Thanks for the advice. It's been a rough week with the baby, so I've hardly had time to get on my computer. Most of my posts are made from my iphone will I'm in motion with the baby. A pass through would be fun, but we have that area in the mudroom slated for built in lockers for the kids. Those were super high on my priority list in our new house, and I cannot imagine letting go of those. :) We're going to change the mudroom door to a pocket door. I'm pretty sure that door will be open 99% of the time, but for the few times we might have someone over from whom we might need to hide bags and coats dumped all over, I think it will be nice to close it off. I think I want to keep the oven where it is because I want to keep it as far away from the traffic pattern as possible. If one of the kids wants to get something from the fridge, I'd rather not have them walk past an oven or cooktop. Definitely going to get rid of the clipped corner at the end of the cabinets. Great idea about the trash in the island across from the main sink. I think we will do that. DW will be moved. It makes sense to me especially if the trash is in the island. I was having problems figuring out trash/DW/silverware layout. (poor KD- I just told him to move it last time and now he gets to move it back!) Rhome- You brought up the microwave. I certainly use it the way you mentioned in prepping. I originally thought that it would go right next to the fridge, but then I read on a website that since MWs are left hinged that it's not best to have it on the immediate left of a fridge or wall. I keep trying to imagine a barrier on my right elbow everytime I use our current OTR MW, and I do see how it could be annoying. It's really hard to tell though. Have you ever heard of that suggestion? Thank you both so much. I know I need to draw up a better picture but I just haven't had a chance. Maybe next week when MIL is here to help. :)

Thanks for the feedback. I hadn't even noticed or thought about where we would put out towels I agree that the mud room needs to be re-worked. The original plan did call for a service door in the front of the house near the butler pantry, but we asked for it to be taken out. We also asked for the bonus space to be redesigned. We do not like that the only access is through the master suite. We did ask for a generously sized kitchen and nook. We also wanted a nice sized dining room, so yes we are aware that a good percentage of the plan is dedicated to eating. We we also ask for the 3rd bedroom to be re-worked so that it's easier to place furniture. What do you guys think of the placement of the coat closet inside the front door? I think it's in an awkward spot and interferes with the entrance to the study. I'm thinking that maybe it could go to the right of the front door under the stairs? Here is an artist rendering of the elevation. What do you think?

When my remodel is done, my DW will be at the end of a run, next to the wall. It will probably add a minute, maybe two, to the unload time as all but the daily dishes/cutlery/glassware will be a tad farther of a walk to put away. But I don't care as the advantages will totally outweigh the disadvantages. I disagree with your KD. Strongly. I currently have my DW between my sink and range and it is the most hated thing in my kitchen. Everybody hates it, not just me. And when I say everybody, I mean my parents (who owned this house before me), my sister and her entire family, and my entire family. Plus all our kid's spouses. That's 14 people who have all voiced hatred for the DW placement. When my niece's husband, who was a chef before he became an engineer, heard we were remodeling the kitchen actually called me up to remind me to move that damn DW. And he's only cooked in it a few times. I remember he commented that it's poor placement from both a chef's and engineer's perspective (for whatever that's worth, lol). That is the only time he's actually ever called me. At the time, I didn't know where else to put it but the good folks here guided me to the new location. In fact, if the DW placement was good to begin with, I would probably have just redecorated my kitchen instead of remodeling. Of course, I'm getting other good things out of the remodel (like a prep sink) but I'm pretty frugal and would have probably saved the expense of it all if the DW placement hadn't been so annoying. If you use the sink on the window wall for prepping most often because you're facing the fabulous view (and who wouldn't?), the DW will NOT be able to be left open for immediate loading. You will need to keep the door closed most of the time and pop it open to load. If you're prepping and someone is loading/unloading or even just popping it open quickly to pop something in, it often coincides with the moment I need to get some water for my prepping. If you had a much longer counter between sink and cooktop, it might make some sense. But you don't. It will be crowded. And note that I have 54" between sink and range so I have more space to move over when that DW door is open. You have only 39". 36" is the MINIMUM recommended by the NKBA. You really can't afford to lose work space there if you want to use it for prepping. Of course, you will have the option of moving over to the other sink to do that but then that also adds extra unnecessary steps. And if you are prepping and have to move over for someone to do stuff with the DW, you might as well move all your prep work there because it also cuts into the available counter space unless you don't mind leaning instead of standing in front of what you're prepping. I don't understand the view argument. If you use your DW properly, as DW manufacturer's recommend, you'll be spending little time at the sink as you should scrape, not rinse, before loading. Washing fruit and veg doesn't take long. I wish I could remember the statistics exactly but studies have shown that prep time is something like 70% of the time spent in the kitchen with the remainder divided between cooking (like when you're standing at the stove, not counting unattended oven time) and cleaning up. So the majority of your time will be in the prep area, not in front of the sink or at the DW. For that short period of time, you won't miss the view. Ha! Can you tell I feel strongly about this? It's your kitchen. I would never do it in my kitchen. I hope you won't regret your decision.

I just noticed I've posted under two separate logins. Sorry about the confusion but you probably already figured that out! I've done a few more in the Ikea planner based on Clueless's ideas but with the 28" LG you like. Are you definitely doing Ikea? I don't think a full door fridge will work near that wall with its big doors unless it's scooted way over at the loss of counter prep space by the range. A french door counter depth would alleviate some of the location issues, but reduces counter space by 6". I'm assuming you won't have the budget to do the structural work since you are limiting yourself to 30K all inclusive. And it sounds like you have lots on the to do list. Glitter ceilings?!?! That would be #1 for me! Of course, more window space would be fantastic but may not be realistic. If it is doable, all the better. Good lighting and a space design that works for you can still make this tiny kitchen very functional. I've left cabinets off the sink wall but if you feel you need more storage you could do something like Bettyglo did. How do you feel about lack of symmetry and sinks not under the window. I did this with the 24"Domsjo with trash/recycle under. This wall can be configured with a 24" or 36"w fridge and/or bigger sink. That is, if you can give up symmetry for better work space. Don't know if you can live with the DW by the door, but gives you a 30" base. Here is a link if you want to play around.