Deft lacquer in the can is not going to build up quick enough for you. Deft (and Watco) make a brushing lacquer in a can. Get a good brush and go to it. Lacquer has a few things going for it -- easy to repair and top coat. In a production environment, it's easy to spray and dries quickly. You can also "rub it out" to remove light scratches or defects. But it's not quite a durable as a varnish. No, you don't need to stain it if you are happy with the natural color. A "better" product is always trading off one characteristic (ease of application, ease of repair, hardness, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, appearance, skill level required, tools required, time required, cost) for another. Waterlox original would be a good option to look at. It's tough, durable, water resistant, but a bit more expensive and has a darker amber tone to it (not what you want if you want a light maple finish). It's brushable or wipe-on if thinned.

Something to start thinking about. Here are three versions. Notes: In layouts 1 & 2, the range is in the same place as it is now. This allows you to begin working around the range immediately. To move it will most likely mean electrical work to install an appropriate electrical outlet. I don't think you will want to start monkeying around with the electrical changes yet. Layout #3 has it moved to where the refrigerator is now. There is plenty of work room for prepping/cooking a meal, baking, and cake decorating. Pantry....there are two options: Pantry cabinets or a built-in pantry. Both can be installed now. They are in the same location in all three layouts, so if you decide to go with one of these layouts, you can install the pantry now, regardless of which one you decide to use.. Option 1, Pantry cabinets: The pantry cabinets I show are 30" wide, but you could put the two 24" ones there for now. Option 2, Built-in pantry: This could also be installed now. The advantages of this option are: You get more storage space overall (floor-to-ceiling storage, no cabinet constraints) The setup allows you to see all of what you have at one time without having to open/close doors/drawers The shelves are shallow enough that things will not get lost. Freezer: It can go where I show the MW center for now. It won't look "pretty", but there's not much you can do to make it look nice at this point. I do think you would be better off getting a different refrigerator with better freezer capacity and configuration. Refrigerator: In the layouts it's a 36" counter-depth refrigerator. It could be a standard depth, but it would stick out another 4 or 5 inches into the kitchen - you have the space, but I don't know if you'll like how it looks. Finished end panels on the sides would help minimize the effect somewhat, but it will still look big. For now, you will probably leave the refrigerator where it is since you don't want to move the water...unless you can do without a water line for now. It's not that difficult to make your own ice cubes for a year or so while you save $$ for plumbing & electric work. One final note - have you considered using IKEA cabinets? They are much less expensive than cabinet lines such as Omega, KraftMaid, etc. You might be able to afford to do it all now if you're willing to consider IKEA. The last time Consumer Reports rated cabinets, IKEA was rate highly. Many GWers have installed IKEA cabinets and they look wonderful! If you're even moderately handy, you can even "hack" IKEA cabinets to get even more options (check out IKEA Fans - linked below.) What's also nice is that they come standard with soft-close drawers and other options that other cabinetmakers either charge quite a bit for or don't offer at all. Layout #1: Layout #2: Layout #3: Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA Fans website

If you like your layout and if the cabinets boxes are in good shape, here's what I would do. Remove the uppers Make the back wall window much bigger and put in a window overlooking the deck. I would actually make it into two walls of windows that meet in the corner Remove the doors from the lowers, purchase drawers from a good RTA place, and convert most of the lowers to drawers (you can store more in drawers and they are so much more easily accessible). You can reface the cabinet fronts to match the new drawer fronts. Put in the hardwood floors, new counters and undermount sink Widen the opening between table and kitchen. I'd take it all the way to the cabinet on that wall and then totally eliminate the short wall between the kitchen counter and table next to the window. The wider opening will allow for a bigger island which will replace most, if not all, the storage lost by losing your uppers. After this, if there is money into the budget for it, I would get rid of the china hutch and desk in that open space "south" of the table and have cabinets made that either match or are different but coordinate with your kitchen cabinetry. In this, I would include areas for whatever you store in your current china hutch, some glass doors, some solid depending on how much you want to show off unless you actually prefer using a desktop computer and need the desk area for that, I would eliminate the desk and instead put in filing cabinet drawers, shelves with plug ins for charging phones, tablets, laptops, etc., and cubbies for incoming and outgoing mail, a family communications center with calendar, etc., and put it all inside cabinets so anything can be hidden when entertaining storage for items you don't use often so you don't need to store them in the kitchen like serving platters and larger trays, large serving bowls, extra glassware, whatever plumb it from the W/D for a beverage bar with sink for coffee, tea, making mixed drinks, and put in a small under-counter fridge for ice, juice, creamer, milk, etc. and make sure the area has proper storage for mugs, glasses, and other items you would use for the types of beverages you typically make like tea bags, different types of coffees, mixers, whatever. I do think a rectangular table would work better in that space and banquette style seating along the walls would be cool and make for a comfy place to perch when you're perusing cookbook over morning coffee, reading the mail, and playing on your laptop, but I would leave this for last. If your budget is spent by this point, you could always change this up later when your wallet recovers. FWIW, my laundry room is large and serves as a pantry and is through an open door from the kitchen. My kitchen/laundry-pantry may as well be one room. And I love it. So convenient. Especially since I upgraded to a new W/D which are so quiet I barely know they are running. If your kitchen is far removed from your bedrooms, it could be more convenient to have the laundry area closer to the bedrooms. But if this is a typical ranch, I'm guessing the bedrooms aren't too-too far from your kitchen. Mine aren't but the W/D are so quiet I can run laundry if someone is sleeping in a bedroom and they don't hear it. So, if this works for you, I wouldn't change it. Hope these ideas help a bit.

Who wouldn't want a shiny sparkly "move-in-ready" house in a great neighborhood? But you stated the problem -- finding it at the right price. If money were no object, we could all find the perfect house for us that didn't need modifications, or just have it built for us. For the average person, that's not reality, we have to settle for what's available within our price range and often have to make compromises. Should we buy the house with the poopy kitchen and outdated bathrooms in the upscale neighborhood that we can afford, buy the house with the gorgeous updated kitchen and shiny sparkly everything else that's too expensive but who cares we'll figure it out when we're one paycheck away from bankruptcy, or buy the decent functional moderately-priced smaller starter home that will do in the meantime as we save for our financial future and we'll someday make it to the chi-chi neighborhood and go all-out with that house? We each have to make our own decisions. I am one who can (and did) live with an ugly kitchen but won't compromise on other things.