Many ideas have come and gone in my quest to plan this kitchen. I've found that things that I thought I liked before are just "ho hum" now and finishes that I didn't think I liked I'm now being drawn toward. Like this Benson Pendant light from Restoration Hardware for example:

Don't you think it would look great above my future sink? I do. We had initially planned on using a light from schoolhouse electric. However, if I get my way this beauty will be gracing yours truly when I'm scrubbing all those dishes. Er, I mean loading those dishes into the new dishwasher!

Here is an example of the lights I was initially thinking:

We would only need one of course, above the sink. I still love them, but I will do my best to convince Dan that the RH Benson light is the one. I'm guessing, for me to be pursuasive, I'll need to convince Bill (Dan's dad) first because Dan seems to take Bill's lead a lot. Or maybe a trip to Birch Run is in order to simply hit up the RH outlet to (cross your fingers) pick up one on the cheap. So cheap that Dan couldn't possibly say no.

Picking paint colors is another difficult task for me. Our kitchen is small, and we'll be going from a three window kitchen down to a one window kitchen so our natural light will be significanly less. Actually, I don't think we should count one of the existing windows becuase the refridgerator has been sitting in front of it for so long that we don't really get any natural light from it. I can't wait for that bad boy to move into the corner where he belongs. I digress. Paint colors. Since I'm using this blog to keep track of ideas:

Hot Cross Buns - American Tradition
Short Grass Prairie - Valspar

I'm thinking the dining room will need to be repainted so as not to be one-upped by the kitchen. I think she'd look great in Nantuket Gray, Benjamin Moore (HC-111). I can't figure out how to put paint color swatches up but for now the names and maker will have to do.

This weekend Dan and Bill will be doing some light demo and possibly moving a window which will depend on time and weather. I need to take some current pictures before the work begins!