You might get people to help you out if you post your layout with dimensions on it... Even if you leave out the things that aren't fixed and just include the items that need to stay where they are (windows, doors, etc) and a floorplan of the whole floor so that people can see how it flows with the rest of your house I'm sure some of the wonderful layout gurus on here will be able to jump in and help. :-)

^This! You have not given us enough information to help you. Please look on the first page or two here and find the post titled "New to Kitchens? Read Me First". It will give you a lot of good tips and the information we need to help you.

Here is the New to Kitchens thread the others are referring to.

Take the time to get good measurements of your existing space, including door & window openings. Denote what can and cannot be moved.

Good luck!

so you have about a 20 ft long space which was eat-in area along with working kitchen. Think of resale-if you remove eat-in area, what will happen later. Not everyone eats day to day in dedicated dining rooms. In fact the trend is to remove those formal dining rooms. Look at space that can be created by opening living room to dining room.....or--opening kitchen to dinette but with island in space/ or banquette/or peninsula or something "new" and flexible for the dining zone which provides flexibility. Just because you "can" do something, doesn't mean the cost and change that you create will better the home. What is the general character of home-where is it located-what are your long term plans for the home..what is your budget......what have been the problems living there...what are your goals??

Here is graph paper to print.

Yes, I do need to start with a good layout. I have a DeWalt laser measurement tool, but I want to use CAD for my first draft at a plan. I was looking at CAD software, the NKBA planner looks useful, but the first thing it asks is whether I want framed cabinets or unframed cabinets, so I have to research that first, I guess. I never heard of frameless cabinets, lol.

herbflavor, this is our "forever home," although, realistically, "forever" is probably 13 years, until we retire, unless the kids stay in the area, then we will stay in the house until we die, maybe.. I keep up with what's going on in neighborhood renovations by getting a daily email from Zillow based on my zip code, showing houses for sale, and clicking on the photos to see what's been done to upgrade before selling. There are three models in our subdivision, and a lady across the street just moved to a retirement home, so it's on the market.. A contractor/realtor renovated it similar to flipping it but she still owns it. He did what you're talking about, ripped out the wall between the kitchen and the dining room so that the three rooms are open to each other. I really don't like it, I want the sound and smell of cooking to stay in the kitchen. But don't worry, I am not going to seal off the eat in area, I like the view. Just want to integrate the rooms better.

If the people who want to buy the house want to rip out the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, they can, it's not a load bearing wall, but that's not my choice. In fact, I might enlarge the dining room at the expense of the kitchen. The dining room isn't so formal, anyway. We have two 6'x3" cherry tables put together to make a 6'x6' dining table, eight chairs, a credenza for the special dishes, three large book cases full of books, a stereo, and a very large case for vinyl albums. When eight people are at that table it's cozy, maybe even crowded. We're bookcase people, so we need walls.

You're putting the cart before the horse. There's plenty of time to get technical and choose cabinet styles. Simply use a tape measure to measure your walls, windows, doors, and use graph paper to hand draw your floorplan.

As funky said, you don't need cad right now and that is putting the cart before the horse. Take the tracing paper, use your fancy laser measuring tool, and then put it onto the graph paper with pencil. You need to design it first in 2D not 3D.