our kitchen in Real Simple magazine

Well, not really, but the photo in this Home Depot ad found in Real Simple magazine is a lot like the vision I have for our kitchen-to-be.

Here are the major differences:
• We will NOT have that awful yellow tile!
• The appliances probably won't be stainless steel.
• The oven will be a range, not separate and definitely not next to the refrigerator. What a temperature regulation/energy wasting nightmare!
• There won't be a peninsula on the left side of the kitchen (like in the foreground of the photo).
• I think the cabinets will be darker, and have more craftsman-style doors.
• The island will be split-level, so that the range side is counter height, and the side with all the drawers (which we won't have) will be at bar height to serve as an informal dining space.
• The ceiling won't have exposed rafters, but it will have exposed wood, probably stained knotty pine.
• We will have pendant lights hanging over the island, but not those ugly ones, and we will add a hanging pot rack and skylights above.

So, other than those minor little details, our kitchen layout is essentially the same as the one in the picture.

Oh yeah, and ours won't have a giant work order hanging from the ceiling either.