You are so right, you'd not get near enough out of it. Especially now with gas prices being so high everyone and their neighbor are trying to get rid of extra furniture on Craigslist and it seems no one is buying unless the prices are dirt cheap! If it were mine to repurpose (something I have a small business doing) I would use the cubbies below the TV to convert into wine storage by making two sets of cut out pieces of wood. One larger for the back of the cubbie and the bottom of the bottle and a piece cut to hold the neck in a bit lower. Last time I was in Pier 1 they had stackable metal ones that just might fit if you don't have the proper tools to make your own. I'd also add another shelf about where the top of the TV is now for other liquor storage. It wouldn't have to be as deep as the cabinet so you won't have to worry about bumping your head when mixing drinks. You could add stemware brackets to the underside of this shelf too. Along the back of the cabinet below the stemware you could add shallow shelves for storing/displaying shot glasses. If the drawers can be moved up to the top two cubbies that would make for easier storage of cork screws, coasters and wine glass tags. I'm thinking you have an awesome idea here and I wish I had a couple armoires to do this too myself!

Thanks so much for all of your replies! DH didn't have an opinion on which layout and I was leaning towards the second layout but wasn't sure, so I'm glad everyone confirmed that the second layout is the way to go. blfenton - good point about having more countertop room for wine bottles and glasses (& even other bar items) with the second layout. I wasn't even thinking of more countertop room! natschultz - and I agree the second layout will make it less claustrophobic, which is what I was afraid of with the first layout. For the 42" glass front upper, the dealer is actually ordering the cabinet "pieces" in the peppercorn color and then a local cabinetmaker will be putting the 42" cabinet together (Kraftmaid does not make a 42" wide by 42" tall cabinet) with reinforcement for stability. I hadn't thought about doing wine cubbies - that's an idea b/c I think the 9" pullouts are what's really driving up the price for this second layout. I do also like breezgirl's suggestion of replacing the 2 9" pullouts w/ 18" cab & drawer. breezygirl - I think with the second layout the dealer is trying to get the symmetry with the uc fridge centered between the 2 9" pullouts. I have no idea why I didn't think/ask about an 18" cab - I'm definitely not opposed to asymmetry as I have that in the first layout! And I definitely like that the 18" cab can fit more liquor than the pullouts;-) ellaf - no, I don't think the symmetry will come into play esp b/c we will be replacing the table, chairs and lighting but with what yet I don't know! I'm not opposed to the asymmetry in the bar area like breezygirl suggested with replacing the pullouts with 18" cab. I think an 18" cab would give us more storage space than the pullouts (& I'm not totally sold on functionality/practicality of the pull-outs). The dealer will be out at our house tomorrow afternoon, so I will ask him about replacing the 2 9" pullouts with the the 18" cab and the difference in price. And I will also ask him about wine cubbies, although I'm leaning more towards the 18" cab since I think the wine cubbies would provide less liquor storage than the pullouts. Many thanks for your help in this decision!!!

You could use them as doors for closets (not walk in). You could use them as doors for built in storage cabinets. You could use them as doors for storage areas underneath a staircase. You could use them as doors for your kitchen pantry. Finally, you could use them as doors for the linen closet in your master bathroom. I am sure that I could dream up 1000 other uses, but I will stop here. Have Fun! Aubrey

Mama goose, There is actually a door going into that area in the location you drew and enough space to put the DO where you indicated if I expand the window leftward. I'll just have to rearrange my pantry storage ideas to put the freezer where my appliance storage is drawn. If I move the DO there, I'll have landing space to the left, which I like. I currently have narrow spice storage at the end of the island in my city house that I LOVE. It has double doors and 4 inches deep. He surprised me with it on install so I'd like to keep that in my farm house. What I have is similar to this: http://www.belladomicile.com/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Islandspice-storage.jpg I do like your idea of adding a trash bin next to sink. I'd probably still have another cabinet next to the fridge. Thanks!