I like the last plan too, but see equal advantages to having the ovens in either position. But the 18" whatever counter is going to feel awfully cramped if it's between the ovens and the wall. I'd make it a full height cupboard or stack of cupboards if it stays as pictured. You sound very pleased with the current plan, and that's most important. I can just see your grandson enjoying his time in the kitchen with you. As to cooktops (okay, this isn't the Appliance forum, but we're talking here), I think you'll find a similar amount of control with at least 12 power settings, better 17, on induction as you do with gas. Go for the 36" if you want it! With induction, which I've been studying extensively trying to find the right one, there are some standard configurations. The Induction Site is a helpful start, but not 100% accurate, so do your own research. Different companies call the same things by different names. A 10" burner can be rated for up to 14" pans, and an 11" burner can be rated for up to 12", yet they're the same inductors. Nine power levels can mean 9, or it can mean 17 (nine with half stops). Etc., etc. The 36" generally have one large burner (nominally 11") in the center, flanked by two paired burners of which one is medium (8-9") and one small (around 6.5", sometimes taking a pan as small as 4.5"). There are two standard layouts for nominally 30" cooktops (which in reality are 28+" to 31+"): Either they have the two flanking pairs from the 36" and no big burner, or they have the 11" big burner, paired with a 6" and a pair of 7-8". You can put a 9" pan on the 7-8" burner. From here the only difference is features. True timers shut off the inductor at a specified time. Some cooktops require you to first choose which burner you're controlling, then choose your power level. For the latter one, train yourself to remove a boiling over pan from the heat rather than fussing with controls. They'll all turn off automatically after a certain number of seconds if there's no pan. Most also have built in kitchen timers (i.e., they ring after a certain time). The number of power levels varies between a true nine and about 19. Nineteen usually means that besides 17 true levels there's a keep warm and a boost. They all have boost. Some are loud because of their fans. Some are loud because of the way they interact with certain metals in clad pans. They also require different amounts of clearance underneath. Some require 12", which is foul! Others as little as 2". Miele has the 11", has very little fan noise, you can program your choice of 9 or 17 power levels, true timers, and independent controls. If I can't figure out how to get a smaller one that I like, I'm getting this one (the Miele 30"). It's very dark black, however, and will probably show scratches really easily. But it requires less than 2" clearance underneath.

tomorrow: not sure who Barry White is ?? But DH is definitely a keeper :) fillagirl: partnership is the kep for sure. paint chips: maybe a cooking course or a good cookbook as a present this holiday season . But you know even if he didn't cook I would still probably keep him ! Jane: you are so sweet, it is the swimming :) credomk: Thank you !! Sue: Thank you for always being so kind. dlm: paartnership is the only way to go. I spent years being like a horse in the traces trying to pull the other way...we made little progress. I am glad I figured out how to work together before it was too late :) The floor will be oak to match the stair treads and the area in front of the bathroom door. I would love to have reclaimed heart pine and even have a source but I think it would be such a long drawn out project to get the wood and get it ready that I don't think we will do it. metromom: I am LUCKY and glad I realized it. lisa: it is a happy home now...there were years though when I tried my best to ruin it . I have made ammends to my kids and DH many times over. juddgirl: he is my support. I think it really helps that he meditates every day. I am trying to learn that too. I do better with a moving meditation. When I run or bike or swim I get in a zone and it really helps. sippimom: GOOD FOR YOU!! 34 years is fantastic. I let DH do his laundry if I am away...just not MY stuff LOL. holley: a blessing indeed desertsteph: yes you are right on...we all have to keep learning. jejvtr: what a GREAT story !!! Our "little girl" who just turned 27 was our gel too. Something about those little girls ! What a very sad time for your sister. I am so sorry. You are right about them being our best companions. There is something so special about that comfotable silence between us in the evenings...no words needed...just this warm space. I am SO GLAD you liked the recipes ! Holly: you are a sweet one ! lafonda: that he is ! nicole: YEAH 31 years !! DH and I run/bike/go to the gym together . It is a lovely companionship. We are planning to ride the whole MRT next year...from MN to LA...will be on bikes for several months. It will be our retirement celebration. I am so sorry to hear about your GF and her DH. That is always a sad outcome. My best friend and his DW just separated after 33 years...he has been unhappy for decades though..stayed together for the kids. I don't think it helped them one bit and I told him that repeatedly. Now the kids are mad at him, he has a new love already and his DW is devastated. Sometimes it sure is hard to find the right path. bebe: he is a keeper for sure :) graywings: Thank you !!! What a wonderful response from each of you. you all made me smile. c

If you use lisa_a's with 2 entrances to the pantry it may just vent itself easily as I'd imagine the pocket entry door to it from the garage may stay open or ajar frequently. You could possibly fit it in the bump back to match the entrance stairs. Fridges in garages are pretty common around here but we have more issues with freezing temps than overly hot. Otherwise I'd put it in that spot in the garage where the writing says small appliances for inside the kitchen. That's not far of a walk at all.

I looked into the single column refrigerator and moving the stove where the fridge is now - we would only have 6 inches of counter next to the stove if we did that. And yes the table would be half in the sunroom half in the kitchen. Ugh. We have been talking this through (a lot!) and my husband wants to look into the idea of taking down the dining room wall so we don't lose the sunroom. If we do that we lose the 'L' and would have a one walled kitchen with an island. We'd only gain about 10 inches of counter on the sink wall since there's a large window just beyond that wall - but I was thinking we could move the sink to a (new) island and put the stove on the current sink wall. Maybe I'd even get a vent hood out of this :) This would make the space so bright since we have a huge bay window in the dining room. I'd like to keep the table and size of eating space in there as is so we'd have plenty of eating space and still kind of a dining room for parties. If we kept everything else in the layout the same (glass cabinets, fridge and pantries) but got a new longer island that extended to where the dining room wall is now I wonder if that would work. I asked a contractor previously and that wall is not load bearing. Think it'd be realistic to keep our existing cabinetry with the exception of the island? I have a black pottery barn hutch/secretary desk in the dining room I could move over where the current kitchen table is now. That wall has our only baseboard heat so I'd rather not put cabinets over there. Here a pic of the dining room - the kitchen stove wall is behind that hutch. Should I redo the floor plan to include dining room?