jannz77, Both of these 2 packages are as good as the use effort. So basically you get what you make. They don't offer any ideas or suggestions or 1-click views for different styles. You will have to pretty much draw everything yourself, the windows, the doors, exterior finish etc. etc. I am not aware of any package which does house-styles based off of a floor plan. Please do let me know if you find one.

If you have a little patience for a little bit of a steep learning curve, and you think well in 3D, then I think Google SketchUp is the best thing going - and it's free! Watch the online video tutorials. Once you get the basic concepts you can go to work. It's a generic 3D modeler, but is particularly well suited for architecture. You really are virtually unlimited in what you can model. I've modeled our entire Kitchen/Family Room with vaulted ceilings running in two directions down to the fraction of an inch, and have used to plan our upcoming remodel.

Yes, you just have to hunt for it. I've linked to a couple where you can use your own photo. (Were it me I'd select a checkerboard floor pattern, whether linoleum or tile, and use that to see how you like it.) I've used this kind of software eons ago, the best thing you can do is start with a good photo of your kitchen. Straight on view (not from a side angle). No tilt to your pic, plenty of natural light, bright and crisp. Otherwise you'll get a funky end result. Oh, and check with major flooring manufacturers (Shaw, Mannington, etc.). Pretty sure the one I used is a freebie Mannington lets you download to your PC. You might not be using virtual paint, but I'd bet you can get a pretty close idea of what works & doesn't by using their floor colors and pattens in your room. Meanwhile: http://www.diylife.com/2007/12/04/flooring-selection-a-snap-with-virtual-design-tools/ Oh, here you go, this person posted an entire list: http://www.city-data.com/forum/home-interior-design-decorating/557883-virtual-interior-design-tools.html The other option is use a photo edit program, and Copy/Paste other floors you like into your room. Start with your own good photo. Then via Google images search for a floor ("black and white checkerboard floor"). Once you find an image of the floor style you're going for save it to your PC. Have both your own pic & sample pic open in your photo editor. (You might have to resize one or the other, both photos should be the same size so the floor pattern isn't too tiny or too huge in your photo.) Then in your room photo, use the Select tool and outline your floor area. Jump over to the sample floor picture that you like and select a comparable size area. Then Copy the sample flooring section, go to your photo and 'choose Paste into selection'. Your editor might have a different command, but you want to paste to selection (your outlined floor) otherwise it will paste over the entire photo or go haywire somehow. ;) Every photo edit is similar but different, so the commands are there, it's just a matter of finding them. Hope that makes sense!

Did I really do this?! Did I really request the assistance and comments of people I knew to be kind enough to take the time to give it, the NIGHT BEFORE our already delayed final pre-construction meeting? WHAT would cause me to do such a thing?! (Smile) I do value your suggestions and see a few ideas I can still act on. As to the rest, in my current kitchen, my refrigerator and range are 18" apart and 10 & 12' away from the sink, respectively. My primary prep space is 3' down from the sink and 8' across from the refrigerator & range. All of the walking I get in when cooking is my primary mode of exercise! That said, the inefficiency of my kitchen really doesn't bother me all that much. I guess I have to stand and say, "My name is Gala, and I am NOT one of the TKO." The refrigerator has a wall on the dining room side and a finished panel on the other with a full-depth cabinet above. See, I did learn something from this forum, even if I didn't pay enough attention to the layout posts. Igloochic, thank you for taking the time to mock-up my dimensions. The renderings and pictures of your kitchen make it clear to me that the dishwasher placement just won't work. I currently have an 18" trash pull out between the range and sink. I think I can move that between the sink and dishwasher without my husband divorcing me or builder taking a hit out on me. Igloochic, could you share the aisle dimensions of your pre-renovation kitchen? Also, can you explain what you mean by insetting the sink by 3"? The range side of the island is all drawers. The far side of the island has standard counter height seating. There's a 5.5' aisle behind that which serves as a main thoroughfare through the house. Past the aisle is an open staircase going up to a family room. Again, my thanks for each of your suggestions. Know that I appreciate you taking the time to make them, even if I don't act on all of them.