Hi senba, Great suggestions above! Yes, use the wallpaper background... but keep it really,really light blue. It will keep the room homogenous and will retain the softness of your paper. That is going to be a very pretty, very fun room when complete.... please post a picture! Elizabeth Cabell, ASID, CID

Really like the counter top combination. To create a finished look (rather than a haphazardly thrown together look), you should probably use the same color on both vertical spaces -- the same color as is between the diamond shapes on the wall.

Option 4. I would not have more than 2 different cabinet finishes. Darker, grounded look for the base and island, with lighter, airier look for the uppers would balance the room.

@corner Stone designs. sorry if I had given an impression it mud slinging. but objectively speaking the suggestion to go for a chimney just because someone asked for it instead of addressing the real issue us not what I intended to do. one has to understand all the negatives as well veggie going in for a decision . just like you have the right to suggest there is nothing wrong in pointing out the issues in the proposed solution. none of us are internet warriors but most of us are "sold" items that we will never need in our life by creating an illusion. I know that dinner call it business but I am not in such one and I have the luxury to call a spade a spade. Even now the person who asked for is not sure in what they want but they think that a chimney will solve the issue. engineering doesn't work that way. unless we know what the real issue us, which isn't clear if it is the smoke or the smell and the your of food cooked, the frequency, the 80/20 utility of the kitchen we are not even close to understanding the problem. my intent is to emphasize the importance of understanding the problem and then look for issue and not provide a ready made solution. we can all suggest something by seeing a picture that fire will come and catch the chef if it is located in the window but do you think that what you say is practical. you may construct this as much slinging be as a novice I have a genuine question. how many houses have such a fire accident. we don't even know if the stove is electric or gas. if it is electric then they just no question of fire. so I encourage you to objectively approach and not see this as a mud slinging thing as that's not the point.