Deee...it's difficult to give concrete advice without more information about you and your family, the space you have to work with, and the surrounding rooms. If you could post a floor plan and answer some questions, I think you will get more help. For information on asking for layout help, see the link below. I'm not putting you off, it's just that without enough information it's difficult to advise you. Good luck & keep posting! +++++ From the "Read Me" Thread +++++ The following thread contains the information we need to help you find a layout that works for you and your family as well as how to draw up and label a floor plan. Asking for Layout Help What are zones and how do you design with them in mind? What are zones and how do you design with them in mind? A piece of advice: When you post a layout for comments, please do not take the comments you receive personally. Everyone here is trying to help, not criticize maliciously. We want you to have a kitchen that, in the end, functions wonderfully well and looks nice overall. This may mean that some of us may tear apart your layout and rebuild it to what we think will work better, but it's done with good intentions. We're not the best at just "validating" someones layout, we're best at critiquing! I will warn you that most of us here are "function over form" (or "function first")...meaning we strive first for a functional layout and then fit the form or look around it. It is far easier to make a functional kitchen look nice than it is to make a nice looking but dysfunctional kitchen functional. So, if you are a form/looks over function person, be sure to state that when you post. Some people here think "function over form" means that we want all kitchens to look the same....not true! What we do want is all kitchens to function well...which means that in 99% of the cases, the workflow is the same...so that will mean some similarities due to workflow. However, as each kitchen is unique, each will have its own unique quirks, etc. In the end, remember this is your kitchen. You don't have to make any of the recommended changes if you don't want to! [Note: If you're just posting for validation of your layout (i.e., you don't want comments that suggest changes), state that as well. If you don't, people will comment on it! Warning: People may comment anyway, it's tough to let a kitchen go that you think is dysfunctional and will cause angst later...especially if it's not yet installed and we think we can help. Bear with us, we're just trying to help!] Here is a link that might be useful: New To Kitchens? Posting Pics? Read Me!

Wow, Kevin, your home is beautiful!!! Wondering if your house Is a trinity? Whatever, it's gorgeous. I met you in the bathroom forum. BTW, I live in central Jersey. I've called around to lots of stores and no one seems to have the.models of tubs I'm interested in. I did see the Edenton today however, so no need to post a close-up. But thank you anyone for the thought.. It is a nice tub. I was surprised how slippery the Edenton bottom is even with the texture (and I was looking for no texture at all!). I'm concerned since I need a tub/shower combo - but I really want a comfortable tub as part of that combo. Now I'm wondering if a bath mat will stick to the textured surface of the Edenton when I shower or will the texture prevent it from adhering to the bottom of the tub? Any insights, anyone?. You mentioned somewhere that if you had to do over, you'd choose the Hydrosystems Lacey. Can't seem to find one of those on display. Is the bottom of the Lacey textured like the Edenton or is it a smooth bottom? Where in Philly did you see the Lacey and other tubs you were considering? Thanks so much! Guess I should post 2nd part of this in Bathroom forum- maybe tomorrow.

Well, my granite person that the builder sent me to sent me a collection of stone this morning he had found and they were AWFUL! Absolutely horrible. Some of them were not even blue- they were GRAY with tiny blue specs! I told him that there wasn't one slab I would even go and look at in person :( So, now I'm doing my own research to find someone who might carry what I want and if he can't get it for me, I'll just buy it separately and have it installed myself. I am very upset :( The pop out bathroom shelf thing, I'm going to have something kind of similar to this fabricated, except our tiles our bigger and I want it to kind of pop out when you press the tile front, like those magnetic cabinets do. That way, you won't see bottles or other stuff in the shower: Since no one is cooking really anyway, I guess it won't matter if my sink is directly opposite my stove. I really think I'm going to end up leaving it that way b/c the asymmetry would drive me nuts. I am just so upset about the bad blues :(

Hi all - Here is the finished island if anyone is interested in an update! Since December when I first posted, we've been busy with installing hvac, re-working (cleaning and greasing all the window cranks, replacing cracked windows & glazing, scraping, sanding, priming & painting) the millions of windows, rebuilding the retaining wall that holds the hill that we're built into up, etc. The most fun project - by far - was the island! We've been trying to really watch our money on every project & we really got lucky on all the components: Base cabinets we got NEW at Lowe's on a closeout sale. They were still marked kind of high - drawer unit was still $150 - but there were not enough to do a whole kitchen & were just taking up shelf space so I asked if they could do better. We got the units we needed for $30/per unit!! We had to sand off the finish, prime & paint - but we're used to that! DH built the surrounding cabinetry with 2 sheets of plywood & some trim scraps to jazz it up a bit. The island top is made from unused railroad car flooring scraps. It is 2 1/2" maple & looks like cutting board/butcher block. DH routered the edge then we stained it dark & put a satin finish on it. The pieces were $5 each & I think there are 8-10 pieces in the top. We traded some stained glass for the bar stools. Please ignore the red paper on the floor. We were still working on the windows when snapped these shots. Next up - exterior paint. I'll be checking in over at the home decorating forum for some input on that one! Thanks to everybody for the great ideas. We really appreciate it! Here is a link that might be useful: new island!