which dimmer are you using?

Thanks so much for the input on that wall! Here is where we are at now (at least for the time being :) ). We decided to change the bar wall into the family room just to a large opening with half walls and columns for the support (perhaps something like niffy's kitchen/family room?). We want to keep it open but just don't know if we will use those cabinets, sink, etc enough to make it worth the added cost. Plus, with every design change I seem to be just adding $$ so I need to streamline. So, keeping that very simple with no cabinetry, I think I do want some cabinetry on the blank wall - but I do want to keep it simple with perhaps a combination of open shelves for cookbooks, etc but also some more concealed space for the "clutter" - mail, etc. Still haven't decided on the finish or the look, but now that I've got the other layout pretty much figured out I'm going to talk to some of the cabinet designers this week and see what they come up with for that space... will keep you posted. Still having trouble with the fridge. It's just not a very wide space, and whenever I draw it up to be more of an armoire or integrated to go with the rest of the room, it ends up looking tall and skinny... I also *may* be able to get a deal on the 48 pro subzero fridge above that mahlgold posted above (which is making my DH so happy just thinking about!) so I've been trying to figure out what that would look like... it's so beautiful on it's own, but height-wise I think we may need some cabinets above it to go with our layout and not just be door, fridge, door all at ~7 feet. Even with it being a deal, it would still be a splurge so I would want everything to look right. It seems to never end :)

I'm confused by your questions -- why would you lose counter space on either side of the cooktop? -- which probably means you were confused by my suggestion, so here goes another try. (1) Keep the DO and hutch on the same wall. (2) Drywall the corner 2'X2' space and make a closet opening into the hallway (who doesn't need an extra closet?) (3) Put the double ovens next to the drywalled closet on the same wall as the hutch. You can either enclose the ovens in a cabinet or in drywall (check the FKB -- I've seen a couple of examples of this). (4) Put the hutch next to the DO cabinet or wall space. Take a look at mnhockeymom's finished kitchen. She has a snack center hutch that will give you design ideas. Also, google hoosier cabinets. I would give the hutch a beadboard back instead of backsplash and use corbels and different type of countertop material, to give it a finished/separate hutch appearance. Have two glass cabs that are longer than the center bookcase area (or glass cabs in the center and longer bookcase areas on either side of that) so that there would be a 12" longer cab, a 36" center and a 12" longer cab for the top part of the hutch. Finish out with decorative trim pieces along the bottom and sides of the three wall/upper pieces of the hutch. You would still have 36" runs of counter and wall cabs next to your range on both sides (have the closet built a tad deeper than normal so that you don't lose the symmetry of that wall; you can always use shelves in that closet that are shallower than the closet depth for functionality -- or make it a coats & brooms closet with only the one shelf above the rod plus hooks on the sides for your vaccuums/mops/etc. Personally, I think having the hutch on the end instead of the double oven will draw attention to the hutch. Having it sandwiched between a double oven and a wall will make it appear to be part and parcel to the rest of the fitted kitchen.

Thank you everyone! I have given everyone's ideas and suggestions a lot of thought. I'm grateful for the support of possibly going with DH's favourite plan, even though it's very unorthodox. I'm so grateful to you guys for giving me so many ideas and working within the oddness of this room. I really like sena01's idea of running the stairs in both directions, and I've combined that with Lavender_lass's island idea and come up with this: (thank you to you both for the continued help!): The island could having perching for 2 stools, space for a shallow cabinet facing the pantry and also book shelving running along the sitting room side. What I really like about this plan is that the stairs (which rebunky correctly pointed out are dangerous on the diagonal angle) are straight, the range/cooktop area could create a focal point, the fireplace can be viewed from the table and also I can expand the table with the leaves for those times we have houseguests, which is a nice bonus. My only concern about this plan is will I use the island for counter space? Or will it just sit empty unless we have it set up for guests, appies etc (which is not a regular occurrence). As soon as I drew this out, I realized this plan would work better with a range and get rid of the wall ovens for extra counter space. We'll see how much of a fit DH throws over that. -jlc712 - thank you for the drawing and your feedback! A KD actually drew up a plan just like that, but we eliminated it because it had quite a bit less storage than we have now, which we weren't comfortable with. -sena01, thank you for the 3D rendering! I totally see what you mean now. I hadn't thought to extend that peninsula further than the fridge on the other side. Very interesting thought. This is a good compromise if I lose the cabinet run by the pantry in order to have stairs in both directions. This is very helpful, thank you. -Jillius - you have such a talent for seeing a space in a totally new light. Thank you so much for the radical and amazing plan. I will admit that it got my heart beating faster! The more I think about it, the more I would rather go with that plan than the Plan D I have been discussing in this post. I agree that it uses the room in a more logical way. I could even add a gas fireplace (no idea on cost!) over in the sitting area, where the garden window is now, and add windows on either side. I'm going to show this to DH and we will discuss how we feel about going for a huge change. If money was no object, I really think I'd be on board right now. -llucy - You're right that I haven't addressed the uppers at all. It's because I'm so overwhelmed at the footprint, I figured I'd get that nailed down before I confuse myself more! One thing is for sure, I would love (even a small!) prep area that doesn't have uppers in my face. I have been giving a lot of thought to what you wrote about cooktop vs range and how that affects counter space. Thank you for that. -rebunky - you are completely right about the diagonal stairs being dangerous. Whenever we have someone come over who isn't used to the house, we have to warn them about the stairs :( Thanks for your encouragement and for understanding that we only want to make a change if it's going to be much better so as to be worth it! -lavender_lass, thank you so much for coming back for another look at my layout dilemma. I'm so appreciative of your help and I feel better just knowing you've had a look! About the stairs: rebunky was wondering if it might be kinda tight with the arm chair in the way of the stairs. I wanted you guys to see what it would look like. I moved my dog's anti-slip carpet to the line of where the bottom of the new stairs would be. Even in this new plan with the island, I'm hoping it will look okay because that's basically what I have now. What do you guys think? Does this look like an acceptable entry to the room?