I have thought more about this. Like Beth said, you could really get a lot more in that bathroom with only one door. I think I drew what she suggested. As far as the door between the two areas, I think it could go either way, but if possible, I think a pocket door that slid into the area by the tub would be better. This would keep the door from being in the way and be almost entirely hidden if not in use. I had one additional thought as well. Assuming later down the line there are additional children or the house is sold to someone with more than one child and bedrooms 3 or 4 are used as bedrooms. Is it going to be fair that the bathroom opens into bedroom 2? Seems like that might cause some disagreements. On that same thought process, the one thing that might bother me would be seeing into the bathroom from downstairs. Although this puts you right back in the same position having bedroom 2 walk around the corner to get to the bathroom, the view from below will be nicer and access will be more even between all 3 bedrooms. If doing something like this, I would extend the vanity the entire length of the room for plenty of storage underneath. (This is the placement of the bedroom door from your first drawing.)

So I am terribly trigger shy and definitely sorry for being such a bother. I spoke with realtors and as I imagined and you all suggested, we will lose value and buyers with a 2 bedroom house. I have been thinking of some alternatives. 1. Use 1/3 of the office space to the edge of the window as a large closet for the master bedroom. Turn the window in that office to a door to the backyard and make the kitchen space and the remaining 2/3 of the office an open kitchen and dining area. Steal 2 feet of kitchen space or add to the current half bath, to make it a full bath and make the dining room bedroom #3 with full bath. We will probably end up using that space as the office. 2. Move the kitchen into the dining room and use the window in the current dining area as a door to the backyard. Remove the half bath and include that space in the kitchen to make a kitchen/dining area. Wall off what was the kitchen,to create a bathroom and walk in closet for the office, which will now function as a small master bedroom (11x9). 3. Use 2/3 of the office to make a closet and bath for the master bedroom. Make the dining room a bedroom, and expand the kitchen to include the other 1/3 of the bedroom, and the current half bath for a kitchen/dining area. Use the kitchen window as backyard access. The only trouble I have with that idea is the fact that you will have to walk to the other end of the house to use the bathroom if you are in that 3rd bedroom. The layout of this house has been kicking my butt for 4 years now. I will not let it win! Do any of these options make sense? Any thoughts or suggestions. I think the one thing we decided is that we are not moving unless we have to move outside of this area altogether because of work. Let me know if you have questions.

What about this revised version? - switch location of range and sink (pass-through): less structural work (close 1 window, shrink French doors to 1-2 large windows) - moved island a bit closer Left to fridges I don't understand my need for wide open space; I'm only 4feet and 10inches tall. This plan allows me lots of elbow-room to cook. My family uses the sink, DW, and Microwave a lot, and those stuff will be at the far right, so THEY can use the island. I'll use the space to the Right of the range. Also, currently, with the wall between kitchen and familyroom up, the traffic flow is that of the curved arrow, so that's why I felt like I needed a big opening between the fireplace and the island. But w/out the wall, the traffic flow will be that highlighted in pink. THANK YOU very much for your feedback. - malhgold: good luck w/ your plans (fun, yet nerve-wrecking) ú And I had thought about putting my island on casters, so it can roll where I need. But I donft know what is the largest grollableh island, and Ifm not sure how much my hardwood floor would handle all that rolling around. With this updated layout, I plan to put my dishes/glasses/cup in the island drawers; thatfd be a lot of clicking when I roll the island around. - Bmorepanic: that is THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX! I love it. Ifve been stuck in the same rut that I couldnft see past my troublesome fireplace. I like your suggestion, especially with the pass-through window. However, Ifm planning on a 48h range and 2 fridges (like the all-fridge and all freezer), so Ifm not sure those appliances would fit that layout. - Ajpl: while I donft think therefs a fire concern, I would think that putting cabinets right next to/touching a fireplace would put the whole view of the fireplace unbalanced, since therefs no cabinet to the Left of the fireplace, no? We use the fireplace at gatherings, etc, not on a regular basis. - Ajpl: I love the idea of the F-shape, especially the thought of having my edeskf at the short leg of the F. But I donft like a sink or a range at the peninsula, which is what I have now V not good with kids. No one basically sits at the peninsula because I¡¦m usually cooking there/splattering/hot oven-steam, etc. - Lyfia: "I want to think about this some more"¨ --- I would love more feedback. - Do I need another upper cabinet to the right of the sink, to balance out the other upper cabinets? - Do you think w=48"¨xd=30"¨ is large enough prep area? - Any concerns about the refrigerator door hitting the range when opened? - Is there a real problem with putting the Advantium/microwave next to a TV? - Do I have the/any WOW factor? I'll try to post a picture of the current kitchen; you would cry for me. Hopefully you can see the potential like I can. I really should be sleeping; my babies will be up at the crack of dawn.

This is possibly (probably) more than you want to do, but it gives you two baths (one shared, one master) with a smaller addition, which might save enough on materials to change some of the interior walls. You'd have a bigger sitting area just inside the front door, with some flex space between it and the kitchen. The TV is drawn on an adjustable arm, mounted beside the front door, but could be on a small stand in the same location. The extra kitchen chair is beside the wall of book cases. I used your template for a couch, but there is space for a longer couch to convert to an extra bed. The kitchen table can be moved out from the wall when needed, and pushed out of the way when there is activity in the kitchen. The red lines denote the master bedroom and bath, and the green lines on the original plan, at bottom left, indicate interior walls which would not change (other than relocating a closet door from front to back). I changed the orientation of the tub and toilet in the second bathroom, to block the view of the toilet, but that wouldn't be necessary, and would be another saving in costs. The vanity in the master could become a single, with the toilet on the same wall. It's a small bath, with adjoining small closet, sufficient for AirBnB or student rental, but the bath could be enlarged, with a number of layouts, and one of the bedroom's exterior walls could be closet space (inset, bottom right). Moving the wall back into the first bedroom, and adding book cases or a combination of open and closed storage cabinets on the exterior wall, opens that long hall way into an extension of living space, and puts the entrance more in the middle of the room. No windows or exterior doors change. The area at the bottom of the smaller master bedroom could become a private porch or deck for the master. (Waving to any Smaller Homes peeps from the old days. :)