One way to approach this problem would be to put a nice lazy susan in the center of the table and put a very pretty cake tin/keeper/cover over it, and hide your condiments/napkins under there. Even a lidded basket might work. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, I dunno about the napkins, but they sure make salt and pepper shakers that don't look like s&p shakers. Maybe if you browse eBay you'll fall in love with something you'd feel good about leaving out all the time? If you like cute, this should do it for you. Or maybe you're more this kinda gal. Ones with their own caddies (in lots of styles) are easy to whisk to and from the table quickly. I think these are precious. I'm into powdered supplements for me and my critters, so I'm kind of a sugar shaker freak. I have several lined up beside my fridge. I should either find a way to hide them or get prettier ones.

Sorry for the delay in responding. Was working on a big yard project and too tired in the evening to think about the inside remodel. Great ideas from all of you. I did want to put the kitchen where the LR is as it has a room on the other side that is perfect for a mudroom, but DH absolutely does not want to touch the LR and take out the fireplace. Also the floor is dropped in that space and running plumbing would be difficult and expensive. And, college attending DD lives in the spare space(access is from garage). The office is only around 9-10 feet deep and I think putting the PR in it would make the desk area way too small. It is also my library/reading/get away space. IÂll have to consider moving either the outside ref or freezer in the laundry room. However, the room is pretty small and I want some counter space for my sewing machine and desperately need an ironing board space (both are currently in formal dining room). I know all the doorways in the kitchen are messy. The opening by the office is important as that will be the way we get to the new courtyard (thru the office) and the kids and I use the computer in the office a lot. I like to keep an eye on what they are doing on-line. IÂve thought about trying to leave the coats and boots outside the door, but we have pushed the wall out as far as it can go under the eves as we can without disturbing the roof (cost concession). Also when it is snowing, one does not like to take off coat and shoes outside. Sigh! Anyway, I reworked the plan after the first round of ideas but before see all these additional ideas. I moved the pantry and changed the PR. Pantry is not as big, but an okay size. Takes some space from the dining area, but I want a banquette and so do not need to walk completely around a table. I think the separation between the fridge and stove is better. The fridge is close to prep sink which will be used for working with food and does not block the stove access. Also gives me more cabinets. This house is dismally short on storage. Not sure if we are doing a range or cooktop yet. If I put ovens somewhere else it would be on the same run as the refrigerator. That area will probably be where I do baking related activities. Dish storage will be by window sink and relatively close to dining area. Any thoughts on this layout?

How moronic is the management here anyway? On this forum, imagine a sidebar off to the right of ads from Kohler for sinks and faucets; Aga or Wolf for ranges; M. Texeira for soapstone. Discreet, but always there, with special offers. Not intrusive, but visible and reasonably eye-catching. The clickthrough would be amazing. People would fawn over promotions for Danby marble or Marmoleum or Labor Day sales on CREE lights. There isn't a single more profitable site for the kitchen renovation industry to advertise on in all the Web. And can you imagine the site using location services to give you names for a kitchen designer or cabinetmaker in your city? Yet, instead we get repulsive, off-putting makeup ads that make you feel like a rape victim. Sometimes the human herd needs a little thinning, and disposal of behind the garage, is what I'm thinking.

It looks so much better without them. Lindsey is right though, the door itself is not centered on the house. A lot of houses have doors that are not centered, but, most of those houses, do not have the type of roof you have. To make the door look centered with the roof, you would have to move the door over to the left quite a bit. I am sure you really dont want to do that, so just remove the dormers that draw more attention to it, and enjoy your home. :-)