The pergola is stunning. Who would not want such a feature in their landscape? And yet, I think many amateurs will find it difficult to successfully use one. It's about balance of visual power. Remember we talked about a balance of scale, size and proportion of bed space to lawn. This is a little like that. The pergola is a very strong visual element. Plunk it down in the middle of a lawn and it become over dominate, too much. Rather than a pleasing focal point it's more like a spot light shined in one's eyes. In my opinion, there are two ways to use such a feature. The first is to disassociate the pergola from the rest of the landscape in a way that makes it a space unto itself. We have all seen a single huge tree in a space too small. The effect is not good. But if there is a multitude of huge trees that engulf the entire space, we have a forest, a space unto itself. And that works. Consider a pergola between a house and a tall wall or hedge such that it takes up all of the space. Use other tricks to disassociate the pergola from the rest of the landscape like a grade change, or plantings. Like being in or out of the forest, the pergola becomes a space unto itself. In a similar way the pergola can be made an extension of the house. Set the pergola to a grade almost even with the house floor level then disassociate the pergola from the landscape with a different grade. Control of human perception is a tricky thing. The other way to use the pergola is to make it a part of the landscape. Here the challenge is to balance the visual power of the pergola to that which surrounds it. Space alone helps to dilute the dominance of overly strong elements to the landscape. It's much easier to do a successful design in a larger area rather than a smaller one. Then other features are selected that have a strong visual factor to complete the landscape, such as stone walls, large boulders, water features, larger plants with a strong contrast of form or color, or larger beds with a dense full look. When right, the pergola will still be the focal point, but it will fit within its surroundings. If you do the pergola I suggest you spend a lot of time looking at photos of similar strong elements in gardens that you like. Then play close attention to the other associated elements that make it work.

remodelfla - Good question about the dining chairs! I think it will be OK since the island should end right about where the dining room wall is right now and it's not tight. I may have moved the wall a bit though to squeeze the refrigerator in. The drawing shows it to be a wee bit over 5 ft from the island to the table, but the drawings may not be that accurate. Is there a minimum that you would suggest? The space on either side of the cooktop is 24". Hard to tell that from the drawing. Right now I have 18" on each side and that works fine as long as I'm not trying to do major prep there. I do wish the drawers on either side were a little larger though. I would consider moving the cooktop if I thought there was another place for it. But this house has the same issue my main house had - a square kitchen where there was too much space between walls, so it would be too many steps to use opposite walls. And the adjoining walls have doors/windows that limit their functionality. But if anyone has a good idea for a different layout, I'd love to hear it!

