I like option 2 better than option 1 but I'd put the refrigerator where the trash and recycling are and put the double ovens where the fridge is. It will give you more work space by the range, feel more open when you walk into the room and the fridge won't be so far from the banquette or block the doorway when being used.. You can make the 12" cab next to the sink the trash pull out (12" is definitely big enough for one bin). Right now I think the aisle is too wide to prep at the sink and schlep everything over to the range. For what it's worth, I'd never spend $1200 on a blind corner pull out. Sounds like you wouldn't either. I really don't like blind corners. Our kitchen is small but we opted for two drawer bases with an empty corner.

Honestly? I don't like any of the options with the peninsula on the "top". It does not create a well-thought out workflow of Refrigerator --> Prep Sink --> Prep Zone --> Cooking Zone. You're continually crossing through other zones just to make a simple meal. The DW is in the way of the range The "anchored island" creates a much better Kitchen workflow-wise. If the range could go on the top wall, then the peninsula on the top would work better. But I assume you do not want to change the window (to windows flanking the range), so that's out. FYI...I don't like the "detached island" in your original post either -- it's too small to be useful and there is no way 5 seats would fit! Each seat needs 24" x 15" of space (24" linear space & 15" of clear leg/knee overhang space) Two seats cannot share a corner as you cannot share leg/knee space For that design, you'd need an overhang of 15" + 24" + 1" = 40" (1" is for decorative door/end panel on the backs of the cabinets). If you have that much, then you have room for 4 seats (only 2 along the back, not 3) -- except you then need a 54" aisle b/w the island and the sink run of cabinets. While that aisle is not label, I don't think it's 54" (but it might be, I don't know for certain) So, a 4' island can only fit 2 seats. (I think you realize this as your layouts appear to have eliminated those extra seats.) That small island also looks like it was plopped down just to say you have an island -- not a great look. Why am I stating all this since you've (fortunately) backed off from the detached island? I'm hoping your husband can see the analysis and realize that his idea of the detached island, while nice to think about, is not feasible in reality.

Finally got the rest of the tile installed after 4 months. In post-Ian FL, there are many delays trying to schedule contractors. Here is the photo of the tile up to the ceiling. We are very happy with it. There were some questions if the sconces would provide enough light; there are 7 can light in the ceiling, so we had to put a dimmer due to too much light. The vent hood is super powerful & functions well. I learned a lesson about being very specific about how high tile should go :)

