Honestly, I feel SO much better about the design with your input. Infinitely better! My drawing is a bit skewed, but I think you are both right. I fixed the gap between the window on the base and wall cabinets, and changed the cabinet to the left of the range to be the same style as the right? 4" between both wall cabinets and wall. I think that's what you meant. The dining room has a plaster crown moulding that would be nice to maintain where we can. Kitchen on south wall has a 3" soffit. I also raised the bottom of the glass cabinets and book shelf to 21" from counter to get more space to use mini appliances- might not keep that, but thought I'd see how it looked. Also, lowered cabinet to left of bench to make more accessible if seated there (32" high?). Toaster oven, Microwave and Coffee Maker will all go in Sunroom I think. As for garbage, may still put under sink. But wanted to have a place if I think I need a bigger space. Our current sink cabinet is packed with cleaning supplies, and not sure I have another place for them. I am also thinking that maybe I could put baking pans above the broom niche? 6" should be wide enough for some baking sheets?. And I haven't really worked out where things will go, but probably will use drawers instead of doors in 36" cabinet next to fridge. Thanks a million! Here is revised south wall. Revised wall cabinet to left of range to be 27".

I love remodels like this. You're so fortunate that you are able to live with many of your choices in advance. Debra's right that all options should be explored, but since you have determined that you can lay out a nice, workable kitchen and keep your original cabinets, I'm with Lavender. Congrats. :) And the pantry location is terrific. We recessed our refrigerator, so of course Lisa's suggestion does seem like a particularly great idea for your space. You'll end up doing 90% of your "cooking" on the end of the island facing the stove, so obviously every inch you can give that would be great. (We also cut our own clearances closer than the "standard" recommendations -- on purpose for efficiency.) I agree that moving the oven farther from the doorway would be desirable. 400-degree metal and grease are no joke. Plus, I'm guessing that having the refrigerator right there at the stove-prep area might well turn out to be a favorite feature. Since we don't have 6 children running through all day long, I'd do it for that alone. My question is the placement of the trash pullout, and DW. Our pullout is on the sink wall, not the prep island, because we're on a septic tank, no garbage disposal, so needed for scraping plates, etc. If it weren't for that, I would have placed it to be most convenient to prep because that's where most of our debris is actually generated. As it is, it pulls out straight toward where I stand to work at the island. As yours is shown, though, it's very inconveniently around the corner from where you'll usually be working AND it's on the far side of the DW (and whoever's at the sink) for the cook and also not well placed for the person cleaning up. If you could switch the DW and trash, trash placement would be good for all functions -- pulling out right off your work area to sweep stuff into as you worked. And, of course, both DW and trash would be better placed for someone at the sink. Plus: Moving the DW would better define the entire stove side of the island, as well as that end of the sink counter, as belonging to the cook, with cleanup moved firmly away down the side wall. (Getting stuff waiting for cleanup out of my prep area -- no overlap -- was perhaps my single #1 priority when finally designing a kitchen for myself.) That'd be a big deal for me, but if moving the DW were out of the question for you, I'd look into retrofitting the trash into the stove side of the sink. It'd still work a lot better for both prep and cleanup. Hope you post pictures when it's finished. Enjoy. :)

Thanks for posting, these are fun! I had run across the first one while I was researching ikea bb countertops, and never could find it again. Also, I have a mirror above my sink. And while I do hate catching a glimpse of myself in it at particularly stressful times (like the 5:30-supper-prep-grouchy-kids-crunch-time) it is better than blank wall there. I have no windows in my kitchen either and it helps to move the light around (a little).

I agree that two chairs to replace one of the sofas would open our space but I need to focus on more functional aspects of our house right now, like adding cabinetry in the laundry room, extending table, etc. There is a chance that we will move in the next 2-3 years so I imagine looking for new living room furniture then. I've looked for round extension tables with no luck. I would love to find a round table with 2 leaves. My husband and I want to find something that extends to seat 10 people even if we only extend 4-6 times per year. Leaning towards the Seno table from Article because I am concerned about the quality of the westelm table and don't want to pay Room and Board prices. Thinking an angle base cabinet for the end of the cabinets in our kitchen to keep the walkway open. White shaker? Another color? Try and match our maple shaker cabinets? Then put same cabinets in the laundry room, which is through the door in the dining area. The laundry room will have the same tile flooring as the kitchen. Open shelves above the base cabinet. Plant on the left of the slider. Thoughts?