So sorry to seem impatient, I'm really not! Just excited, I guess.

I love the idea of a bench of some sort around the stove area. I am not sure about space, though. This weekend while the site is empty of workers I'm going to clear out the greatroom area and draw chalk outlines of the various furniture pieces we've talked about. I'll watch to make sure we're not lining things up in a row or turning it into a "bowling alley". I'm hopng that with the kitchen behind it, and the center island with the stools, that it won't appear that way.

I agree about the killer bar stools.

Jane