rhome410 - thanks for the suggestion around flipping the fridge / pantry area. I had considered it early in the process, but we were hoping to avoid in order to prevent changes to the dining room (wallpaper and paneled.) However, as you will see below I created an updated floorplan and included your suggestion. I think it helps with the overall functionality of the space. We considered the full range over the rangetop / wall ovens. We really like to idea of an oven that is up off the floor for both easy access and distance from small children. Also, the fact that the oven + rangetop combo is actually significantly cheaper is a factor. On the other hand, the full range makes the floor plan easier to arrange, provides ventilation for the ovens and also has the benefit of providing an excellent "centerpiece" to the kitchen appearance. I'd say we're undecided at this point. Do you think I have the right pro/con list? kaismom - thanks for the thoughtful feedback you've given on the overall flow and interaction of the spaces we're designing. I completely agree that this is one of the most important aspects of the design process and is also one of the hardest to figure out since it can be difficult to visualize. Let me give you a few more facts that I haven't already provided. First, we live in the Boston area (not VA). The funny thing is that we used to live in VA - up until about five years ago - so I know what you are talking about! Given the combination of relatively few truely hot days and the fact that our backyard has mostly indirect light except for in the early morning, we aren't to concerned about to much light heating up the house. The back wall of the kitchen that faces the backyard does face southwest, so I'd expect great morning light and then indirect light as the day goes on. Second, your suggestion about casual family dining is an excellent point. We were thinking that the island would be the center of family life in the evenings (homework, dinner prep, dining, clean-up.) You will see below that I've created a revised floorplan and added a placeholder for a table to the plan. My thinking right now is that we wouldn't add the table - but it gives us the option. You make some excellent points about how as the kids grow older, all being seated facing each other might be a valuable habit - I'll keep them in mind. Third, you suggested I consider how we interact with the house / yard today. I'd say 90-95% of our entrance / egress from the house happens via the garage. This is in spite of the fact that we have three other entrances (including two in the backyard.) Now that you've suggested I give this careful considering - I don't expect this to change much - so this is probably the most important entrance to get right. The second priority would be the backyard, as the kids get older I envision more time (especially on the weekends) being spent playing in the backyard. In fact, this consideration is why we are having so much consternation about giving up the side view. While not having direct access to the mudroom from the backyard isn't ideal, I'm not sure we can have both the side view and this access. Adding a door from the backyard into the garage or coming through the kitchen wall adjacent to the garage won't work because there is a bulkhead access to the basement in that corner that cannot move. That's unfortunate since this would have been an excellent solution - thanks for the suggestion! palimpsest - you asked about the right front room. It is currently a room that gets little use. We'd like to eventually turn this into a library / study of sorts since the idea of a formal living room doesn't appeal. Adding the powder room of the central hall would reduce the room dimensions from 17x18 to 13x18 - I was thinking this was still adequate space for the use we envision. Perhaps a little more of a rectangle than would be ideal, but still a space we could make work. What do you think? bmorepanic - Excellent point about the double french doors. The more my wife and I think about it, the fact that they swing creates space problems and also makes it difficult to have screens on the doors. I don't see that much opportunity to have both of these doors wide open with no screens as it's either darn cold or there are to many bugs around. Given this, we're leaning more towards a sliding door. The fact that it isn't centered on the hallway isn't all that big of a deal to me, but I'll keep an eye on it when I can get some renderings and make sure it doesn't look strange. I'm still thinking about the idea of moving the fridge to the wall adjacent to the garage. Biggest concern about this is that it moves it farther away from the family room and backyard entrance. Maybe this reduces the convenience factor? However, it does create some benefits around allowing open counter space across the whole backyard wall and what feels like a more convenient work layout. I'll keep this in mind. If you get a chance, take a look at the layout I'll provide below and let me know what you think. sundownr - it's great to hear the dimensions of your space and that you find it functions well. Very encouraging that we will eventually find a solution that will work for my family. Also great to hear you eat at the island and enjoy it - this is what we envision today. Also, the photos are helpful - thank you for providing them. As you mention, I see you went with the full range which solves the wall oven problem. We like the idea of wall ovens for their convenience and also like the ideas of deep drawers under the cooktop for pots and pans, but both the convenient floorplan as well as the asthetics of the full range certainly appeal. We're still undecided there. New Revised Floorplan: I've incorporated some of the suggestions everyone has provided in this update. Still isn't perfect, but I'd be interested to see what people think. Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions!

