Wow! Thanks to everybody for all of the your creative suggestions!!! I am still debating on the better location. It's either going to be in the garage or the basement bathtub (that no one EVER uses). For what it's worth, we use Tidy Cats clumping litter and it seems to do the best job for us. I also installed one of those intermittent spray air fresheners (runs on batteries and hangs on a simple nail) just over the tub where their box is. That has made a great deal of difference...but It's not enough to make me want a litter box off my foyer anymore! Natal, thanks for asking about the basement. It really got me rethinking my position on that. My reasons for avoiding using it as a litter spot is that since our renovation, the basement is just soooo nice now...I just hate to have that durn box, the scattered litter, the smells, etc. down there! The only place it can go is the tub though. My concern with that is that the tub is acrylic, and I am afraid of getting too many scratches. But, I'm thinking that if I get a couple of throw rugs to line the tub and lay over the edge, it might not be a problem. Now I'll just have to find a way of keeping them from clawing up the leather furniture that's down there...(maybe we'll have to re-try Soft Paws...hmmmm...) Sujafr, Thanks for the warning about losing the fire-rating on the door to the garage. I would not have thought of that in a zillion years. Hmmmmm...now that option does not seem so great. My DH will certainly hate the idea knowing that little tidbit. I'm glad I did not do my usual thing and just impulsively hack a hole in the door! Jeanne gallo--wow!!! That little cut-out for the kitties is awesome! I so want that in my next house!!!! Do you mind if I save a copy of the photos?? Thanks again, everybody! You guys are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I drew up an idea... Structural changes: I removed the following walls: * both pantry wall sides (left the back wall) * the wall next to the current refrigerator I then expanded the kitchen 3' into the LR...you said you would consider expanding into the "Christmas Tree room" :-) If 3' is too much, you could do 2' and reduce the depth of the Pantry and the "Dish Hutch" (more on that later). However, unless you want a counter-depth refrigerator, I would at least leave the 3' depth for the Message Center & Refrigerator...both of which are contained in the original pantry alcove space. I added another pantry wall 4' from the DR side (see pic below) Layout: I incorporated all your appliances and added a prep sink. Your work flow goes from the refrigerator......to the prep sink and prep on the peninsula......to the cooktop or ovens......to the cleanup sink or DR. Message Center: You mentioned the peninsula seems to be a clutter magnet. By adding a Message Center you should be able to cut down on some of the clutter. The Message Center would have the house/land line phone (this location is convenient to both the kitchen and the FR); a place to recharge cell phones, cameras, etc.; a place to store phone books & directories; and a place for your keys and other paraphernalia that seems to accumulate at entrances. Refrigerator: Good location b/c while it's in the kitchen, it's still convenient to the FR and outsiders using it won't interfere with the prep, cooking, and cleanup. Landing Space: Dish Hutch Dish Hutch: This 30"W x 30"D cabinet is really a 30"W x 30"D base cabinet plus a countertop plus a 30"W x 15"D ceiling height wall cabinet with, possibly, glass doors. This will give it a furniture look and will provide a lot of storage space for dishes, small appliances, gadgets, etc. The 15" deep countertop can also serve as landing space for the Refrigerator and Pantry. Pantry: This actually can work two ways: (1) Shallow walk-in. 48"W x 30"D with 15" deep shelves floor to ceiling along the back wall. Then, along the side walls, you could install peg boards and store things like brooms, mops, etc....or anything else you like (e.g., someone on GW stores their pots & pans in their very shallow (12"D?) pantry hung from pegboards on the back and side walls.) Bi-fold doors provide full access to the pantry front. (2) Pantry Pullouts. You could alternately put in 52" of pullout pantry cabinets. Why 52" instead of 48"? B/c if you use pantry cabinets you won't need that 4-1/2" wall like you do w/the walk-in. (There may be a way to eliminate that wall for the walk-in as well, but I would be careful since a door will be hanging from it. Shelves can be secured along the back.) Landing Space: Dish Hutch Peninsula: From what I can tell from your current layout, it appears that you currently have a 12" overhang. 