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.

This thread has helped me a great deal. I'm in the process of designing my kitchen for a new home we will be building (hopefully) soon. the hangup has been my klitchen . I've had kitchens a tad tight, but functioned well, and I've had the huge kitchen with too great a distance to everything, including carrying a kettle of boiling water across the kitchen to dump in the sink. I've been going around and around with wondering if the table should go in the center of the whole kitchen, (Julia Child style), or if I should I have a wonderful island, for baking and perhaps a small prep sink in it. The pros to table centered in kitchen is small steps to serve and clean up. The cons are I give up having full view of our woods. With the island the table can have full view of the woods at the end of the kitchen area, and I can have my wonderful baking island. The cons are it's a lot of steps to set the table in a kitchen that long. Twenty some feet seems long. I'm thinking the view and the use of the island would be well worth it. Sandy

wow - thanks for all the great responses feisty68 - does it feel dark or cramped or unfriendly in the kitchen? There is a lot of natural light in all the rooms - good point, I don't want to mess that up. chiefy76 - I read your response to DH - he was like - ya' - did I say that? Robotropolis - thanks - I printed your sketch - many thanks for your time to do that. I am trying to envision how that would look with the change in ceiling height going from 12' in the Family room to 9 ' in the nook - I guess there would just still be the 4' top of the wall there. raee - we use every inch of the dining room - often we fill it up with the Sunday lunch bunch - it could stand to be double that size. We eat on the porch as often as we can for the extra space but the dining does get used a lot. Gooster! Yes I have considered closing off the door to the porch - especially when I thought I was going to duplicate your to "die for" kitchen! That is something that will probably happen - depending on the final plan. elizardbethday - I wish, but there is no place to go with the bottom stairs - there is a half bath just behind the kitchen off the laundry room. I have an onsite meeting tomorrow at 2pm to discuss it all - keep it coming. I think I may need to post pictures of the actual rooms. THANK YOU ALL - I want to hear more of your thoughts, you are a bunch of awesomeness!

We have a similar community here in Petosky Michigan. You have the be a member to buy a house and you have to be a member of the church. It's rather controversial. The homes are often handed down through the generations but people don't always marry into the faith or stay in the same faith. https://www.bayviewassociation.org/ I would really love an old cottage like that. Here in MI they tear them down to build big McMansion permanent homes. One right on top of the other. They sell them for big bucks but it is just for the lot. Sad to me, a lover of history.