I could see too how having a seat at the end might space out kiddos helping to make cookies, so not everyone is working in the same space. Or for entertaining, might feel less like an audience. Not really set on a storage configuration, but I like symmetry and if I had two drawer sets and one cabinet, then I wanted them spaced that way. If I go down to two cabinets it doesn't matter. Don't have to have the storage, but always nice to eek out more where I can. With the island slightly wider than original thinking, I can see going with an option like #6 above - where the overhang makes a backward 'L'. Not the table end like #7, more like #5. I like #6 best anyways. But that looks much wider. The seating at the end doesn't seem to 'share' legroom with the seat to the right? So the overhang might be the same on both of those sides? I'd probably unbalance it by keeping the side by the range an end panel. No one could really tell either unless they were right there. I'd have three legs then too. hmmm...thanks for the input...getting closer. I can feel it. What if the trash pull was to the left of the DW? And the bank of drawers currently there to the right of the sink? Think the spacing is a bit different tho - the drawers on the right aren't as wide as the ones on the left. That way easier access to eating area, cleaning off plates as they enter the DW, and closer to island prep. Most of the trash is recyclable, and my current prep is to the left of the sink. Granted with a usuable island more veggie prep may be done there. hmmmm...I'll mull it over tonight while I sleep. Just as long as I don't have another nasty kitchen nightmare like last night. Awful. Woke me up and had me sitting up in bed. Granted, now of course I can't remember the problem?

Hahaha you guys are amazing. Thank you SO very much for all of your ideas. You have helped us so greatly. We have a small coat closet by the front door before the kitchen we plan to open up for a "mud room" for keys, a bench, book bag hooks, etc. you are right in thinking about all of it now albeit it is early, I'm on it! We also have a dresser turned buffet on the opposite side of where the appliances are (the structural wall) and that's where we put the mail and empty our pockets. I have a little bowl formDH to put everything in. We do use the front door as our main entry. The room next to our living/dining room is the former garage converted, not by us, obviously... It was a one car and the transformation left a lot to be desired. There is a big step down as well into the room. After that, is the actual garage, which is more steps down. Bringing in groceries through that way is a huge pain, forget about if I have the kids with me (when do I not have the kids with me?????). I love the idea of the seating at the end of the room, it makes so much sense to have it in line with the island, And I had never thought of it. I have to see when we remove the peninsula with the sink and dw in it currently how it feels. I would love to have the table as part of the island so we could spill over into it when we do holidays and things, or put food on it to carry out when we are doing bbqs and things outdoors. I'm not convinced the space is too small for it but I certainly will opt for a table if need be. The natural end I think for the island would be in line with the cooktop wall, by the patio doors, but from there to the windows there's a good 7' at least. I feel like if we continue the island a bit, say just for seating for 4 as in the pic mama goose found, I could also stick a pantry or something in the far corner to the left of the sliding doors without it feeling alienated. Once the space is cleared out more I will use tape and check it out. on a side note, what do you guys do while you renovate for food? Do you just order out or pick up? DH wants to get a little electric griddle...lol As long as the table part of the island, if we go that way, doesn't impede traffic flow from the patio doors or from the work triangle to the pantry, we are good, right? Right now we have literally all of our food in our pantry but I think with a bigger island and after the reorganization, we are going to have another spot for regularly used stuff. This will help free room in there for things less frequently used, which is what it should be for, I think. As for a buffet, or setting things out with guests, etc. I would probably use our dining room table just because it's huge and in the living room. Maybe I should move the dining room table into the kitchen to get a feel for how a big island would be once we take everything out, lol DH is going to love that idea! Haha I'm so excited to know (sort of) what works. Thank you again,

Thank you for all the comments. Talked with the GC this morning. I measured correctly and it was off by 4". His solution was satisfactory. He is going to cantilever the wall that was in question. It will hang into the garage. This isn't a big deal due to the fact the garage ended up being 4" larger due to the error. He already had this idea approved with a structural engineer. I'd like to make a point that the GC was open to any idea that made my wife and myself happy. He would have done whatever it took to make this situation right. I feel that the cantilever option is a good solution. Thanks again for all the help.