I'd probably work with this latest plan[1st one in last post] If the 2 units fit[W/D], put them under the window by the back door. Leave more of the original lower wall[to the left of back door] and place more coat hanging/cubby hole/hook capacity on mudroom side...you'll want and need it...with the counter/cabs that wrap around on right of fridge,place 2nd small sink in corner or just after turn.Leave some space for a built in bench under 2nd window,closer to lower laundry set up. [with storage or cubbies underneath] I think you'd get more use from area to right of fridge with laundry setup more localized with coat storage and such down by back door. The bench off to the right will be used and look better than the view of w/d constantly under the windows in a prime visual line. This all depends on if W/D will fit under windows by back door. If so,think also about a corner cabinet with glass doors on wall in corner to right of fridge....with laundry positioned elsewhere, this becomes a spot where you get more value from a decorative cabinet. The other glass cabinet is okay,but I'd cut in and have counter between the upper and lower parts-you'll want a spot to set things with 2 passages entering kitchen just there. [I agree with above-move range over and have at least 12 in cab to the left of range]...but you still want some counter at that glass hutch cabinet. If you didn't need anything in positions 6,7,8 I'd see a great antique,smallish table set up in the floorspace-or the bench occupying the space under the 2 windows as seating for a table pushed over that way. Looks as though you're more into wrapping things around the entire perimeter.Be sure and save in budget for furniturefeet and trim/details[glass uppers]in a few spots at least to up the character quotient.It'll be nice with a great floor and valances or some treatment over the windows positioned in different spots-that will be a great theme carried throughout. It's hard to always see on paper but you can make it so appealing from the looks standpoint/that's why shifting the W/D down has benefit if you can do it.

I was lucky enough to inherit my grandparents house and as I have been reading through this thread. It got me think about all the things I found there, most of it wasn't new to us but some of it was. -My grandfather was a commercial fisherman so I found licenses for him & every member of his crew. Various documents related to fishing in foreign waters. The bamboo poles they used, glass net balls, hooks, net needles for mending a net, catch records, etc. -The affidavit my great grandfather signed when his daughter (my grandmother) married someone (my grandfather) who wasn't yet a citizen & thier marriage license from the early 20's. -War ration books with the stamps in them, the really funny thing is that my grandfather's height kept changing over the years, from 6'0 to 6'3! -War damage insurance policies issued by the federal government. Our house is near several bases so apperently the government insured their home, & probably the whole neighborhood, from damage either from an invading enemy or from defending from an enemy attack. -Booklets for traveling through Europe after the war while the Marshall Plan was still in effect. My grandmother had a lot of family in Europe (we still do) so they were probably planning a trip back . Propaganda pamphlets from the American government about being quite in public places & just generally being careful because of "spies". -Various newspaper articles & scrap books form the 1930's to 1940's. A letter from one of my grandfathers to his mother that was heavily censored by the War Dept. because he was serving in the Pacific. I remember one of my great uncles (his brother) telling me that for a few years the family didn't know where grandpa was while his ship was in the Pacific. I still have his pea coat & wear it when it's cold enough. -One of my great uncles Korean War era army uniform & ID bracelet. -Coins from all over the world. -A Disney war bond issued to my mother (she was born in 1939). - A letter dated 1953 from the County Assessor that explained they would begin issuing Assessor Parcel Number for every property. A letter from the post office dated about the same time introducing the zip code system! Phone bills form the '40's & 50's were the phone number had a location exchange like "bayview123" -Antique silk velvet bedspreads that were hand painted with Rococo pastoral scenes. They were backed with canvas and weighted a ton. I couldn't image actually sleeping under them with out being crushed! -Match books with a picture of my mom when she was in her early 20's. I asked her about them & she said she would write her phone number inside & give them to guys she liked! A HUGE box of her shoes from the 50's & 60's, along with the coordinating hats, gloves & purses. -A black beaded "flapper" slip that must go over an other dress, because it is way to sheer & way to short to wear alone -The remnants of the living room curtains, I hadn't seen them in over 30 years. My grandmother must have been saving them for rags (whose grandmother didn't do that!) -Immigration paper work for one of my grandfathers and for my maternal great grandparents. -Some really beautiful handkerchiefs, including a silk one embroidered with a R which would have belong to one of my great grandmothers. -Letters from various family members in Europe and possibly a great aunt who lived in Massachusetts. I'll have to do some research on that branch of our tree. -My mother's first communion vail. A beautiful sterling silver rosary, the beads are open filagree work. Judging by the marks, I think it is from South America. -My grandmothers salt & pepper shaker collection. There was one set the was just the head & upper chest of a guy, but he's not wearing a shirt! An other really tiny set shaped like pineapple grenades or maybe just pineapples it's kind of hard to tell because they are so small. And so, so much more On a different note Burden, those marks might just be the "signature" of the carpenter. One of my grandfathers liked to do wood work and he would always sign the stuff he built, and his tools with a specific design.

