I'm not sure I'll be much help, since ours isn't quite finished and fully operational yet. It sounds like what we're doing, but I don't have the washer and dryer for that room yet (our main laundry is upstairs), and we're just putting the craft/sewing area together. I can show you renderings of what it will look like finished. It's such a mess right now. We only have the counters and lower cabinets in place, but we sewed on them for Christmas projects and it seemed to work really well. (each corner serves as a sewing station...one for me with sewing-embroidery machine and serger, and one for the kids' machine) I only seem to have a floorplan already on photobucket and I'm at the wrong computer to add others, so I will have to do that later. In the meanwhile, here's the floorplan of the room. The kitchen is off to the right. The door on the left goes outside onto our side porch.

mpagmom - So glad I can help you procrastinate! I always have something for you to think about, if you are in need with your own list of things to ponder. Thanks for including the link/pics to the garbage under the sink. I'm open to the idea of garbage or recycling under the sink - or both. I think I'm going to need to decide if I want a 30" with a single bowl or if I want to keep the double sink and go back up to 36". One thing I've been pondering is the location of the sink on the peninsula run and that cabinet being right next to it. Things can get splashy, but I also benefit from counter space on both sides of my sink. Hm... lisa0527 - That website is fascinating, though some parts of it are creeping me out. The botanicals are cool, though. leia_in_lalaland (Love your name!) - Wow, you went to town, and I really appreciate it. Those plants are so unique, I need to look into that more. For some reason, they reminded me of the plant shelves I posted a pic of below. I stuck that in one of my files several months back now, while researching Sochi's living wall. I really like the shelves, but I'm just not sure I can afford to have something that comes out into the aisle. Unless it was high up and didn't interfer with opening the upper cabinet. Floating shelves are one of my favorite things. The picture 6 up from the bottom is also fascinating. It seems they stuck a very narrow upper across the galley wall. I wonder how far that extends. I imagine there's no uppers on the left side, either. It looks very practical and seems not to interfer with the use of the peninsula. The shutters, though, are also intriguing - that pic that shows a set of grayed out shutter doors, especially. I could have a faux door after all. lol Hm..and the tin reminds me of a piece I have in the entry. It hangs coats right now, but could hang towels, I guess. It's a piece of architectural salvage with hooks on it. I'll have to go stare at that... lol Thanks so much, everyone.

I know you said you did not want to switch rooms; but since you like the look of the sink in the bay (the outside views are awesome), it may be worth exploring. If your DH is like mine, change is hard, but he comes around eventually. Perhaps posting another thread that asks people to weigh in on the two kitchen locations with a mock layout for each might get DH to consider the possibility if he can read what others have to say concerning the positives and negatives of each kitchen location. Many people are remodeling to get a larger kitchen space by eliminating two sit-down eating spaces in their homes. Thus, If you switch the rooms, I do not think you would have to “stage” a formal dining room if the time comes to sell. The larger, well designed kitchen would be a major selling point. Keeping the kitchen in its current location does not gain you a whole lot more space for the kitchen because of the traffic patterns; moving the kitchen to the dining area gains you much more kitchen space. You gain the space for family friendly island seating, and the kitchen does not have to be in a location that “fights” with the traffic patterns of your home. The generous dining space combined with the larger kitchen space would be awesome to entertain in. One negative would be carrying groceries a tad farther but not a whole lot more. ;

Youv'e got such a beautiful new space! You need to provide dimensions for any advice to be realistic. Everyone has opinions and you need to find what's right for you! When I work with a client, we work through storage needs (small kids' toys? blankets?) furniture layout and selection based on size and dimensions, not just style. a Sofa can be 78" wide all the way to 108",.... that is a huge difference! If you would like complementary (with purchase) design services, let me know and we can create your dream living space with Ethan Allen! The process is fun, precise, and you don't have to wonder if you made the right choice.