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<p>Ha ha, indeed! :)</p>
<p>I would avoid the gloomy gray for appliances. Also check on the ratings for GE refrigerators. Stoves- excellent, others … I even think stainless is less cheerful but since the stove and built in microwave are SS I’ll go with that. Did white in the laundry room as it is a narrow room en route to the garage we use constantly. Did notice a difference in our old house with a corner countertop microwave oven when switched from black to white- brightened up the space considerably.</p>
<p>A fine stainless steel sink is around $250 (ours was free with package deal, did plenty of research before going with that).</p>
<p>Our granite came with a 15 year sealant warranty from Home Depot. Use a granite cleaner at least once a month, otherwise just usual care (the somewhat soapy sponge- no lectures on germs please it works and as physicians no illnesses to date from lack of sterilization of surfaces that immediately get unsterile). Granite is naturally porous and needs a sealant. The one used and frequency of resealing will depend on what the dealer used etc.</p>
<p>Didn’t quiz the neighbor about her sink. Any kitchen sink you need to be careful with is a deal killer for me.</p>
<p>Yes, a sink could cost $300, but it would involve some labor $$$ to replace it. The more dented, rusty stainless and chipped enameled sinks I saw, the better I like my Corian! 
It literally took a heavy-duty metal object that did not belong in the kitchen to make a dent in my sink. I broke glass objects in it many times, pored hot boiling water into it from pasta and boiled eggs, left some onion peel that stained it… Oxiclean solution took care of the latter magically. I’m not saying that it is the best sink on the planet, but it is definitely not a pansy of sinks! 
Maybe your neighbors got a cheapo thin one. </p>
<p>I would not buy grey appliances either! The fridge would look like an elephant in the kitchen. :)</p>
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I had a client who painted her fridge black and stenciled gold elephants on it. It actually looked rather cool!</p>
<p>Mathmom, you have to check this out!</p>
<p><a href=“http://un-amore.com/gallery2.html”>http://un-amore.com/gallery2.html</a></p>
<p>It is a local artist who paints kitchen appliances. Really, really cool stuff!!</p>
<p>hey MM, I had that mustard stained formica CC too finally gone in Dec.
also had grade fake wood cabinets. </p>
<p>Out first kitchen…orange counter tops that also went up the wall behind to the cabinets (like on the Brady Bunch), mauve linoleum floor (ugly), mint green walls, very dark brown cabinets, and Tada…avocado green appliances.</p>
<p>And people ask me why I am sticking with white!</p>
<p>Our compromise…we got the white fridge color, but the French door style,</p>
<p>Being installed as I type, a KitchenAid SS French door, freezer bottom refrigerator. We are giving up ice and water in/through the door. (In the fridge though, there’s a filtered water tap). We were a bit dismayed to find that a replacement 22-24 won’t fit in the same space. We had to go down to a 20 cu ft. </p>
<p>We have two other refrigerators. Side by side moved to garage and top freezer is in the basement kitchen. Overall we have room for various food configurations.</p>
<p>Surprises. We thought we would switch to an LG but found out their stainless steel is different from kitchenaid’s and we wanted to match our other appliances. Also. Most SS fridges have grey sides. Who knew?</p>
<p>Will report on storage later …</p>
<p>I prefer the side by side. We gave our bottom-freezer fridge to mds for his house. I just had trouble finding stuff I dropped down in there and honestly, it didn’t seem to have as much room overall.</p>