Your GC should fix this. The round duct is ok, but no insulation is wrong. The original square duct is very expensive in comparison. The round ceiling grilles should have been square adjustable grilles. It is cheaper to install round. You can cheat and not use a transistion boot. This boot adds about 10 dollars to the job. To change the round to square, you will need to patch the surface. You should use a 3-way register in the kitchen.

Keep in mind that, as I know you realize, suggestions are just to be considered, evaluated, and used or not. Just possibilities. 1. I agree you need the extra aisle width at the ends of the island, especially since, if you move the Fridge, both passages will be interrupted by the opening of doors (fridge and DW). 2. Can you put a MW over a range and still have a good hood? I don't think that would work. And a good exhaust is really important. 3. I agree with rosie that the centered range is pleasing to the eye and I would think hard before shifting it to either side. 4. My solution would be, as you suggest, Fridge by the desk, even though it might crowd the desk. Then put the MW in the island as Cavimum suggested. 5. Even better would be to put a drawer MW in the island (they are SO much easier to access than a regular one when placed below counter) if you can afford it. They do cost a few hundred more than a regular MW. 6. And even on such a small island, I would include a prep sink into one corner. One only 12'' wide and perhaps 15'' deep would fit. Small but invaluable. The last two suggestions come from my own experience with my kitchen remodel. I didn't really think I would often use the prep sink. WRONG. I also didn't think I would especially like a drawer MW and my DH was sure he would not. We were both wrong on that. The prep sink on your island, just a step or two from the range, will be used often. There will be still be more than two feet of space beside it. Not optimal, but useful. Sandra

I'd paint every bit of that 90's fake oak baseboards and everything around the windows, a bright white. actually, for the baseboards I would remove what's there and replace w/simple 4.5" white mdf baseboards. you can replace all of the door trim too if you don't like it and don't want to bother with paint. rent a small table saw and learn how to do it yourself. it's easy and cheap that way. the next thing I'd do is take down the wall w/the arches. if you want an enclosed dining area, then enclose it and take it to the ceiling. that 1990 half wall look, w/Spanish style arches, is just horrid. get rid of the track lighting in the kitchen and have decent recessed lights installed. replace that dining light. (also easy to do yourself. learn how to do it and save yourself ($150 per light) . in the living room, please replace that fan w/more of modern type, that corner stone fireplace,,what do you want to do with that? does it work? you can remove those stones without too much of an issue. even replacing it with simple tile, ship lap, or dry wall would be an improvement. again,,not that difficult. study on how to do it. here are some beachy decor ideas to get you going do you see that 90's wood trim/baseboards anywhere? no. start w/whites, charcoal gray, soft blue grays, aqua or navy, and go from there.

Glacier White Corian wouldn't at all be a waste and would save you money over quartz right now with the tariffs on Chinese imports if you purchased a non-American brand which is basically anything except Cambria, and Cambria itself is expensive. You can even get the Glacier White Corian in a 3/4" thickness (most other colors only come in the 1/2" thickness). You might want to read up on some of the durability issues between the two surfaces. For starters, quartz can change color with exposure to sunlight which is something you don't see with Corian, and quartz can melt at lower temperatures (150 degrees Fahrenheit) than Corian (380 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit). Corian can be resurfaced easily, while this is much harder with quartz. Corian will develop a patina of light scuffs of which you are already aware, but again these can be buffed out whereas scratches in quartz aren't as easy to make, but if they are made, they're hard to repair inconspicuously. If your base cabinets are dramatically unlevel, then you could consider placing a narrow wood trim piece underneath your new countertop to disguise the shims. You'll want the surface level within 1/8" for any countertop installation including Corian. While Corian isn't as heavy as quartz or natural stone, it can still crack when placed on an uneven base. Another option would be to have the edge mitered to hide shimming. In any case, leveling can be done from the top as the previous commenter pictured.