First ... absolutely FIRST! Make sure you have a sound roof, no leaks. Same around windows and doors Sound footings and walls ... all the foundations and beams and cross ties and stuff Water control ... all the seepage, drainage, etc. See this post for why you need to do this first: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/realestate/msg0700333329476.html?14 ====== Check structural things before removing anything ... sometimes old chimneys are serving as floor joist supports. Then do your "remove this stuff" for everything you don't need ... old plumbing, dead wiring circuits, etc. ======= Make a plan of what has to happen in each area, and double-check the sequence for "sanity". Make a detailed floor plan with call outs and scribbled-on pictures of walls. Sometimes what you think is low priority may have to get done before a high-priority thing can happen ... Wherever you plan to "add a light" later, make sure you have a wire and an outlet while the electrician is there. =========== Things people (including me) forget ... Vents FIRST, Insulation LATER

Try a local full-service glass store. Most will have a large number of options on display. The ones in our area have excellent selections as well as great service and advice not available in the big boxes.

As noted lighting and use matter-you can do lighting with wood shelves, just not pucks, need to be strip light on the sides of cabinets. It's the most common interior lighting I use. "...I wouldn't pay for mahogany though." Once at the level of a cabinet where that is available as an option the upcharge should not be significant. With the brand I carry that offers mahogany it is zero upcharge. Nothing matches the grain/look if you're at all particular. Veneer interiors are an upcharge but then so are glass shelves.

For heavens sake. Just shorten the cabinets over the sink, and make them ALL glass doors No solid doors) on that sink side. Uppers are only good for glasses and dishes anyway. Be neat. You don't need to recess them, just shorten over the sink. Yes it's done all the time. Nobody has gone to ER for the concussion that has not happened. If they are all same glass front? You won't be counting the inches in width left, right center whatever. Or............... use a 33 inch sink base, 18 inch Bosch DW, and have 9 inches to your symmetry issue added left db and upper cabinet. And I'd still do all glass doors, and shorten those over the 33 sink base. The 6 inch loss of DW sizing ? No big deal. Most folks hardly notice. Hand wash the bulky pans. And a 33 inch sink base will take a very decent single bowl sink.