Deb, I just had a thought. Since the height of those roses bothers you, is it possible to dig another row at the back end of the "L"? I can't tell from the pics how much sunlight that area gets and what directions the shadows go, but if there is sufficient sunlight, you could move the taller roses back there and they could be easily seen because of their height. Then for the narrow row along the steps, plant a hedge row of smaller roses--let's say Virgin of Guadelupe. The lighter color would contrast with the brick color of the house, and she has a fuller floribunda look--graceful bush and kinda frilly looking bloom. I've only had mine one season now, but I seem to remember that I picked her because she only gets around 3 ft tall, and she is supposed to be pretty good on disease-resistance. You might even stick in a few annuals around her ankles--maybe some blue lobelia and/or white alysium (sp?). Or a shorter yellow floribunda might look nice against that brick color--you could ask the forum for some more suggestions in that category. Just another thought. I think planning is half the fun sometimes of rose gardening. Kate

My island is 12'long and 49" wide. There are 3 heights - 42", 36" and 30". To me, the 42" height is useless although it is where DH sits when he is in the kitchen. It was his idea and he now admits that 36" would be better. SO--- I would have 8'at 36" and 4' at 30". I get to correct all my mistakes as I have 2 more kitchens to do - maybe 3. Not looking forward to it! I'll be around here for a long time. I made a lot of good decisions - the best being changing the layout to a galley from a square.

I love GW. I agree 100% with GreenDesigns and all of you who suggested that the range should go on the one wall without any openings and the refrigerator should go back on the wall where it was. In fact, the mental picture I had of the kitchen that way was so beautiful that I completely forgot how we ended up with the fridge in the middle of the other wall. So we tested it out and rolled the refrigerator around the room (it's nice to be able to do that since it's the only thing in there) and tried it out everywhere. And then I remembered how we ended up with it in the kitchen design no-no spot. It's a monster. It's a 31 cu. ft french door model that is basically 36"x36". On an unrelated note - it rolls around like a Cadillac - so easy to move! Here it is in it's proposed spot: Anyhow.... the little walls opposite from each other next to the doors to the living room and laundry room stick out not quite 35". The little wall on the other side by the dining room sticks out not quite 31". The doorways are tiny - the one on the south wall is only 30" wide. Putting the refrigerator on either end of the run that you all so wisely suggested just feels cramped both ways. On the dining room side the refrigerator door opens into the dining room opening which is where people always seem to congregate when we entertain. I was constantly having to open the refrigerator door in their face and say "Excuse me". On the other end of that run it makes the entry into the kitchen from the living room seem very cramped and makes for an odd view from the hall/living room. And we'd have the same problem of the refrigerator door swinging into the opening. I guess since that rubbed us the wrong way with the old layout we gravitated towards the polar opposite. I so badly wanted it to work that way you suggested, especially picturing the backsplash I want for the range, but the structure of this house (a very tiny 1950 tract home) is not cooperating. So I think we will have to break with design guidelines and stick that monster frig in the middle of the wall. Hopefully with the wall cabinets it won't look too strange in the middle of the counter run. I haven't given up on your suggestions completely. This is not our forever kitchen but it is our right-now kitchen so we have to go with what feels most comfortable even if it looks a little odd. If we ever have the opportunity to build a larger kitchen I am keeping GreenDesigns suggestion in my notes because I LOVE the idea of a range in the middle of a larger counter run and the refrigerator wall as more of a snack center with a smaller counter run to one side and the toaster oven right there. And I haven't abandoned the idea for this kitchen entirely yet either... Thank you so much! I have learned so much from this discussion. I'll definitely post pictures of whatever we decide to do and I'm sure this won't be my last question. Back I go to rolling the refrigerator around...

Hello @dsnine wow your post was packed with golden nuggets!!! So much good info in there. I actually read it out loud to my hubby last night :) You've got a full plate with six kids and homeschooling. I decided to homeschool my 5 year old, but we're only in kindergarten right now, and I salut you for homeschooling six kiddos. That takes major organizational skills. I'm struggling a bit with our kitchen design. I was planning on putting the extra fridge and freezer into the coldroom in the basement. We're trying to keep the overall squarefootage down, and with the fridge and freezer downstairs, I was nixing a full pantry. Instead, I was planning for pullout pantries along the wall next to the kitchen. Anyways, I'd love learn what you think makes a kitchen functional and flow well (aside from having a pantry). Are there some kitchen design "no nos" that you can share? What enables you work better and more efficiently in your kitchen?