First, because of the horizontal pixel-width of your image it bumps through the margins of the text box on the right so the text disappears under the pic of remodelfla's excllent kitchen and the compost pile. So I can't read most of what you've written. (Easiest cure w/o going back and resizing your drawing's box width: repost just text only as a separate comment, then it will stay contained with in the text block.) Anyhoo, my first take is that you've got way too much so-trendy-you-gotta-have-one island real estate and not enough practical storage and an un-refined work flow. A worktop-only island would be good. I think sitting in those seats essentially with your backs to the corridor to the DR will feel too exposed. So: shrink the island; Find a new location for the fridge that doesn't result in the DW and fridge doors having to negotiate with each other; Use the space along the lower left (picture-wise) wall (common wall with bathroom) for storage. Perhaps narrow closed cabs below and bookshelves - cookbooks! - above or glassed cabs for pretty dishes. Blank wall = too boring. I wouldn't add another DW to the island, just find a more workable position for the one near the sink. Keep the prep sink though. You still have an awkward return path for dishes from you dining room as they have to go all the way around the K/DR wall for washing at the sink/DW position. Perhaps consider reversing the swing of the door from garage so it opens against the side of a (moved) fridge along the range wall. Ventilation path for the range, what are your constraints for exterior vent pathway? Consider a taller and narrower DW. What's in the jogged intrusion from the DR into the kitchen? Any chance you could eliminate that and add the space to kitchen? Keep the pantry. But before you start in on adding in suggestions, I think more thought has to be given to food/work flow within the space. You'll be crisscrossing constantly. Since you're doing a full remodel, not just a refresh, now's the time for that analysis. Think about where your food comes in and is unpacked > where it's stowed > where it needs to go to be prepared (need water for that?) for cooking > where the prep and cooking utensils are stored > where the cooking position is> where the serving vessels (either plates or serving dishes, depending on your type of service) are stored and where the food will be plated > where it goes to be eaten > where leftovers are prepared for storage and where dirty dishes are brought for cleaning > where the cleaned stuff is stowed ready for re-use. This requires you to think about how the room functions as a work space, first, before thinking about how it may look (colors, styles, amenities). If you get the work-flow tweaked to its best config., then you can easily populate it with all the trendy pretties that you want. But don't begin with pretty, start with functional. Make a (measured, scaled) drawing of your space on graph paper. Mark the completely unalterable elements, then play around by sketching in various arrangements of things using my outline above. Nothing is perfect, but usually if you let the workflow dictate your pattern pretty soon a natural skeleton of where to put individual activity/work elements emerges (not necessarily on the where-to-put-the-can-opener level, that's the next round after the bones are settled.) Many iterations are usually necessary, but they cost only time (and who begrudges the engrossing hours of thinking about their new kitchen?), paper and pencils and erasers. You can d/l a template for graph paper and print some immediately, but I find it's easier to buy a pad or spiral book with it already printed. Don't start thinking about your friends having wine at the island or what cab style or b/s to choose. Start with where your flour and veggies come into the room, then go to where they can be stored .....etc. Once you've got a trial plan, then "cook" in that plan using a colored pencil to mark where you'd have to travel as you prepared the meal. Pay attention to every time you cross back on yourself. Some crossing is necessary, or unavoidable, but doing these imaginary meals will quickly reveal where you need to lean harder on refining your arrangement of work centers. Don't be discouraged if you need to start anew a few times. Think why the previous plan failed and use that to inform the next layout. And if you get stuck, then imagiine some of the "unalterables" away. Perhaps a radical, but otherwise do-able change in one thing will open up the key. Also, if you get stuck, think why? Is it something like "must have sink perfectly balanced below window". Sez who? Sometimes the "rules" we have in our heads need to be challenged. And challenging them on paper is a effective way to break out of a rut in your thinking. Have fun! hth L.

I don't think it will take much to bring out the charm in your little cottage. I think it's already quite darling. With just a few touches, the front will be sweet. I'd start with lavenderlass's idea of planting vines and/or roses there to wind around the metal railings/posts. Then I'd paint the door and bright, fun color. I think it's screaming for a nice, cheery red. Add some nice shrubbery and flowers. I'd also leave the windows as is and add the flower box under the shorter window as previously suggested for color and balance. I love the awnings. They're in keeping with the character of the home and I'm guessing they serve a useful purpose. I'd paint them or leave them as is. The flowers, shrubs, and bright door might be enough color. I think the kitchen is wonderful. I would do whatever possible to preserve the cabinets if they are in good shape. If they're solid wood, the cost to replace with similar quality would be very expensive. If they look a bit shabby, I would not paint them but, rather, spend the time refinishing them. Just a good cleaning and some oiling might even be enough to do the trick. Some other redecorating, possibly new counters, and a throw rug and I think that kitchen will be amazing. I would either paint or remove the paneling in the front room and I like the ideas for utilizing the faux fireplace area. I don't understand the heebie-jeebies about the bathroom fixtures. If you use public restrooms, a good cleaning should be enough (if they're in good shape and working order, that is). Obviously the bathroom could use some paint and other simple redecorating. I think most of the work needs to be in the back of the house. I like the idea of making it the dining area. Enclose W/D in a closet and put a dining table in there. Then put in a nice patio door and build a deck or make a nice patio. It looks like some privacy walls around the deck/patio would be good as it looks wide open without much seclusion from people driving by. I love your new home and really think it's only a few touches needed to make it an incredible place to live. Have fun with it.

thank you suedonim. that's what I'm trying to convey to lex. lex, I understand you replacing the floors, but hanging onto those old baseboards will be a mistake. they will have to run shoe molding next to the base if they don't take them up, in order to hide the cut end pieces of the new flooring. now you'll have this small, old wood baseboard, and another wood, quarter round shoe molding next to that. The whole point is to upgrade, not compound the current look. is this what you want? Trust me, you will never regret doing it. I know you don't want to change everything. and maybe you can keep the door trim and just paint it white to match the new baseboards. or, even if you choose to keep the wood trim around the doors, the newer white baseboard still looks better But if you're going through all the expense of new flooring, it doesn't make sense to keep that old, ugly baseboard. Or worse yet, try and match your new flooring to it! new floors are not cheap. why skimp out on a few hundred more and leave that baseboard?

It is hard to get contractors to come and do small jobs like just one room, and even if you can find someone to do it that way, it will cost a lot more. I agree that you should be concerned about health hazards of living in a space while the work is being done. The dust alone is a major health hazard. Start getting estimates now for the cost of the work, how long it would take, and the order in which the contractors want to do the work. Then start saving for the long term so you can move out of your house for a period of time and have the work done. I completely agree with others about keeping plaster walls. Why do you want to tear them down? It sounds to me like you almost want a new house - are you sure that you are up for and really interested in redoing this one? I'm a fan of preservation and going with what you have instead of tearing it all down, but it needs to make sense for your budget and timeline.