Whatever home I build will be my retirement house. I’ll be an empty nester. No grand kids as of yet. I do expect to have a dog or 2. So is it just you in this house? If dogs are important to you, I'd aim for a space for them ... since you say you'd do away with that half-bath near the breakfast table, that could be an ideal spot for crates and their gear. Maybe something that could be closed off with a pocket door ... or a crate type door so the dogs could be left in that room instead of a crate? Add a doggie door to the back yard, and you'd have an ideal spot to leave the dogs when you go out. I'm liking this idea. My plan is to build in southern MS , near New Orleans. I do not have the land yet but I do not plan on purchasing in an HOA area. You have an idea of what you want to build, and that's great ... you really should be shopping for land now. Focus on details after you have your property. I like the Italianate details, specifically the eaves brackets. Are you ready to pay big for these details? with a big veranda Stop and think about how you'll use the veranda(s). They are expensive to build ... think 60% the cost of interior spaces: - This plan has a lot of porch built around the front of the house ... of course every house needs at least a bit of shelter for people approaching your front door, but how do you see yourself using that large U-shaped front porch area? - This plan has a large veranda facing the back yard ... how do you see yourself using this more private space? Grilling? Playing with the dogs? Reading? - One thing I dislike is a bay window under a veranda. It's weird and cheats you of the lovely light you could have at the table ... but it's adjustable while it's still on paper. - The kitchen will be dark. Nice, lovely beams of light that we all love will not penetrate beyond the veranda and the seating area. My thoughts are that I would use the dining room as a parlor/living room. I like the idea of keeping the heart of the house for more familiar people. So you want something of an old-fashioned feel ... a formal parlor for "everyone" and the larger, more casual area for family to relax. Again, let's think through this: how often do "formal guests" come into your home? Will you have such guests often enough to justify building and maintaining this space? I would be using the master bedroom as my away space. I like to lounge, read, watch a lot of tv but don’t want to be in my bedroom all the time and also don’t want to be napping on the great room sofa all the time either. - Your master bedroom plans seem more firm, better thought out than your thoughts for the other spaces. It's a large master with a lot of closet space ... do you need that much space? I like that the master has an outside door ... that'll be convenient for bringing in large furniture, for letting the dogs in/out at night, and for fire safety. - Since this will be your retirement home, I wish the washer/dryer were closer. I'd consider bringing the laundry over to what is now a half-bath ... you could lose some bathroom space and still have plenty. I can take one of the upstairs bedrooms and if the stairs ever become too much, I can relocate to the 1st floor. Why would you not take the larger, nicer bedroom downstairs now? You can always use the stairs several times a day as exercise. I suppose my post is not so much about this plan as it is gaining knowledge about things to look for when determining if a plan, custom or stick, is a good one. Okay ... comments on this house plan: - This house has a complicated footprint ... lots of jigs and jogs, which will drive up the cost without adding anything to the comfort or function of the house. - This complex footprint will also force the roofline into something more complex, which will cost more and be more likely to leak. - The front door /foyer are oddly placed. Think through this: your garage is on the right, so that's where your driveway will be /your guests will park on the right. But the front door is on the left, so people will have to leave their cars and walk literally around the house, turning two corners before they get a glimpse of the front door. This will be confusing for guests. This is fixable ... with a second driveway /parking area /clear indications for your guests as to where they should park. - The L + island kitchen is a comfortable size and looks highly functional. I personally wish it had a larger pantry, as that's "one of my things", and I wish it had natural light. - How do you anticipate laying out furniture in the family room? I find it difficult to lay out furniture when walking aisles must be preserved around the edges. - Since you'd be "floating" furniture in this space, you definitely need to anticipate placement and have a couple floor outlets built in. This cannot be done later, and it will make a difference in your ability to place lamps, etc. - The back veranda will prevent your casual family room from receiving lovely natural light, which can make such a difference in a room. No, it won't be cave-dark, but it also won't be as pleasant as a room with windows directly to the outside. - I see the back veranda has a grilling area ... but it's on the far side from the kitchen. I'd change this. - You have a large, expensive switchback star ... and it's nicely placed to be a focal point in the main living area. Good. But it looks like the space underneath is just closed off ... I'd want those closets to be made deep /open in the back. Even if the space is half-height, it's excellent storage space ... maybe for Christmas decorations or other seldom-used items. - Alternately, you could check out Pinterest for very cool dog spaces in these under-stair areas. But what I would not do is let that space go to waste. - The two upstairs bedrooms are large enough for comfort ... but since they will be guest bedrooms, do you want to build walk-in closets? On the same topic, I'd definitely downsize to a single sink /a good-sized stack of drawers on each side for the guest bathroom. - Overall, the house is over-bathed for a single person. Four bathrooms? Two half-baths? Too much to build, too much to maintain and keep clean. The laundry is where your “drop zone” should be, for your keys, umbrella, shoes, etc. - Agree. I'd like to see a cabinet with drop space and coat hooks where the cabinet is now ... and a built-in bench with a larger window over it where the washer/dryer is ... this would give you space to leave shoes under the bench. I'd also sub in a pocket door; this door will almost always be left open. - You said you might use the space that's now the back half-bath as an entrance. I think the current laundry area would be a much better choice ... it's larger and better suited as an entry. Plus, if you're going to have your eating area in this bay window, you can't afford this space to be a major thoroughfare; it would cut down on the size table you could have. In fact, you’d probably be going through the kitchen anyway Is that a small pantry between this laundry area and the kitchen? If so, it's nicely located ... though I'd flip the door the other direction. Consider where you'd set down your bags before putting away groceries. The house seems to show a basement, but I’m thinking that houses in your area don’t have basements. So, is there enough storage for you? Yeah, but house plans usually give you the option of several foundations. If you do build a second floor, put in an elevator. Or go with a one-story house ... with adult children and no grandchildren yet, I don't see that you need two guest rooms. And yes, if you're near the coast, you will need to be above base flood elevation, so how will you plan for that as you age? Yes, this is important. My drop zone is a dresser by the front door. I keep my hats, gloves, scarves, and umbrellas in the drawers. And have trays on top for keys and mail. Practical. I actually don’t like the idea that I would seldom be using my front door because I’d be entering from the garage. So flip-flop the foyer over to the other side, creating one entry for yourself AND guests. It'll also solve the odd front-door placement, which I discussed above. I would only have one car so could use the garage for overflow storage. Don't. Does anyone actually ever use anything stored in a garage? Moving is a great oportunity for downsizing a bunch of junk you really don't need. explain how I want my house to function, what pleases me aesthetically, and how I want my house to make me feel So now you're solidifying these thoughts. The OP said she would turn that bathroom into a back door entry. The plan already has a back yard entry through the family room ... I don't see a need for another one only a few feet away in the same public space. One or the other ... doors are less energy efficient than windows, and every door is one more door to be secured.