Remember the holo-deck on Star Trek? I wish I had one to try all these plans, to tweak and change until it is perfect. We've decided to not do the FP. The economics aren't realistic. It is spending a lot to save a little on heating the whole first floor. I do like the ESSO radiant heater, because we are bound to have some kind of heater in the kitchen. It may as well look really good :) Rhome, we may very well work differently in the kitchen. I still like the cabinets on opposite walls and a table or island in the middle. All the work will be on the left side of the kitchen: prep, pantry, baking and cooking. The right will be clean up, eating and leisure, with the beverage/breakfast bar and water source (prep sink) in the upper right corner. Most of the prep will be on the island with a sink available on either side. I can see the work table as a more permanent island with a sink. I need to think about that. I am going to live with a printed plan in the kitchen, think through what I am doing as it would be in the new kitchen, and list what I am using and where it would be located. Cocontom, about half of the year, it's cold in the kitchen. We have a supplemental heater in the kitchen. A more comfortable environment can be achieved with the new kitchen whether insulation, windows, heating vents, etc. and/or a FP or stove. Lyfia, yeah, I thought the last one was a keeper, too. To answer your questions, the future door is to an entry porch and 2-car garage that will be phase 2 of this project. Our lot is oddly shaped. We have virtually no front or back yard, but a generous side yard to the right of the plan. There is a street in front and behind the house. The garden & storage is a very old 1-car garage now. There is nothing attractive through that door; it is only a utilitarian space. The W/D is now in the location you suggested. The distance from an outside wall is too great for the dryer vent. They need to be moved to an outside wall.

Bmorepanic, Thanks you for your help once again! Your design is good. I can see many excellent features in it. It reminds me of some of the two island designs we played around with, but with one bigger island. The flow between dining room and kitchen would be wonderful with your plan, which was one reason we resisted a peninsula for so long. However, I am now too happy with the L plus big island concept to let go of that idea. I am not bothered by the peninsula between kitchen and dining room (although shorter is better). I like the idea of having that block of the peninsula when I am entertaining and we are dining. I also really, like the idea of doing dishes in the peninsula spot more than against the wall (as you know I am not happy against a wall -- too jumpy for that -- wall spots are good for DH though). From the peninsula, I can chat with those at the dining room table, take in the fireplace, watch TV or look out (from a distance) at two large windows and a set of french doors). I can even see my younger kids on their climber in the backyard. When my teen son understood he could watch TV while he washed pots he suddenly was keen to do dishes -- priceless! Watching my neighbour on his deck out the side kitchen window does not have that much appeal. Also, by the time we do dishes it is often dark outside so you can't see anything out a window anyway. I see your issues with the DW around the corner. LOL about the bumps and leg jabs. I could see myself with some bloody legs, so, thanks to you, I am not going to place the second DW around the corner after reading your comments. I have it in the latest design (see below) as two DW together which allows a shorter peninsula than if we put one on each side of the sink. The reason for this is I would not want one DW right up against the corner which would block the storage above. I can imagine no time when we would be organized enough to be loading two DWs at the same time. I imagine one would be full running through a cycle or be in need of unloading, while the other was in receiving mode. So for me two side by side does work. I do appreciate the time you have taken to think through my kitchen with me! Below is the newest version. I think we might consider making use of a cart for distribution of groceries to their various corners, and even to help unload dishes to the glass cabinet. When entertaining, we could also clear the table with a cart. I realize that our DWs are not close to glass, bowls and small plates storage which will be in the glass cabinet. However, the benefit of having the dishes close to the snack zone is worth the hassle of unloading. Just can't have it all in a 20 foot long kitchen! We also plan to make use of a Kornerking drawer/lazy susan device in the corner for baking/cooking ingredients combined with a easy reach L cabinet in the upper corner area for food as well (not snack food). I went through a very long list of typical kitchen jobs and assigned each an area for completion so I can figure out what to store where (and hence make progress on the size of drawer, shelf, etc to incorporate). I was able to see that most of our kitchen tasks will not require too much walking and zones will not cross too much. If you see any other tweaks, please let me know? Carol

Elphaba - I think it helps if you find a way to be on site as much as possible. That's hard to do - so you feel like you are doing something (not *watching* them!), but still being available. This morning I went to the house early to start the fire in the stove, so it'd be warming up for the first crew to arrive. I answered some questions while I was there, discussed some minor issues. Later I went back out to sign for appliances and since I was there, I was able to answer more questions, etc. I always try to compliment them on their work as well - you know, keep things happily moving along. One stray observation about this GC thing - some days it's been easy. Slow at times. But as we're coming down the home stretch here, you know what I'd like? The chance to take a shower/relax during the day and know I won't be interrupted. But I'm always ready for the phone to ring. And it often does. It's been a wild ride, and I'm glad we've done the GC thing though.

I am one of those who cannot make myself work out at home unless I absolutely cannot get to my fitness center and then I'll only spend a minimum of time and effort on it. Barely enough to lubricate my joints. When I first decided to try yoga, I was encouraged (by my doctor) to attend small classes for specialized coaching. I had one on one, hands on body training, and I feel that it was invaluable for helping me be successful in my exercising. Yes, you can hurt yourself practicing yoga. I've been given CDs to watch and listen to; I have the space. Nope, just cannot will myself to do the right thing for my health.