I actually like your layout in general. My thoughts are based on how I'd use it. 1. Toaster oven alcove. That solid wall does seem to close in the corner somewhat undesirably with its mass, and you'd need to keep that counter clear to open the door. For me, that corner would be a great place for coffee/tea, toaster, quick sandwich, that sort of thing. I'd probably want my microwave there since I seldom cook with it but am constantly heating, defrosting, etc. (Confession, I've never ever used a toaster oven.) Door opening interfering with other uses is the biggest issue I see here, though. Love the counter depth. It'd be a very useful little corner. 2. Above-counter pull-out. As a short person who can't reach most upper shelves, that would only be a plus for me. The only reason to stick to mostly lightweight would be safety. 3. Height of counter--strictly personal choice, varying by the overall synergy factor of each. I'd mock it up with boxes and boards, and maybe a pile of dirty pots and dishes, then decide. 4. Lack of wall cabinets. No drawback at all for me. I chose windows instead of uppers. Tall people may have a different plus/minus balance. Either way, the kitchen will feel a lot larger and airier without them. You'll probably want to do without drawers, maybe 24" or so, in a lower cabinet somewhere in favor of vertical storage for baking sheets, etc. 5. Regarding enough prep space, I'd do most of my meal prep on the 41" to the left of the stove, which is similar to the 36-40" I typically find myself working at on my 59" island. The 41" to the right would be ready and waiting for a second "project" or cook. Then there's the quick-prep area to the left of the sink. It'd all work fine for me. I do most of my cooking from scratch, but it's a rare day when I put up a few bushels of figs or bake and decorate a wedding cake.

Maybe you don't want to her this perspective and maybe it does not matter...but I'll preface it by saying I'm an old house snob. If I walked into a kitchen as described above I'd walk right out without seeing any more of the house :o( Now if this is a home you're going to keep for the rest of your life, maybe that isn't a big deal, but if there is any thought of ever selling a historic home, staying just a little on point historically is always a huge plus especially in a kitchen. The sink in the island is challenging visually for a historic home (pet peeve of mine) but that could be minimized somewhat if appropriate materials are used (ie painted cabinets and not the permiter in one color and the island in another which screams NOW). I'm not sure what concerns you have with seams, but something like marble or soapstone, even antiqued granite in a basic black would be much more appropriate, or the copper (which is gorgeous). Corian in a historic home pains me. heck it pains me in any home, but in a historic home the plastic look just screams "plastic" to me when the other finishes in an old home are considered. I wouldn't reduce the fridge size (one can never have too much LOL) especially if it's fridge and freezer. I regret having done that in our other house so my comment is colored with that regret. This is just my old house snob opinion formed after having looked at a lot of homes over the last two year and rejecting several with "new" kitchen they expected me to pay for that were going to be ripped out. Kitchens were deal killers in several houses and in the end we bought the house without one :)