Ironcook - if a wall oven is placed too high, it could not be reached/used from wheelchair height. I also made sure the racks were pullouts so that it is easy to reach food. None of us need handicap accessible features, but you never know and it can be a major resale point. In our area, all new construction is of colonials with bedrooms all upstairs. Previous new houses were colonials and hi ranches. Ranches have not been built here since the 50s, and many have been added onto to be multistory. In the past, I have had buyers looking for a house that was handicap accessible and every time, they had to buy a one level home and rip it all out in the interior. I have had foot issues from time to time where I am not supposed to stand on my feet to rest them as they "unpinch". It is not often, but when it happens (3 times in 20 years), it is difficult. The last time, I used a desk chair to propel myself around to stay off my feet. If my oven had been up high, it would have precluded using it comfortably. Ours was installed slightly higher than our stove's oven. It is no issue for my back so far and I use it a lot since nothing other than micro is connected, lol.

Hi Donna, no in that case is a white glossy laminate. But no matter whit finish of the cabinets (laminate, wood, lacquer) always the sun will effect the product. I had experience in painting cars and after 6 months the "code" from the factory to reproduce the color has to be adjusted because the sun change the color especially the red. luckily in that house they going to have the sunset coming from those windows.

We are in the final stages of building our home. It has taken me two solid years of searching for the right person to do my cabinets. I've interviewed several, and I even wasted some money by starting to work with a couple who claimed they were on the same page as I was but who weren't......as by their push for what "they" liked and thought I should have. I stuck to my guns and kept searching. I do not like staggered cabinets but they were continually being pushed on me. They didn't know how to deal with a large vintage style sink I am using. They kept wanting to line all of them up like lawyer office cabinets, crowd my window trim, etc. I gave up and figured I would use metal cabinets and a couple of tables until I found the right person. Finally one Saturday my husband was doing a search to find Conestoga cabinets so we could purchase some and put them in ourselves. By then I had sketched out what I wanted, but still needed a skilled person to figure the dimensions, etc. Well, we found someone. A treasure of a husband and wife team who make custom cabinets. She has an art degree and has considerable experience in restoring vintage kitchens. She saw immediately what I wanted and we are like twins in our thinking. She made sure she understood how I cook. We now only have minor tweaking in a few details and we are ready to start work. The reason for my long winded story here is to encourage you to follow your heart no matter how long it takes to find the right person. Do not settle. It can be frustrating, time consuming, and very tiring, but it has been more than worth it. I will get up every day for the rest of my life loving this kitchen. Loving your kitchen will inspire you to cook wonderful things in it. Something you don't love will irritate you the rest of your life. Also, be wary of anyone wanting a chunk of money ahead of even talking to you and starting a design. You have no way of knowing if that person will listen to you and you can work together. It is fair for someone to not release a design you like without compensation, but we have lost several thousand dollars on people who claimed they would design something nice, knew what I wanted, but as soon as the check was cashed they could have cared less. The lady I am working with now never asked for a cent up front. Sandy

That floor plan must have all dimensions filled in for anyone to really offer help. What can change in the way of plumbing? Electric? Are any of the walls load bearing? Hiring out or DIY? Budget (needs to hefty with your proposed changes)?