i see this conversation is a few years old, however it's 2016 and i'll bring it up to date: last night ..... very badly burned olive oil in the bottom of a not-very-spendy stainless steel pan .... the fixer: BARKEEPERS FRIEND .... HANDS DOWN ... i read this site and a few others to get the fix and b/c i own barkeepers friend {bf for easier typing} i tried it ... amazing ... completely AMAZING ... the oil was heavily burned on and i figured i would probably not get it off ... i shook the bottle, squirted a bit in the bottom of the pan, enough to cover the oil burn, let it sit for ...... uh, maybe 15 mins {i'm impatient} took my non-abrasive green and yellow scrubber and in a circular motion started scrubbing the oil off .... took me about three tries, each time leaving it on the burn a bit longer, not overnight, and voila ... amazingly the burn is gone .... thanks for all the advice here .... i appreciate it ... bf is a great product and i will not be without it now .... i've belonged to gardenweb for about 20 years, before it became so *sophisticated* and this is a wonderful site, sooooo much information on so many topics ... i love it here .... thanks again .... darlene

Sophie, If I move the range to the short wall of the L, I only have 2 inches of counter on the right and 30 inches of counter over a corner blind cabinet on the left, which is the right counter of the sink.....Seems too close to the sink for prepping food before cooking and there will be no access to that corner cabinet. What about across on the other wall? Have to move the gas line a good distance for that to work. Is that feasible and not too expensive?? AnnKH, Removing the soffit is an option, but we were trying to save $$. In many pictures if they don't have a soffit, it is open space or they build up the crown molding...seems like a waste. Our family is all tall to reach the top cabinets, but the next owners might not be :) If we didn't use the pantry, there is a funky soffit that extends farther than the rest (to accommodate a larger cabinet), which my contractor didn't like hanging over a 12" upper cabinet. It's a very small area. Is that a bit deal? We did use the two eating tables, the smaller one for 2-3 and then the formal dining for company. Somehow it didn't feel that crowded. I used the bar all the time as a counter to serve food on as we entertain quite often, but we never ate at it because it was too low. The bar is gone and it already looks so spacious.... The dining room table can become a banquet table....which we use at holidays. Ideas on what to put in all that empty space? What about an island similar to before, but higher and back into the smaller eating area with chairs facing toward the larger table. We could do casual eating there. Or open up the wall on the left side of the galley kitchen for an island? My head is spinning! Thanks This is after...the bar/smaller table are gone. Ideas on the space? New cabinets....not installed. Note the soffit over the pantry. There will be a new fridge and top cabinet for a built in look. Notice the place for the range with small counter on the left. I was hoping for more counter space on the left of range. Cabinets on left are just props. Thank you for your help.

I love everything you chose! I think your issue is actually arrangement. Instead of centering the bench, push it all the way to the right to where the plant sits currently. I'd keep your existing mirror and add several more in a grouping over the bench, a small gallery wall of mirrors. You have natural asymmetry because of the switchplate, location so roll with it rather than fight it. Dip some of the mirrors down closer to the bench. Mix wood and gold-tone frames. You'll need to relo the coat hooks...that's ok. I'd actually stagger 5 closer to the door where there's a top row of three and a bottom row of two in the gaps from the top. Throw a small mirror or two over on that side as well. Depending on your ceiling height, and if you still have the parts for the chandelier, trade out the drop piece you used for the next longer  one to bring it a bit lower. From there, just add some more greenery and a few more pillows.

Sometime you just have to suck it up and do what you have to do. I understand how unpleasant it is. One of husbands relatives sat in our car with strong perfume on and it took months for that smell to dissipate. It permeated the seat belt and was hard to avoid when you used the seatbelt. I had one of those padded seatbelt covers and it helped a bit. Sure it was the entire padded seat that smelled, but the seatbelt just brought it right to a point that every breath was filled with it. Some people are wearing a multitude of chemical odors before they ever walk out the door of their home. They are subjected to everything from that nauseating plug in that delivers 24 hour smell, to the fabric softener, the body wash, the hair product, the deodorant and maybe some perfume thrown over it all. You can smell them coming and long after they have gone. They remind me of a dog that has found something irresistibly fragrant and they roll in it. At least you can put the dog out in the back yard until he gets a good bath. You cant do that with chemically scented people enveloped in a cloud of miasmic vapors. The only thing worse is if they are also a smoker. Then, you have a double whammy of noxious odors. Glade plug in, MorningShine scented fabric softener, plus Marlboro is never good. You may never get that smell out of your head and your nose. But, you may just have to do what you have to do and let it pass. There is no magic that is going to make it go away.