I keep coming back to this, and I like it more each time. It's quite soothing. It's empty now, so it will look different when you are all moved in. Agree about the window treatment/fabric idea. There is a company called Tonic Living---they sell fabrics and make custom window treatments, cushions, etc. http://www.tonicliving.com/Default.aspx I just ordered these curtains in a color called theo quartz. That might now exactly work for this color...just an idea I had when I saw your kitchen....They have been a great company to work with (if a bit pricey), and they will give you 10% off your order.

That's a good looking design Victor but I like Mr. Bischaks for the ease of seeing the decorative labels,unless your hooked on the cheap stuff and don't want the labels seen. I might be inclined to add a couple of locking drawers under it too to keep the real special stuff from unwanted attention. It also looks like the " more like this" design calls for more drunken head bashing and stooping than I'd care to do. My two cents is that poplar stains completely different than pine even when you use a wood conditioner,it comes out darker and blotchy. There is clear or select pine that would work just as well. As for Boerne kitchens comment of the smell of pine getting into the wine bottles I don't think I understand that.

Either red or white oak. When refinishing, you normally only need to know the species when matching the floor - not necessarily refinishing. When refinishing white oak in a water based finish, it will require a sealant applied to prevent tannin pull. Red Oak doesn't need this step....but it doesn't HURT if you add in that extra step with Red Oak. So, I would plan out your refinishing as if this were white oak...which would mean a sealant will be needed if you work with a water based polyurethane. That is really the only difference when it comes to the APPROACH. Colour choice is a different beast and will require stain patches to determine which colour you want...again this is done with every species so the approach is not affected either way.

In the bottom picture it looks like 2 Pheasants (long striped tail feathers) They are a native bird in Illinois, I would then assume the 2 smaller birds on the branch are Robin's ( gray with a red breast). Very cool artwork where did you find them?