Is this a new house for you? It sounds like it ("...I see myself always struggling for space while I cook..."). If so, have you moved in yet? Normally, I'd say try living with it for at least 6 months before doing anything, but the island, to me, needs to be fixed ASAP. As you have noted, there is far too little counter space on the sides for working, landing space, and safety margin as well as too narrow a seating overhang behind the island. It's too bad you can't at least change that (24" would be best). Based on your description, it sounds like you're creating a "G", not a "U". That could be even more problematical, depending on the aisle widths in your kitchen. Right now, you have all three work zones in one small place...the sink and island. If you add a counter you will now have all three in a very small space...only one person will be able to prep, cook, and cleanup at a time b/c there won't be room for anyone else to stand in the narrow "U" portion that will now be housing the cooktop, sink, and DW How wide is the aisle b/w the ovens and the island? Between the island and sink wall? How many people will be using the kitchen at one time? This includes prepping, cooking, cleaning up, getting a snack, etc. Where is your MW? Next to the refrigerator? In the oven stack? Somewhere else? How are you handling the countertop? Changing all counters? Putting in a different material for the "new" counter? Something else? (Food-safe butcher block might be a viable option...) What are the following dimensions (see the pic below for the corresponding measurements)? No, it isn't to re-arrange the kitchen since you've already stated you aren't willing to make other changes, it's to see if creating a "G" is a good idea. I'd also like to draw it up for you so you can see how it will end up. A. Distance from the left edge of oven cabinet to window wall: ___ B. Distance from the right wall of the oven cabinet to the window wall: ___ C. Distance from the oven wall to the right end of the counters on the window wall: ___ D. Distance from the oven wall to the door trim for the door to the deck: ___ E. Distance from the end of the window counter run to the door trim for the door to the deck (not the end of the backsplash, the end of the counter...I can't tell for certain if they end at the same place): ___ F. Distance from the window wall to the far counter edge of the island (the edge of the seating overhang): ___ G. Distance from the oven handles (or whatever sticks out the farthest) to the island counter edge: ___ H. Distance from the edge of the oven wall counter to the island counter edge: ___ I. Distance from the sink counter edge to the island counter edge: ___ J: Distance from the end of the current wall counter to the table in a straight line as if the table were up against the door (i.e., not the current measurement that would be taken on the diagonal b/c the table and...

"The rounded edge on the inside of my sink and the two outside side edges cost a total of $150 more." This is why I keep preaching that fabricators should sell this option instead of that gawdawful ugly cheap "pencil" edge at sinks. One chip, and that's "when", not "if", and you've paid me nearly $300.00 to fix it on site. Pulling the faucet and sink, profiling and polishing a proper round over, and reinstalling the sink and faucet to reduce the risk of future chips could be $500.00 or more.

for the handles, may I suggest something to pick up on the hues in the flooring? A little more copper toned. you have light cabs, light floors. I think throwing in a dark ORB w/o actual copper highlights would be too much of a contrast. IMO. cypress park Sandra, I like the porcelain one better than the other one. Does the backsplash have to be done immediately? If the tones in the porcelain tile you picked clash w/the ivory tones in the counter, it could be a problem. However, I did find some copper toned ones that should be avail. these are porcelain/SS, and treated so as not to stain or tarnish. I LOVE these for your kitchen. timeless and gorgeous. They are probably not super cheap, but it would be worth it for me. http://www.miusartmosaics.com/arabesque-lantern-beacon-copper-tile-in these would also work. the site is here: maybe they have them in stock.http://www.westsidetile.com/arabesque-tiles/ i like this one too. notice the copper faucet. beautiful w/the glass mosaic. if you got the cream countertop, this would look amazing w/your floors. this last one is a copper colored slate/quartzite.

The island pattern match looks good. Most people would be very happy if they got a match up that good. Center of the island is as good as anywhere to seam it. With the variation in color of the stone, no one color for the seam adhesive is going to disappear. If the perimeter is going to be redone, the fabricators we work with will NOT under any circumstance put a seam near a sink or over an open area (such as dishwasher, undercounter ice maker or undercounter frig/wine cooler). Some fabricators will and swear that it's okay. I would work with them to find a way to seam in another location that is less noticeable and receives less daily use.