How often do you have company? For the time being, could you not just remove the leaf? It should still seat your family of 6. I have a 60" square table (with the leaf in) that seats 8. In our last house it fit fine in the kitchen, but in our current house, the kitchen is smaller. I just removed the center leaf and made it into a rectangle (I store the 2 extra chairs and the leaf in the basement). It still seats 6 and I don't have to reach so far across to wipe the top. But, if you are set on reno, I would remove the wall and that desk (it's pretty large). Then move the pantry over to the other doorway. (I would not close off that entrance, if anything I might increase it's size a little). This should gain 3' - 3'.5. Not to be bi*chy, but, I think you should paint those lower cabinets white also. Those dark lower cabinets suck the light out. I feel lighter lowers would help to "open" that space too. When we moved in here, our cabinets were golden oak (personal preference, I don't care for golden oak). I painted uppers and lowers white. It brightened up the room and made it appear larger.

I'd keep all your trimwork the same color to avoid a patchworky sort of look. Since the three taupes are all shades of the exact same color, your arrangement works fine, especially if you can pull that dark taupe from the upper "stripe" down to floor level (lots of it in the rug, upholstery on the chaise, something like that). Lots of black accents will set off the red and taupes. If you haven't already chosen artwork for the room, since you're looking for a sparser feel I'd take a look at some landscape photography in a cooler sepia tone, matted in a very pale taupey color like the trim color, framed in black. If you're having second thoughts about using the dark taupe, one thing that someone here (can't remember who, might not even be here anymore) did years ago was bring her white or almost-white ceiling color down onto the upper wall by about a foot, dividing it from the lower walls with a molding, but without using crown molding. The intent, IIRC, was to make the ceiling look higher - I seem to be immune to these sorts of illusions, but it did look rather nice. I wish I could get at my old-house books (STILL buried under 17 layers of boxes, arrrgh, there was a frantic relocation of other boxes halfway through unpacking the books and DH hasn't un-piled them for me), I have a dozen pictures in my head but I can't get at them to scan. The 2' upper + 6' lower was actually a common division for an 8' high wall at one time, although it's more automatic these days to just divide a wall into thirds. I just thought of this - if it helps you wrap your head around it, think of it like a plate rail rather than a chair rail. Not that you're necessarily going to put plates on it (unless you want to, of course) but just think about how a plate rail often rides a bit higher so that what's sitting on it is less likely to get knocked off. If you can get at the walls at this time, try measuring and taping off the divisions on at least one wall to see what works for you. If you use the very-low-tack painter's tape or masking paper you'll be able to remove it easily without damaging the wall surface, and if you use the extra-wide kind you can get an idea of how the molding width will play on the wall. (If you have or can get your hands on a laser level your life will be so much easier!)

A2gemini - Thanks for the pics - I actually hadn't thought of putting slide back door fronts on the upper cabs - so a BIG THANKS for your pics as I think slide backs would be better on the upper so I don't wack my head when getting up from the sit down part. I just wonder if my legs are locked in and since there will be a bottom/coving/and my chair/stool can't go all the way under if it will be uncomfortable? IF I will end up bumping into the other drawers on the sides with my stool or legs? I won't have a drop/pull out like yours as I will have a granite top - just like my regular cabinets. I want to put my laptop and my kitchen tv there. I have my tv on another counter and I hate it there, also I can't use my under cabinet lighting, I worry they are too hot above my tv. Funny - I have a bench seat in front of my window too. I never sit there, but guests certainly have. It is right where my desk area is being planned! If your a "gemini" so am I ! LOL

If they give you the pitocin, get the epidural. I didn't want the epidural but after a while, the pain left me no choice. They gave me another drug before the epidural and all it did was calm the contractions - prolong labor for a what seemed an eternity. Depending on how much they give you, Pit, as others have said here, can be very very uncomfortable. DD was 10lbs and wouldn't stay turned. There was talk of a C-section but she eventually decided it was time to say Hi. The trend is to walk a lot even with pit and contractions going at the same time. That will help, but it can be rough too. I've never heard of any fetal distress from the pit but you and the baby will be monitored. Unless you have a strong coach, I wouldn't try the pit without the epidural or some other paid meds. You will wear yourself out - and you want to have all of your strength to hold that beautiful bundle of joy!! Congratulations and best wishes. Babies are such a joy, and bring you so much fun and love. gneegirl