Shopping

Even though we haven't broken any ground for our new home (heck, we haven't even gotten the engineer's plans), we have started to shop for things like kitchen appliances and cabinets, bathroom fixtures, lighting fixtures, and such. We would like to decorate the house in Mission style so there's a certain look to the cabinets and fixtures at which we are looking. The shopping has been enlightening, enjoyable and frightening. Again, as mentioned with the house plans when a decision has been made, it is often final so it better be the right one. Luckily, we haven't laid out any money for fixtures, yet.

Both of us have been pouring over catalogs and on-line sites pricing cabinets, counter tops, flooring, appliances and a dozen other items. In one sense, it's like Christmas shopping but it is A) more expensive and B) enduring. By "enduring" I mean that they may very well be decisions that will have to suit us for the next 20-30 years.

We have seen excellent appliances and cabinets at Lowes. And they were at reasonable prices. Kraftmaid's Mission oak cabinets look nice, are quality construction and they have enough options for both floor and wall units that they could where we go. Counter tops will either be DuPont™ Corian® or Formica Corporation's solid surfaces. Whirlpool Gold refrigerator and the Whirlpool dishwasher look good. Our problem is finding a 36" gas or dual fuel range that won't break the bank. Kitchen Aid makes a nice one--and it better be at just over $5500!