Some final rambling thoughts :) I want this space to be as functional as possible and open. 1. We're going to put a pocket door to have the option to close off the foyer if needed. This will allow us to close off the entire room, but still leave us the ability to open it for the pass through to foyer. Best of both worlds in my opinion :) 2. I think I'm really liking this "drop zone" space by the garage entry door. It will be great for my purse, charging cell phone and having some sort of cute/small mail sorter on the countertop. 3.Below the sink we can store detergent, stain remover etc for laundry needs. 4. If theres room I'd like to have an open space in a base cabinet to put a nice laundry basket (to bring clothes to put away in). Dirty hampers will be built ins as part of the master WIC (the bag is removable to bring to W & D). No dirty clothes will go in laundry area. 5.The broom closet will store the swiffer, steamer and wet & dry swiffer cloths. The hanging rod to air dry a few items. 6. The upper cabinets are for extra storage misc things. 7. Bench and hooks for jackets and bookbag. Cubbies above for hats, scarves and gloves. 8. Closet with double hanging will store winter, fall and guest coats as well as my boyfriends work bag can go on the floor in here. I'm getting excited!!!

Thanks for the advice everybody! Yay, it looks like we will be able to do what I wanted to do which will make the kitchen more efficient. It will get the fridge out of a more narrow passageway (52 inches) and into a larger vestibule (about 65 inches wide) while still maintaining the same proximity to the cooking and prep areas. You won't be able to see the back or the side of the fridge because there will be a cabinet on the side which will be built up against a utility cabinet to the rear. The fridge will still be recessed to be even with the pantry wall.

We went all the way up with a cabinet and 9 foot ceilings but the stuff on that top shelf is hard to access, although GREAT storage for things that I only drag out on Christmas or BIG parties. I love the drawing. I guess it depends on if you have something you want to display up there. Open shelf, often means DUST though. I know that I am constantly dusting the open shelves in our kitchen where we have cookbooks. Here is a thought - do you want a TV in the kitchen, because when I first saw your drawing, it screamed flat screen TV at me! Seriously. Well, assuming its location is good for viewing from somewhere.

I knew I could count on you guys! Thanks Rebunky. I'm thinking I might ditch the idea of a cabinet there completely the more I think about it? When do you get the KD drawings and elevation views? I'm so excited to see them! So am I! Well she was working on them but then I just hit them up Monday with the idea of putting the two windows in instead of the three high windows, so my guess is she's gone back to the drawing board a bit. Plus I know she just finished my fireplace wall. Haven't seen it yet, though. Thanks Autumn. CP - look at this space, the corner is not a 90 degree but it reminds me of what you have going on around the range part. I really like that space, including the narrow cabinets attached to the hood. I had considered doing something like that and moving the windows out a bit more, but wasn't sure how it would look. I think something like that might work and will see if I can mock it up. Thank you fishcow, mrspete, LL and Omelet. Cpart- I know you can move the table closer to the windows....but 42" with chair and stools sliding out is going to push people into your work area. A wider walkway on the 'helper' side of the island might be a good idea :) i think if you get big, chair-like bar stools the space between the table and island will be crowded, but if you do backless ones that tuck under the overhang when not in use it will be fine. It's not like people are going to be using both sets of seats at the same time.42" from island counter to table is pretty tight. Have you mocked that up? I'm answering all the above at once. LOL. Including Mrspete's comments about the narrowness. :) In answer to if I mocked it up, no I haven't because I actually have the same amount of space (actually a bit less to be honest) between my bar area and dining table in my condo now, so I know exactly how tight the space is. Is it ideal? Nope and if I ever need to have a sit down dinner, I can move the dining table further towards the sliding doors. Yes it would be tight for the people sitting on that side of the table, but they'll be sitting. And since the last time I had a sit down dinner for more than DH, myself and one visiting child was about 4 years ago, I doubt there's much worry about all that. LOL. Additionally as fishcow mentioned, I'm not planning on getting big type chairs for my bar area. The stools I have now have a small back but they still fit under the counter and I'm planning on something like that as I don't like "in your face" barstools. Plus if they are able to be pushed underneath, then people can stand there if they don't want to sit. To answer Mrspete's question DH likes to eat breakfast at the counter and when I do prepare dinner once in a blue moon, he likes to sit there chatting with me. I don't see any mention of a microwave. Since you say you eat out frequently, I'm guessing that you'd have leftovers to warm up. The microwave will be on a shelf above the oven. :) No leftovers to heat up as I normally order appetizers when I eat out. Otherwise I'd weigh 2000 pounds. LOL. However we do use a microwave occasionally. Since you say you're not a serious cook, why go with a larger-than-standard cooktop and range hood? No, I said I didn't cook often. When I do cook, I am serious about cooking and cook only from scratch. No canned sauces or soups for us. No microwave dinners, etc. Only fresh and real ingredients. Additionally, most of my cooking is done on a cooktop and not the oven. I do a lot of sauteing, making soups, sauces, pasta, rice, etc. Conversely, since I rarely use my oven, I'm going for a fairly basic oven. Instead of the glass cabinet, what if you use a narrowish china buffet? That is, a furniture piece instead of something built-in. It'd give a break from the cabinets -- a break from the white cabinets? My island will be cherry wood to break up the white. Plus my dining table and chairs are cherry. I also have the buffet already that is going to wind up in the living room. I may just leave off the china cabinet all together as I'm not sure I need the extra storage. Maybe this got asked already, but what is the distance between the DW corner of the island and that post at the entrance to the living room? That looks like it could be a pinch point. I think you're correct fishcow. It looks like I may have to shorten my island by about a 6-8" which is still a nice sized island. I noticed that myself tonight when I was looking at it.