http://www.jordans.com/room_facts.asp?item=LE1-62372-0amp;room=livingroom&style=contemporary&type=chairslth&size=&index=21 ) and a black accent table ( this one: http://www.zfurniture.com/raglta.html ) and an ottoman, to open up that area a little bit, we figured that the reddish tables would tie in the room completely. rmlanza, we got the tables at a local (MA and NH) furniture store, but I believe they can deliver out of state. They are http://www.bernieandphyls.com Thanks again, everybody for your valuable input. You made it so much easier for us to appreciate this purchase.

Our island isn't on casters. It is basically a kitchen table with a cab built into one end and a long shelf that runs under the middle of the table (I keep baskets with potatoes, onions, etc on the shelf). It just sits on legs like a regular table would. I made it table height because I wanted a surface for kneading dough, etc. I designed and built it myself. I ordered the parts from table legs dot com. They were great about helping me figure out what I needed and getting me the best deal on shipping. It was way cheaper than hiring someone to do it for me (at the time anyways - this was about 8 years ago). They sell counter height legs, too. Please ignore baking and supper mess :)