I've seen layouts with something called a "pocket office" that I thought were very appealing. That might be an idea for your resale in a few years.

18" upper should open away from hood. I know its just ikea 20/20, but the reason is so it won't hit the hood when fully open. The ref in that position will block your view of the family room while doing prep/cleanup. This is ok if that's what you want :) Storing glassware above the micro = kids can't reach it. If you are height challenged, you may not be able to reach it either (micros are about 18-20" deep and about 12-15" high). With a wall micro like that, actually the kids might have trouble reaching it also. Maybe put a full height, full depth cabinet between ref and patio door instead of the shortie. Micro sits on shelf (they do have a fixed shelf you can buy, its in the store version of the catalog) with doors over and drawers under? Micro could end up being at about counterheight. That could allow for the glassware to be above the micro. It could be ordered patio door, 12" gap, ref, full height micro cabinet (with perhaps a wider cabinet (like a 30" one), 6" gap to window. If full depth is scary above the micro, you could step back to wall cabinets above it. or use wall cabinets flushed out to the front line. With the ref moved a little bit further, it allows more space for kids cruising the ref. Full disclosure - I hate corners. So for the base, I would put a wider drawer unit on both sides and blank the corner by installing filler. Depending on your handles and such, it can be as little as 1.5" on both sides. I know its heresy, but I really don't like them and every gadget that is supposed to make them work. The uppers over a corner - the best way I've seen is build a little square in the corner (finished size 1 foot by 1 foot or whatever dimension you need) covered with drywall. Wall cabinets from one or both sides just but up against it. I can't reach that part of an upper cabinet over a corner anyway so I don't mind doing away with it. If you like the pot rack idea, just do that, and leave the rest of the wall open. That is my other thought about the 18" upper on the far side of the hood - depending on what you're thinking about storing there - you could cut it in favor of something like a tool rail with a shelf above. I like the blackboard paint for the blank wall. You could always have some art or something artsy like a graphic or wallpaper pattern mixed in. Back paint a section with magnetic paint or have a section with KVISSLE (how to make that plural - its like trying to make Beetlejuice plural) instead of the blackboard paint. Here is a link that might be useful: KVISSLE-KVISSLE-KVISSLE

Without being able to see the entire first floor plan, its hard to say, but what I would do is move the doorway on the wall marked with 13 feet over to between the table and the cabinets, move the cabinets over to the ?pantry wall and create an opening into the pantry in the middle of the wall. (perhaps close off one end). Leave the dishes and the micro in the pantry area - so it functioned as walk-through snacking but also as cleanup - removing the need for another big dishwasher. Possibly move the big ref into the pantry but would certainly move it to the table end of the counter run so it had easy access from the table space. I think the ref/frz drawers are not well placed or even why you need them right there. Depending on what your are thinking of using the drawers for, they might be better off in the pantry (let it double as a party bar). The ovens might be better off out in the kitchen. This does a couple of things - you can have more counter in the kitchen proper. Access to the pantry is much closer and direct. The table space is a lot better. You're kinda lacking somewhere between two and three feet of space at the table area - so this creates a nice walkway between the table and the kitchen without decreasing the kitchen storage space. Alternate would be the 10 inches off your p&p storage PLUS reducing the width of the table down to about 36". Right now, there isn't a good way for people at the interior end of the table to actually get there. and become seated. It gets the "heat" out of the pantry - no warming drawer out there and I'd have no thermal oven. It doesn't get rid of the heat and moisture from doing the dishes. As far as smaller things go, I would do 36" cabinets on either side of the cooktop and combine those with a pair of 9" spice/oil pullouts in place of the 3" fillers. (the floor plan differs from the elevations?). If the whole enchilada moves east (as drawn), I'd have another 30" available for ovens. Cut the 40" p&p drawers in favor of smaller dish storage cabinet - maybe a 36" and a larger trash/recycling cabinet. Roughly, when putting stuff like a trash pullout in a framed cabinet, it needs to be somewhat bigger. I have an 18" pullout that fits two almost full size cans - but I would need a 21" framed cabinet to fit the same pullout. Again, if its moving east, there would be another 30" cabinet there. Maybe not have the ref/frz drawers directly across from the ref because of potential door/drawer stuff - but also it would just bug me to have others fluttering around my only sink. When I look at your layout, I wonder about the amount of storage available in the kitchen proper - where you'll store your mixing bowls, mixer, food processor, etc. For sure have the bank of 36" cabinets in the pantry open on both sides. It's a cute inspiration picture, but I would not want to walk over there and around the corner every time I needed a can of tomatoes, a potato or a...

In case anybody is still following, lol: I've been thinking of Sena's fridge placement concern. The fridge I ordered has a door that can be reversed and is actually 26" deep with door. So I think we'll try it for awhile where the current fridge has been, on the end of the short L. We can inset it into the wall with the door reversed so it swings left and, thus, won't crowd the person at the sink. I'm wondering if we do this if it will be back far enough to now crowd the line-of-vision to the window? We should be able to get an idea of that without actually before we tear out the wall to see if it will be worth it to inset it. Although i do hate to lose that long baking counter. But we can also take out the side wall to the broom closet and play with the fridge there. If we don't like that, I figure we can get cabinets to fill that spot. They could uppers and lowers with counter and a better landing spot/command center than I currently have. Or just a pantry. Might also make a good place to put a small microwave a bit closer to cooking area. Anyway, just mulling options. It will be fun to play with all this. Went to a big home show in the Big City a 90-minute drive away. Hoping to see some unique and interesting ideas. Well, that was a waste. Didn't really see anything any different or better than what I see at our HD. Bummer. But had a nice visit with my friend that came with me so that's good. Won't waste my time on home shows again if this is all they have. My next venture out-of-town will be to some of the bigger Habitat Re-Stores. I've been told that a couple have amazing selections due to being in areas more flush with cash and a lot of high-end remodels. After looking at photos online, I kinda wish I'd thought to check them out sooner for my fridge. Hoping to find some nice cabinet boxes in the sizes I need so I only have to order door/drawer fronts from Barker. I don't mind multiple trips for the right cabinets as this will save hundreds over buying new cabinet boxes. Wow, I can't imagine building a whole house. A kitchen is enough work for me!