Lisa; It's interesting how differently people have interpreted your original note. Our GC, in an almost-avuncular tone, took me aside early in the planning stages to "caution" me about the cost of the crown moulding (let alone other trims / casings) we'd selected for our project. (one eight foot piece of crown alone was $1000 [because the wall is curved, so it had to be made out of flex and, as it's a "custom" profile (one my husband and I designed ourselves) the flex company (in CA) had to make a new mold for it]) Because I already had a good feel for the sort of person our GC is and I was in the situation (not reading about it, I mean) I understood he was trying to help me not have a heart attack when I got the bill. (The crown [material, not labor] alone, not inc. base, not inc. casing., not inc. trim, was >$15K. Gulp, but I love it!!!) When I read your post(s), I automatically heard my GC's kind, caretaking tone from your plumber's point person. There's my bias. So when I read the rest of your note, I was left thinking "isn't that nice that they wanted to make sure you understood what you were getting into?" I think v. often so many of us bite off more than we can chew, simply because costs have a way of spiraling .... (ours did) Plus, most of us aren't serial remodelers (or flippers), meaning we aren't always aware of the (mounting) costs of fixtures plus labor. There are some incredibly cher fixtures out there which are crap -- they have The Name (whatever the name du jour is), but they haven't the good innards. Please make sure before you spend any money on your beautiful reno that your house has good (plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc.) "innards." What a waste to put in a beautiful faucet only to have problems with the pipes in the walls or from the street! I also want to say I believe I read edlakin's initial post in a completely different way from you: I thought s/he was just trying to help get to a potential root of the issue. It might not be your root at all! I know that I am a little embarrassed about how much we are spending on our nearly-whole house reno. It's gauche in our society to talk about money, plus the truth is, within myself I feel horrible guilt about why I have been so lucky when so many others the world 'round have not. I think about the flooding in Bangladesh and all those displaced people and it makes me wonder "why me? why them?" I think you'll understand, Lisa, because you wrote that you "don't need to remodel" -- if I read into your comment(s) correctly, you know it's a real luxury to get to change something which already works for something which will give you pleasure. And I love it. Our kitchen is not yet done but even still, walking in and seeing my dreamy countertops just makes me happy. So for me, to have that feeling, was worth $X. I believe I am generously charitable with my money, my time and my positive thoughts, but it is still something about which I think. That's me. I'm pretty sure that's from where edlakin was coming -- not trying to attack or pigeonhole you. I also don't think his/her "blaming you" comment was directed at you .... So the way I understood your plumber's comments were merely to give you a head's up, not to sway you toward or away from what you want. I think you're on a great path: getting bids for all your Dream Objects (from your fixtures to your countertops). After you have those bids, only you and your partner can determine if it's feasible or if something needs to be trimmed. I wouldn't start altering fixture / countertop choices yet: I'd wait until I had all bids in hand. You might not need to change a single thing! As you and louisianapurchase (of whom I am quite fond!) have been chatting, costs for the same item / labor 'round the continent can and do vary widely. I'm in Colorado and for what you're planning on doing I think you'd be lucky to get that all done for $200K. My fingers are crossed your KD is right, though, and that it comes in closer to her figure. I confess, sometimes I am really envious of the prices people here have quoted for various objects (cabinetry, for one) in other parts of N. America. But I don't live there. I live here, so I have to pay "here's" prices. I am v. excited about your upcoming reno -- it is going to be lovely. Congratulations!

I think the prep sink will go un-used because it'll be awkward to reach -- I think it's especially akward because it's placed under shelves. Of course, I'm very short and would have more trouble reaching it than would most people. I think a prep sink is unnecessary in a kitchen of this size. I would flip the stove and the main sink (and lose the prep sink). Placing the main sink in the more central position will eliminate the "dripping vegetables" question. Of course, that means that the dishwasher is going to have to stay pretty much where it is, putting the dishwasher catty-cornered to the sink. Acceptable, but not ideal. I'll also second the idea of going down to a 30" range. Yeah, 36" would be nice, but not at the cost of other items in the kitchen. 30" is standard; it isn't petite. As for extra-deep counters on the sink side -- why? You're gaining a bit of extra counterspace, but it's in the clean-up area -- it'd be more useful in the prep area. And under the cabinets, that extra depth's largely wasted: You'll get the extra storage from the 14" and 18" cabinets . . . but no extra space underneath for the sink and the dishwasher, and a corner's always a problem anyway -- this one's just deeper to reach into. I would move that extra depth over to the penninsula. There the extra countertop would mean more, and you'd have real extra storage in those cabinets. Although I agree it's a natural clutter-spot, I would keep the small cabinet by the fridge -- but I'd make it organized clutter. I'd keep a basket for mail, several hooks for keys, maybe a shelf for sunglasses. You know what I mean -- oragnizational items to keep whatever clutter you have in your house (for me, it's paper -- mail, coupons, etc.). Be sure you have an electrical outlet in that spot; it'd be a good phone charging area. I was going to suggest a banquette, which I personally love, but i see that your husband is against them. Would he go for a half-banquette? That is, put a bench against the wall (which would save space), but have two chairs on the opposite side, and he could always sit in a chair? I would consider going down to a smaller table, but that's not something you have to decide today. You can start with what you already own, and this is easy to change later if you find it cramped.

I love the idea of the table and benches behind the couch, Rawket girl. Off in search! I don't want to turn the sectional because there is a nice fireplace wall on the open side that I want to be able to face, and this area is part of a big "L" shape area that goes on behind the long couch now, and I don't really want to look at that really long L" wall with the fireplace behind me. We would have whatever shelving or cabinetry that we put in the niche custom made. It is just under 30" deep so I think we can find some kind of mini-fridge to put in there. The lights are installed to give a soft light in the back of the room and bounce off the white ceilings. Without going into a lot of detail, the lighting has been installed for function rather than looks, and when we have the lighting turned up to what works best for him, it is uncomfortable for visitors, so we have all kinds of lighting that we can set for different needs.

I say go full on with the bath...I might even have made it larger with a second entry into it near the back patio door, if the porch is an area of use..... [just make sure the toilet is not on view from any doorway passage]....And put in an area with bench and hooks/etc [almost a drop zone]….Yes...at the expense of cutting back the kitchen a bit, but doubt you will do that......but you DO have to find the "sweet spot" with allocating space how it serves you best. In general a good full bath, with a bit of spaciousness, if permitted, would pay off, I do think. A large Half Bath with space inside to add shower later....might be OKay….Kitchen capacity would increase, but how much? I say work hard at your graph scale drawings and get everything you desire. Doesn't your dining room have space to store things...if nip and tuck must occur in kitchen. Does the rear patio door need to be the slider type. Have you calculated what would happen if you did a full lite glass hinged door...even 34 in wide ...with a screen door.....you can prop the door open in nice weather.....with a full panel screen door...or a 5 ft slider....the point is you have a corner that can become available...so skinnying the island if you have to reduce some drawers to get your overhang or whatever...….and shallow tall storage off in the corner is where you can compensate ….you have places you can adjust things.