I'd like to echo what bigkahuna said regarding budget. When we were interviewing architects, there was one that we liked the best and really wanted to use. We talked generally about the budget, and he said he was comfortable designing a house in our range. We had nagging doubts about that, though, because when we asked to see something he had done in our range he didn't have a single house to show us -- all of them were at least 2X-3X our budget. It's not that we thought he couldn't do it, just that it would likely be a struggle the whole way with us saying, "Yes, we love it, but we can't afford it" a lot. We ended up going with another architect and are very glad we did. Some friends of ours used the architect we really liked to design their major kitchen/living room remodel. They loved working with him, but when they sent the design out to be estimated, it came in at 3X their budget. After several months of wrangling with the architect to bring the design more in line with their budget, they finally walked away from the project. This isn't to say that the architect was solely to blame, but he just wasn't a good match for their budget. They shouldn't have had to argue with him, for example, to downgrade the $10,000 mantle for the outdoor fireplace!

Ditto, KD first. However, be SURE to interview your KD for the job! Don't be too nice/shy to ask for references and have a list of tough questions ready. Maybe even start a new thread asking for peoples suggestions re: what to ask a potential KD. I started w/one "KD" and it was a big waste of time (most precious) and a few hundred dollars in the "design fee" that I paid her. Relatively an inexpensive lesson learned. The designer I ended up with was pretty good, but there are still some issues I wish we'd clarified more at the design phase (he didn't center the panels on my SZ sxs fridge b/c he left room for the handles w/out consulting me and I hate it. Also, the "finished" panels for a very wide entryway look TERRIBLE - hard to describe why.) You really need to go over and understand every little tiny detail so you understand what you are buying! Also, be sure you work out a reasonable payment plan. Deposit, amount on delivery, another amount when fabrication ready, and be sure to hold back enough for the punch-list of finishing items at the end. I'm sure others will chime in with more helpful suggestions. Oh, and I wouldn't take the KD's recommendation for a GC. Maybe gather a list after speaking with her references. I would only take a GC recommendation from a homeowner who had used that person and would only consider hiring a GC after seeing at least 4 of his jobs in person. For both KD and GC, change their standard contract to include things to protect you throughout the process!!! Pay minimal deposits and be sure to hold back enough $ from the GC to be able to finish the job with someone else in the event of a disaster! OK, I hope I haven't scared you too badly, but be careful out there!

Thanks folks!! I love to hear input from people with fresh perspectives... it's so helpful. I had a good meeting with the KD at the cabinet place today, she's really good. My dad is an architect and he always uses her to source his kitchens, so I trust her :) bmorepanic- thanks for the alternate layout. We decided that we really didn't want a hood dominating what's essentially the whole house (this is in the middle of the dining and living rooms, and a VERY small house) and I like the island being more of a farmhouse worktable sort of space. I want the sink on that leg of counters so I can look out the back windows at my garden!!!! yay!!! I do like the idea of turning the mudroom "closet" storage into the DR, however, I need some storage space in that mudroom. As you might not see from the plan, it's a weird little space, a little less than 4' wide. That wall between it and the DR is only 5-6' high (to let light into the house) and what I have done is to keep that little cabinet below the height of the 3/4 wall. On top of the wall is a narrow display shelf, which becomes a deeper display area on top to the little cabinet thing. It's a weird space because the house -brick- has a little jog there. Can't change it! Anyway the little cabinet is actually 18" wide by 2' deep, and I feel it will be useful to keep baskets in for gloves and stuff. Below the bench, that indentation will house the kitty litter box! I know this mudroom setup isn't idea, but we have NOTHING now, and three different family architects all tried to design a better solution to no avail. A brick house makes moving doors and windows VERY difficult, so we're pretty stuck with what we have. rhome410- yup, it was me who said the corner drawers looked scary! I'm actually not even sure my cabinetmaker (Glenwood in Canada) makes them... I had a long talk with the KD though and she says she has used the 36" susan base with a piano hinge door many times against a pro-style range that sticks out like mine, with no problems. I'll ask her whether the drawers are even an option though, and rethink that. But that brings up the next point about the pantry... I am so scared of not having a good food stroage area! What we have now is so un-useable and I sooooo miss my 15" wide Ikea pantry I had in my last house. This one actually can be at least 15, if not 18" wide frameless, so that seems like a lot of space. I was going to do roll trays in it. But lets think thorough your suggestion of turning it 90 degrees into the DR..... this would be my main food storage. Would it be inconvenient to have to go around the corner? Also, I like the spaces being at least a little discreet. Not sure I want cherry kitchen cabinet facing the DR. On the other hand, I like the idea of reclaiming the 4" of space the the wall is using in this layout. I could make the counter next to the stove 18" rather than 12" and shift everything down a bit.... hmmmm.... Cost-wise, I would probably need to make that...

Sophie Wheeler: You're assuming way too much. What makes you say that I don't seem to take into account the associated costs of removing bearing walls, when I clearly stated above: "I hate surprises, especially big ones. That's the reason we would like to know BEFORE we commit to this project just how many dollars we'll be spending on putting in beams, RELOCATING PLUMBING, ELECTRIC, DUCTS, etc." All the affected rooms will need new flooring that's not a news item for us. We also know we will need to spend money on floor matching if we enlarge the narrow opening between the kitchen and dining room. How much we will spend on this kitchen reno will not be limited so much by our finances but by the value increase that a large family kitchen will add to our 3000sqft , 4 bedroom house that has one big problem: A tiny, 60's kitchen more befitting a small cottage. We just simply don't want to overspend. The estimated size of the value increase will mostly inform our decisions.