>>>"Way better than a propane countertop option."<<< Well, if you have generator the next time Texas gets cold. . . :>) Good countertop induction cookers (a/k/a Portable Induction Cooktops or PICs) can be "way better" as long as you have power, but many of the inexpensive models are seriously deficient when it comes to a "design for those who want more stove top temperature control" as Jan DeKenis sought. If considering buying a PIC to check out induction, you might want to have a look at recent articles at Cooks Illustrated, CenturyLife, and Wirecutter to get some recommendations on choosing one of the better PIC models. When it comes to full scale electric cooking appliances, though, Pittsburrito is correct that induction stoves and cooktops are very much the electric option with as much (sometimes more) "stovetop temperature control" than gas appliances.

The problem with the current range location is not just that there is no landing/workspace to the left of it...it's also that it's right in the main passage through the house. I strongly encourage you to at least change the range location--and vent it externally :-) What are your countertops? If they're laminate, I think you can redo them fairly inexpensively (at least compared to stone or solid surface!) Besides, you have to put in a new countertop on the peninsula and to the left of the refrigerator (unless those are tall cabinets, but you seem to have upper cabinets there, so I'm not sure what you're doing there). Moving the island: How big is your FR? From the looks of it, I don't think you can afford to lose the space in the FR that you will need to move the island into it. Have you considered making the FR's left exterior wall flush w/the MBR & MBA walls? That would give you more FR space and still give you that staggered look, if that's what you're looking for (don't move the Office wall). OTOH, if you don't care about the staggered look, perhaps you should just make that left exterior wall flush the entire length...I would think it would be less expensive or at least the same cost since you don't have to build in the "stagger"...but I'm not a home builder, so I could be wrong. I've seen, however, that whenever you deviate from simple straight lines it costs more! Think about placing the Office door...from which room will you be going to/from the Office the most? That will determine where best to put the door. I suspect it will be the FR, but I don't know that. If you have 2 doors, you're taking precious wall space for your computer, bookshelves, etc. Where is the front door? Your layout doesn't show that. Is there an alternate entrance that family uses (e.g., Garage door)? BTW...if you're going to be buying new cabinets for the island and pantry, I'm not sure it's cost effective to do the kitchen in phases like this. Unless you plan to reuse your cabinetry in phase 2, which is probably doubtful if you plan to redesign the kitchen altogether, then I think you might be better off saving your money now b/c cabinetry is not cheap...it's usually the most expensive part of a remodel (~50% of a remodel cost). I would consider taking down the FR wall to the counter level of your current wall of cabinets and leaving the base cabinets as-is (obviously you will have to take down the upper cabinets when the wall comes down). OR, if phase 2 is soon, perhaps leave the kitchen intact for now and take the wall down with phase 2...that way you don't lose storage now. For pantry room, consider putting in shelving to get you by for now. If you do take down the wall, then you could get inexpensive laminate countertops for now and even put in a small overhang. Then you could also switch the range w/at least one of your existing cabinets and put in the same countertops on that wall that you are putting in the island. Is your range currently vented to the outside? If it is, then moving it now may be problematical...OTOH, moving it now while new exterior walls & ceilings are going up may be more cost effective...of course that means you have to finalize your kitchen's design now rather than later so you know where to place the duct work for the vent....tough decision here! If you just put in shelving to the left of the refrigerator for now you will not need new countertops there. Laminate is usually inexpensive enough that you could probably replace the countertop to the right of the refrigerator to match the new counters on the "island". I think there is a lot to think about...sorry if I'm making this more difficult, but I thought you would want a frank assessment....

I think you should try the ideas of either washing or drycleaning the fabric after you remove it from the sofa. I love your sofa and, if it's fixable, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Of course, getting it from Georgia to North Dakota would be a fortune I can't afford. It's exactly the colors I'm searching for for my new furniture. Trust me, pretty colors and floral prints are not high on La-Z-Boy's list right now. I want a purple and green print; no one else seems to. I'm not a neutral girl at heart; I don't care for orange (after working for seven years in a jail facility all I "see" as orange is prison jump suits!) and grey makes me sad. I'm outta luck for new furniture that will make me happy.

And just to further prove that we are in opinion territory, I'm not a fan of the greens. And I would never do all that in mosaic. Those pieces strike me as 1/2" to 3/4" rows, add grout between each one and you have a lot of horizontal lines running around your kitchen. Way too many lines with pieces of broken patterns. I love the colors and love the patterns, but if I wanted a larger mosaic statement, I would not do lots and lots of little rows. I might go get broken pots and do my own mosaic so that it is irregular and more natural, especially in the larger area behind the cooktop. The mosaic works for me as an accent -- I loved your original idea, but would just play with how many rows to take around. Get some samples of the tile to actually play with. Even go so far as to lay them out on a copier and make pages of patterns to play with. I didn't do that, but I think it's a good idea if you are playing with something strong like these colors and patterns. You can tape them up and play with them until you have something that greets you with a smile in the morning and doesn't give you a headache att he end of the day. I have three pencil lines running around my kitchen (together as one wider band) and that was the right balance for me. I just ran my insert across the entire counter atarting about a foot or so up and right across the cooktop area. I also have a potfiller and didn't want to break up anyting and didn't come up with anything I didn't think I would tire of. I like it simple and in 6 years have never regretted not doing more. If you want a larger area above the cooktop and don't like a more natural mosaic, consider an accent piece to make a statement there. There are plenty of plates and platters, tiles and plaques that could give you at least one piece of unbroken pattern for your eyes to rest on -- flowers, parrots or just the painted patterns. Mexican pottery is abundant. You should have lots of options and be able to go as simple or as bold as you like (just make sure you like it day in and day out). I do love the mixed bold colors too. Have always liked those. You can mix those any way you want to balance your blue and green or any other colors. And I like white and blue with cherry, but I'm not a green or gold person.