@Mavis Jones Our builder contracted with the local Reico office. I'll start out with something I'm sure you will already know, and most likely agree with, that every Reico office is different (staff, experience, expertise). I didn't find our Reico designer to be helpful in choosing options, but I came to the appointment ready to roll (our builder provided all the options prior to the appointment). I came in thinking I would go with Ralston or Tolani until she pulled out a new option the builder added to the list, Glenrock. I went with that and love them (in Kona stain). My husband pulled out all the countertop options and narrowed them down and I made the final decision. The designer was helpful only in ticking off all her boxes for the builder. But that's just me as a customer, other customers she'd provide more guidance. I like the cabinets a lot. I've had better cabinets in a previous home but I like these. I chose a recessed design and the inset sounds like MDF (in my previous house they were all wood, including the inset), but I don't go around tapping on the inset so it doesn't matter to me. It seems like the finish on these is more prone to scratches so someday I'll get around to filling them in with the stain pens they provided. They're easy to clean with water and vinegar. The stain color is consistent throughout the product. These pics were before we moved in so there's some building/construction dust still on them.

So, time to chime in here. I went with the Blue Star 36" induction cook top 2 years ago. Looks great, LOVED the knobs, worked fantastic... for about 18 months. I'll note that unlike their other products it only has a 1 year warranty. First, the two rightmost burners started indicating they were overheating when the central burner was in use (and the rightmost were not). I reset the system at the breaker per the manual and it rand great for three weeks with a hitch, then the central and right top burner cut out entirely. Three days later they came back, but wouldn't heat above level 7 (out of 10). I had (or so I thought) the good sense to get an extended warranty, but after getting a service guy out here the warranty company informs me it will cost more to fix than I paid in the first place, so they're going to cash me out. Blue Star may be good in other areas (no experience here), but based on my experience with this one, I don't think they have enough time making this product to reach their usual degree of reliability. Addendum: looks like Blue Star (when I bought it) had a narrower cut out (18") than anything currently on the market, including their own product. At least it looks like they're learning from past mistakes...

I went ahead and laid out the kitchen for you with all the walls accounted for.... I honestly don't know how anyone does a floor plan without all "obstructions" in place. The plan designed for you goes too far down into the room with that pantry at the end. Since there is a slider to the outside you will have to leave room to get out the door. In this plan I used a 78 x 36 table set at 41" from the slider - I also shortened the peninsula by 6" ( this would leave about 48" from the table to the end of the peninsula ) That is the maximum I would do for it. Now seeing all the space and island would not work unless you truly opened it all up and even then it would look odd. Hope these help: If you did a round table instead and kept it towards the living room you could have more usable floor space and then you could put a pantry all the way at the end - or move that window and do a longer plan... Good luck!!

Not to be snarky but remodels don't generally generate a net profit except on home shows which are really just programming intended to create a targeted audience who will be open to spending money for remodeling - and if not remodeling some amount - however minor - on stuff for the home. My analogy is that the normal person who doesn't have DIY skills and essentially does it all themselves is paying full retail and anybody who successfully flips is essentially able to do it "wholesale". They generally have a pool of labor they work with - my boss successfully flipped and he and his wife were the company - they were both real estate agents and were constantly looking for homes that met criteria of flipping; he was the GC with a crew that he kept constantly working on one if not more houses; she was an interior designer and so not only had design skills but had a resale number which enabled her to pay to the trade prices AND avoid sales tax because she was technically purchasing for resale. Remodel because you want your home to be more aesthetic and more functional.