I drew up an idea... Structural changes: I removed the following walls: * both pantry wall sides (left the back wall) * the wall next to the current refrigerator I then expanded the kitchen 3' into the LR...you said you would consider expanding into the "Christmas Tree room" :-) If 3' is too much, you could do 2' and reduce the depth of the Pantry and the "Dish Hutch" (more on that later). However, unless you want a counter-depth refrigerator, I would at least leave the 3' depth for the Message Center & Refrigerator...both of which are contained in the original pantry alcove space. I added another pantry wall 4' from the DR side (see pic below) Layout: I incorporated all your appliances and added a prep sink. Your work flow goes from the refrigerator......to the prep sink and prep on the peninsula......to the cooktop or ovens......to the cleanup sink or DR. Message Center: You mentioned the peninsula seems to be a clutter magnet. By adding a Message Center you should be able to cut down on some of the clutter. The Message Center would have the house/land line phone (this location is convenient to both the kitchen and the FR); a place to recharge cell phones, cameras, etc.; a place to store phone books & directories; and a place for your keys and other paraphernalia that seems to accumulate at entrances. Refrigerator: Good location b/c while it's in the kitchen, it's still convenient to the FR and outsiders using it won't interfere with the prep, cooking, and cleanup. Landing Space: Dish Hutch Dish Hutch: This 30"W x 30"D cabinet is really a 30"W x 30"D base cabinet plus a countertop plus a 30"W x 15"D ceiling height wall cabinet with, possibly, glass doors. This will give it a furniture look and will provide a lot of storage space for dishes, small appliances, gadgets, etc. The 15" deep countertop can also serve as landing space for the Refrigerator and Pantry. Pantry: This actually can work two ways: (1) Shallow walk-in. 48"W x 30"D with 15" deep shelves floor to ceiling along the back wall. Then, along the side walls, you could install peg boards and store things like brooms, mops, etc....or anything else you like (e.g., someone on GW stores their pots & pans in their very shallow (12"D?) pantry hung from pegboards on the back and side walls.) Bi-fold doors provide full access to the pantry front. (2) Pantry Pullouts. You could alternately put in 52" of pullout pantry cabinets. Why 52" instead of 48"? B/c if you use pantry cabinets you won't need that 4-1/2" wall like you do w/the walk-in. (There may be a way to eliminate that wall for the walk-in as well, but I would be careful since a door will be hanging from it. Shelves can be secured along the back.) Landing Space: Dish Hutch Peninsula: From what I can tell from your current layout, it appears that you currently have a 12" overhang. 15" is recommended for counter-height seating. It means expanding only 3" into the FR. It also provides a nice expanse of countertop (84" x 39"!! I'm envious!!) for baking, normal prep work, school/art/craft projects, and homework (if you have school-age children). Hopefully, DW will be OK with that. I also added a prep sink to that area to keep the cleanup and prep zones separate (and to provide a place to wash hands or get a drink of water w/o interfering w/the kitchen work). [In our home, DH and I are always in each other's way since we only have one sink and it's only 24" away from the range. We're adding a prep sink and moving the cleanup sink to the other side of the kitchen when we remodel.] Prep Sink Landing Space: Right of sink Next to the prep sink, I added a 12" trash pullout for prep scraps. Note one other thing: I put in a Beverage Chiller (or could be Wine Chiller or small refrigerator) under the peninsula counter on the FR side and added a 12" x 12" wall cabinet facing the FR on the end of the window wall to hold cups, napkins, etc. Things that might be useful in the FR. It could also have 2 doors--one opening on the kitchen side and the other the FR side. Window Wall: I put in a 33" double-bowl sink (1-3/4) under the window. It's not quite centered (off by 1.5"), but I don't think it will be noticeable. I wasn't sure if you wanted a double- or single-bowl, so I put in a double. [If you're unsure, search the forum for several discussions on single vs double sinks!...oh, be sure to use the "search" box at the bottom of the page, not the top!] I also bumped out the sink 3" to give you more room behind the sink. I've noticed that most sinks take up the majority of the depth of counters, leaving very little room for faucets & soap dispensers. By adding 3" it gives you a little "breathing space" behind the sink. The 3" on either side could be converted to a "filler pullout" (see the Rev-A-Shelf Spice Racks for Fillers -- Have you seen these!!!! thread). If possible, I would also recommend bringing the window down to the counter height and running your counter into the sill. Several GWers have done this and it looks very nice... (see the Counter Height Windows Love them? Hate them? thread) The DW is to the left of the sink (it's the reason I had to put the sink slightly off center. If the sink is smaller, it could probably be centered). To the right of the sink is a full-size trash pullout for sink & cooking scraps. You may also be able to put a recycle can in there (2 cans total). There's a 36" lazy susan b/w the trash pullout and the cooktop (corner) Sink Landing Space: Both sides of sink Cooking Wall: This wall has your 36" induction cooktop w/a 42" vent hood, vented to the outside. It is highly recommended that vent hoods be at least 6" wider than your cooktop to better catch heat, grease, smoke, etc. There is also a 6" spice/oils pullout to the left of the cooktop. (see the Rev-A-Shelf thread above). Then, there's 24" of landing/space b/w the cooktop and the ovens. The oven stack contains your Convection MW and Convection Wall Oven. Cooktop Landing Space: Left & right of cooktop Oven Landing Space: Left of oven stack Doorways & Clearances: Between the ovens and pantry: 42". This is also the size of the doorway into the DR. Between the Message Center and peninsula: 42" +++++++++ And now, the picture! ++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Some general recommendations: * Mostly drawers in your base cabinets. Especially the wider ones. The wider drawers are perfect for pots & pans. Other drawers are great for "tupperware", utensils, linens, baking tools, prep tools, etc. Check out the following threads: What do you wish you had done differently? Best advice from this forum Now that I have [X], I think I could have lived without it Checklist For Granite Installation? (just in case!) tray cabinets - top 1/2 wasted space And, to help you with our kitchen design: Kitchen Forum FAQ I hope you like it. However, remember this is your kitchen, so if you don't like it, change it! Good luckand let me know if you have any questions or thoughts!

Well I love mine. I have the huge one in the sunroom that is an Alberene soapstone and still has the tag on the front from the manufacturer. And then I have the one in the kitchen. Both are very old and were composed of individual pieces in the way you are considering. Neither has had any leakage problems. The one in the kitchen has a slope and drains well to a corner drain. The big one in the back does not slope and the water has to be swept out with my hand. Other than that they are great. Good Luck. c