There's a book by Gene Stratton Porter that talks about building a garden for a life-sized fairy princess... Laddie: A True Blue Story: Laddie hadn't done a thing but make an exact copy of my playhouse under the biggest maiden's-blush in our orchard. He used the immense beech for one corner, where I had the apple tree. His Magic Carpet was woolly-dog moss, and all the magic about it, was that on the damp woods floor, in the deep shade, the moss had taken root and was growing as if it always had been there. He had been able to cut and stick much larger willow sprouts for his walls than I could, and in the wet black mould they didn't look as if they ever had wilted. They were so fresh and green, no doubt they had taken root and were growing. Where I had a low bench under my tree, he had used a log; but he had hewed the top flat, and made a moss cover. In each corner he had set a fern as high as my head. On either side of the entrance he had planted a cluster of cardinal flower that was in full bloom, and around the walls in a few places thrifty bunches of Oswego tea and foxfire, that I would have walked miles to secure for my wild garden under the Bartlett pear tree. It was so beautiful it took my breath away. "If the Queen's daughter doesn't like this," I said softly, "she'll have to go to Heaven before she finds anything better, for there can't be another place on earth so pretty." Perhaps the above will give you some ideas?

I had lights put in cach closet so they come on when the door is opened and off when closed. I love this feature; no more hunting in a dark closet. Used T5 slim flourescest light fixtures. I also have drawers on all the bottom kitchen cabinets. Makes those dark recesses in the back go away. Did in floor hot water heat which I love. No more drafty forced air. Put a shower valve that controls a hose spigot inside the garage so we can wash the car on the outside concrete pad in the winter. Full extension glides on the kitchen drawers and the soft close on the drawers and the cabinet doors. We are at 5000 ft in northern Wyoming so we did tripple pane casement windows and 2x6 walls with foam insulation on the exteriior wall. I would do double hung windows if I had to do it again becasue the flies like to roost between the inside screen and the window pane. Have at least R50 in the ceiling that's blown in fiberglass. The new stuff that doesn't itch. I also agree with putting plenty of outside spigots and outside electrical plugs. Wish I had more.

Really nice! I think I like the same one as you....soft muted colors, but not pale and washed out-ish.

Just for fun, and because you voiced concerns about traffic to the back door, I did a couple of quick and messy layouts, switching the eating and working areas. You've mentioned the question of moving plumbing--these might not even be a consideration, but maybe you can use something from one of them. 1.) Fridge convenient for everyone, but 5.5' to landing space above DW. Only one sink, but nice prep areas. Tight U-shaped working area could be opened up by extra window and window/pass-through to family room. 102" theoretically would accommodate 36" corner susans and a 30" range, but no wiggle room. You could have an undercounter oven (pros on the site don't usually recommend them), or a wall oven on the top wall. Or a small sink on the top wall if you choose a snack area. The fridge and wall oven could be switched, if that works better--but more steps to landing space. I like the u.c.oven, and all storage/pretty dish hutch on the top wall. In both plans that's a pony wall behind the open door to the backyard. 2.) Fridge is closer to cooking area, with wall ovens beside it. Nice prep area and baking area. Clean-up is near table and dining room. Pantries or snacks in the other corner. Aisle in the cooking area is ap. 50" in both plans, so kind of a 'cockpit' kitchen. Not many upper cabinets in either plan.