Also remember one important thing. Humans are very adaptable. It's how we've survived so long. However one thing that adaptability managed to do is make us believe that we have something that works well, when in reality we can do better. For example, your island is a barrier. How much better would it be if you didn't have to walk around that small island every single time to get from your fridge to your sink? Right now you don't think it's a problem because you've adapted. Those who have MW's over the cooktop think it's ok because they've adapted. I have one in both rental's right now. I have to reach up every time to grab hot bowls out of the MW (and I'm vertically challenged). I have adapted though so really don't think about it. However, I know that in reality for me a drawer MW works better because I'm not reaching up. In my rental kitchen here in FL my corner butterfly sink is literally right next to the stove. There is no space between them. And to the left of the sink, is not enough space to prep. The only space to prep is to the right of the stove on the peninsula. However, I've adapted. I wash my stuff, and then carry it past the stove to the peninsula. I grab utensils and bowls from all over the kitchen since there is no place close to put most of the stuff I need. However I've adapted and now that I've been cooking in this space for several months, I tell people it's not as bad as I thought it would be. But the reality is, that if I had a well laid out kitchen, DH and I wouldn't be constantly bumping into one another (especially at the sink) and all movements would flow better. I wouldn't be dripping water and who knows what on the floor each time I cooked. I wouldn't have to keep running back and forth between the sink and the only prep space. So really think about whether you've adapted or if your kitchen really is the best laid out it could be and the most efficient.

Everyone seems to love the backsplash. My friend, who was there when they installed it, says she wishes she could have taken a picture of my face when it went in. I was ecstatic. Not exaggerating when I say I was jumping with joy. I owe a TON of thanks to pal and cpa for inspiring me to get this backsplash!!! I seriously want to buy you guys a bottle of wine! It was pal's idea to use nero marquina and cpa made the first rendering with nero as the backsplash (way back in December 2017!) to help me visualize it. I looked all over the place and couldn't find nero marquina slabs with lots of contrast between dark blacks and bright whites as in cpa's rendering. Nero marquina tends to be more subdued with muddled blacks and whites. But when I discovered the black moon it had the striking black & white look I was searching for. Just like in cpa's rendering and what pal probably envisioned. Like a lot of you said, that backsplash takes the kitchen to the next level and I doubt I would have landed on black moon without nero marquina as my inspiration. It also helped me focus on finding a very specific look instead of considering every single piece of stone I saw. I'm happy with everything so far, the TopZero sinks, the honed white quartz and even my Alexa-enabled faucet -- it's fun! Another cool find was this automated paper towel dispenser. It works surprisingly well and has a high cool factor, if you're looking for a cool kitchen gadget. It looks so much better in my kitchen than having a visible roll of paper towels. I'm going to try to keep counter clutter to a minimum. We'll see how long that lasts after I move in...

@Caroline Lachance - I think the open shelves look better than having nothing there at all. I know this isn't ideal, but many people still mount a microwave over a stove (especially in a tight space), with cabinets on either side. You can then use the open shelving above your sink. I fear with the wall to the left of the stove needing to stay that whatever you do in that section will not be the most open. However, I'd rather have the stove in that location than the fridge. I still think I would switch the fridge and the pantry. I would also be using a counter depth fridge, especially if leaving the pantry to the right. Hopefully your KD can do computer renderings of these options so you can better see how things will function for you. If you haven't already, you may want to think about a pull out trash cabinet, as there is usually no place to put one in a spall space.

The big problem in this layout is that almost all your best counter space /work space is in the "L". So you'll do your work away from the sink / with your back to the dining room and the living room. The space in the red circle should be your primary work space ... but the refrigerator and the hidden pantry entrance are eating it up. I'd open the pantry from the mudroom. Stepping around the corner will not be a difficulty, and you'll open up all that space in your prime work area. Alternately, you could enter the other end of the long pantry ... that is, place a door so that it'd be "in the L". This would preserve your prime work space near the sink /would still keep your pantry door IN the kitchen. I'd also move the refrigerator over by the stove. Get it out of this prime work area. It's not a lot farther from the dining table - get bigger drinking glasses. Seriously, you're a young family (with presumably no mobility issues), and it's not going to be a hardship. If you keep the refrigerator in its current spot, look into the possibility of recessing it. That is, stealing a bit of space from the mudroom so the refrigerator can "sit back". Or go with a counter-depth model. With the refrigerator moved to the less-used side of the room, I'd shrink the 5' work aisle a bit. You CAN have too much space. My two cabinet runs are about 5'6" apart, and it's too much -- the two sides don't play well together, and I find myself ignoring one side altogether (and if you recess the refrigerator, you won't need this much width.) Test it this way: Go down to Lowes and walk through their sample kitchens -- you'll find that they place their cabinets /islands about 3 1/2' apart. 3 1/2 - 4' is a comfortable amount. What's the Food Cabinet on the far end near the stove? With a large pantry, why do you need this? Specifics I think everyone needs to consider -- much of this has to do with "walking through" a typical day: How do you serve family meals? From the stove, or do you put bowls on the table? When you have a larger group, where would you set out food? drinks? dessert? Where do you put away leftovers -- from the table or from the storve? Do you have storage containers /plastic wrap stored in this area? Where do you imagine your "always outs" sitting on the counter? I mean, your coffee pot, canisters, cookie jar, bowl of fruit. If you don't plan for these, they'll be in the way. Where's your trash can? Do you have a short taking-trash-outside traffic pattern? Where's your recycling? What are you putting in the corner of the kitchen? Where's your always-hard-to-place microwave? Where's your fire extinguisher? Is your glassware stored so that it's handy to the refrigerator? Is your tableware stored on the end near the dining room? Do you have sharp knives near the sink? Overall, I'd give this kitchen a C+. Its function looks average. I'd say + because of the large pantry.