Paint and new pulls/knobs will do wonders, and you'll feel like you're accomplishing something! I also recommend a major spring cleaning of your cabinets and drawers -- organize the pantry, throw out all the wedding presents you still have but will never use and anything else that you don't use, set up a cabinet for all the baby bottles/stuff if you don't have one already. Get all the baby stuff sterilized and ready to go. As for the painting, if you paint, make sure you get the low VOC paints -- Dunn Edwards carries a special paint designed to have the lowest VOCs possible -- and then paint OUTSIDE, with doors and windows open and fans/air filters going. OR, better yet, get that DH working. During my first pregnancy, I was determined that the hall bath had to be redone before the baby. Poor DH had to remove a giant mirror, relocate lighting (new lighting), patch the wall, build an open shelf unit to replace the ugly medicine cabinet, refinish the vanity, replace the sink, faucet and countertop, baseboards, remove a glass tub/shower enclosure, new shower head, and paint (oh, and I picked out a harlequin stencil for the paint!). Being the good sport that he is, he got it all done and it was beautiful. BTW -- don't expect that just because your 2 yo is an easy child as an ONLY child s/he'll stay that way when there's another one there taking away your attention. That's a whole different ball of wax. Good luck!

Is there a way you can mock up a wall (with cardboard, a scrap of plywood, etc.) next to your current sink to replicate what it would feel like to you to have the fridge right next to the sink. It looks like an elbow banger to me, and would make me feel claustrophobic to have to work so close to the fridge, but it's your kitchen, so you need to know whether or not you'd be fine with it. I also would rather not work over the DW, since they can give off a fair amt. of steam and heat, but in a small kitchen, hey, you do what you can. Your tiny Great Wall of Storage looks well thought out. : ) Have you measured your glasses and mugs to see if that's enough room for them or not? You could also run open shelves on the side of the upper cabinet that is holding the micro and other goodies for more storage if you need it. If I did that, I think I'd drywall the wall that the peninsula attaches to all the way to the front of the lowers and then straight up to the ceiling from there. This way the open shelves would look like they were attached to a wall instead of attached to a cabinet side.

With all your constraints, I think it's time you re-thought your insistence on the refrigerator location. You are imposing a constraint that isn't a structural constraint and is causing major functional issues. If you cannot fix the issues with the door locations (deck & LR), then you need to accept that you cannot have a functional layout and the refrigerator on the top wall. If you "build in" the refrigerator and have other items b/w it and the LR doorway, it will not be a hulking presence. For the utility cabinet (Layout #4) and the upper/base cabs (Layout #3), put a decorative door on the exposed sides so they look more like furniture. Here are a couple of other ideas. Unfortunately, they both do create a pinch point b/w the refrigerator and the counter: In Layout #3, the pinch point is b/w the refrigerator and the counter on the left - but at least it's not in front of the range, sink, or DW In Layout #4, the pinch point is b/w the refrigerator and sink - a less desirable location b/c when someone is working at the sink, it will be difficult for someone else to pass by, especially with a toddler running around! To add 2 to 3 inches to those pinch point aisles, consider recessing the refrigerator (both layouts) and the utility cabinet (Layout #4) into the wall behind them. You will not be taking space from the MBR to do this b/c that wall is most likely 4.5" thick and you should be able to get at least 2 inches, and maybe 3, by recessing them into the space b/w the drywall on both sides. See Layout #4 to see how it would help and look. In general, you have a profound lack of cabinet storage. To mitigate this, I put in two pantries: The 34" wide pantry is floor-to-ceiling shelving for small appliances, pots & pans, prep & cooking tools & dishes, etc. The 48" (Layout #3) or 42" (Layout #4) wide pantry is, again, floor-to-ceiling shelving for food storage. Finally, the utility cabinets are pullouts for your broom, etc. Is this ideal? No. In particular, the 36" pinch point may be an issue. However, I tried to place it where I thought there would be the least impact on prep & cooking - in particular, cooking. I was successful with Layout #3, but not as much in Layout #4. Since the range should be the appliance most protected from traffic, I did my best to provide a wider aisle in front of it in both layouts. Note that both remove the window on the left wall (or block it, but I think removing it would be better aesthetically.) In Layout #4, it could be kept, but you lose MW landing space, which is an issue. Layout #3: . Layout #4: .

I would not close off the current entrance. There have been many threads on this forum from people trying to figure out what to do with their corners. If you decide to go with the 'L', I would not angle anything in the corner, as it is a huge waste of space. I think that the 'L' also makes the kitchen look smaller than it really is with the tall items crowding the range. I like the entrance there as it allows the kitchen to breathe. Functionally, I think it makes more sense to 'zone' your kitchen and put food storage together on the shorter wall to the right of your entrance. I would flank the refrigerator with pantries or pullouts and place a MW drawer across the aisle on the short end of island. Although it sounds like a great idea to have the frig near the dining space, it is not necessary. I had that in my previous kitchen, and there was just too much going on in the same space with my cooktop. Snackers can then get to the refrigerator and MW without traipsing through your cooking zone. It's also less steps when putting groceries away. I would use a range and as many drawers as possible on the long wall for all of your cooking needs. By eliminating the refrigerator and double ovens you would have a very spacious look and a tremendous amount of storage and prep space. Dirty plates will be coming from your dining space, so I like the DW on that end of the island, with dish and cutlery storage either across from or next to the DW, making it easy for someone to set the table without getting in your way at the range. I would also extend the island and make it as long as the range wall.