15" is recommended for counter-height seating. It means expanding only 3" into the FR. It also provides a nice expanse of countertop (84" x 39"!! I'm envious!!) for baking, normal prep work, school/art/craft projects, and homework (if you have school-age children). Hopefully, DW will be OK with that. I also added a prep sink to that area to keep the cleanup and prep zones separate (and to provide a place to wash hands or get a drink of water w/o interfering w/the kitchen work). [In our home, DH and I are always in each other's way since we only have one sink and it's only 24" away from the range. We're adding a prep sink and moving the cleanup sink to the other side of the kitchen when we remodel.] Prep Sink Landing Space: Right of sink Next to the prep sink, I added a 12" trash pullout for prep scraps. Note one other thing: I put in a Beverage Chiller (or could be Wine Chiller or small refrigerator) under the peninsula counter on the FR side and added a 12" x 12" wall cabinet facing the FR on the end of the window wall to hold cups, napkins, etc. Things that might be useful in the FR. It could also have 2 doors--one opening on the kitchen side and the other the FR side. Window Wall: I put in a 33" double-bowl sink (1-3/4) under the window. It's not quite centered (off by 1.5"), but I don't think it will be noticeable. I wasn't sure if you wanted a double- or single-bowl, so I put in a double. [If you're unsure, search the forum for several discussions on single vs double sinks!...oh, be sure to use the "search" box at the bottom of the page, not the top!] I also bumped out the sink 3" to give you more room behind the sink. I've noticed that most sinks take up the majority of the depth of counters, leaving very little room for faucets & soap dispensers. By adding 3" it gives you a little "breathing space" behind the sink. The 3" on either side could be converted to a "filler pullout" (see the Rev-A-Shelf Spice Racks for Fillers -- Have you seen these!!!! thread). If possible, I would also recommend bringing the window down to the counter height and running your counter into the sill. Several GWers have done this and it looks very nice... (see the Counter Height Windows Love them? Hate them? thread) The DW is to the left of the sink (it's the reason I had to put the sink slightly off center. If the sink is smaller, it could probably be centered). To the right of the sink is a full-size trash pullout for sink & cooking scraps. You may also be able to put a recycle can in there (2 cans total). There's a 36" lazy susan b/w the trash pullout and the cooktop (corner) Sink Landing Space: Both sides of sink Cooking Wall: This wall has your 36" induction cooktop w/a 42" vent hood, vented to the outside. It is highly recommended that vent hoods be at least 6" wider than your cooktop to better catch heat, grease, smoke, etc. There is also a 6" spice/oils pullout to the left of the cooktop. (see the Rev-A-Shelf thread above). Then, there's 24" of landing/space b/w the cooktop and the ovens. The oven stack contains your Convection MW and Convection Wall Oven. Cooktop Landing Space: Left & right of cooktop Oven Landing Space: Left of oven stack Doorways & Clearances: Between the ovens and pantry: 42". This is also the size of the doorway into the DR. Between the Message Center and peninsula: 42" +++++++++ And now, the picture! ++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Some general recommendations: * Mostly drawers in your base cabinets. Especially the wider ones. The wider drawers are perfect for pots & pans. Other drawers are great for "tupperware", utensils, linens, baking tools, prep tools, etc. Check out the following threads: What do you wish you had done differently? Best advice from this forum Now that I have [X], I think I could have lived without it Checklist For Granite Installation? (just in case!) tray cabinets - top 1/2 wasted space And, to help you with our kitchen design: Kitchen Forum FAQ I hope you like it. However, remember this is your kitchen, so if you don't like it, change it! Good luckand let me know if you have any questions or thoughts!

My "scaredy" cat is chillin' on my bed, completely unconcerned. My younger kitty (the one pictured) is pacing, running, and dying to know what/who is out there! I moved the gates to the downstairs hallway because my kids will be home soon, and I don't want them having to move anything. Our DR has a door to the kitchen, which I'd removed previously, but put back up for this. We can still go in/out the rest of the house through that door. The kitties only lose access to the kitchen and family room. They have the run of the rest of the house!

That may be the case for you but i warn people we had the exact opposite result. We put everything in a air tight bin control and all the different varibles plastic soil, just plastic and just soil and the bin when there is is moisture on the plastic it gives off this smell our soil just smelled like soil it can happen within amonth of testing soil and plastic amonia, just just plastic amonia when it is dry there is no smell sometime even if moisture is under neath and not on top no smell once some moisture gets above the plastic you get this smell. hope this helps.