florantha, you can use Google Sketchup which is a free download. There is a learning curve for drawing 3D, but for 2D it is really easy. There are all sorts of tutorial videos on YouTube but they are geared toward 3D. If you download it and want a quick primer on drawing 2D (it will take 10 minutes to figure it out, tops) you're welcome to contact me via the GW email link. maria410, even if the floor is not perfect in your eyes, it sure looks beautiful in pictures. As histokitch, dan1888 and davidro said, the uppers on the sink wall still feel unsatisfactory. There's a few things going on there. First thing: I'm trying to have those uppers echo the built-ins elsewhere in the house. Below is a link to a prior thread - scroll to the bottom for a sketch of the overall ''look'' I have in mind. This makes me want to have those uppers as open cabinets with sides, backs, etc, rather than wall-mount shelves. And I'd like the left and right uppers to be consistent with each other in style, although not exact mirror images. Second thing (and somewhat contradictory with first thing): the left and right uppers are supposed to serve quite different functions. The left uppers will be in the corner of the kitchen, where the sink and range walls meet. The main prep zone is to their right and the range is to their left. I plan to store only stockpots there, to eliminate any reason for others to invade the cook's workspace. So the left uppers should be deep enough to hold 40 qt stock pots (which are appx 14-15'' diameter by 15'' tall, plus lid) with no doors. I may have a problem with lateral clearance to the grease hood (currently sketched in a 5 ft W X 4 ft D x 2 ft H grease hood with enclosed ducting overhead), but otherwise this seems pretty straightforward to me. The right uppers, at in the other end of the sink wall, seem more complicated. - They should hold daily mugs and glasses conveniently close to the dishwasher, but low enough to be reachable if you're not Wilt Chamberlain. 8'' height between shelves would be enough, we have storage for tall wineglasses in the dining room. - I also want to put beverage-making there, as far away from the prep and cooking zones as possible, but without the associated clutter on the counter. So I'd like to have French press, tea press, electric kettle, coffee grinder, etc stored in those uppers. Those items need more height than typical glassware (French press is 11'' tall, burr grinder can be 13'' tall) and might want to be concealed behind doors. The blender is used daily for smoothies, needs a space up to 20'' tall, and I've no other nearby storage space so it will probably be a loitering counter-dweller, smoking cigarettes and bumming for spare change. - Finally, I'm also thinking the counter at that end can also be an occasional baking center. I'm not a baker, but hope to learn someday. This suggests the stand mixer as another counter-dweller (copper-fetishist SWMBO wants a copper KitchenAid ''Artisan'') and some storage for baking supplies (whatever those are? as a non-baker I am clueless) in the upper or below the counter. I have totally not figured out how to accommodate all those functions in anything that looks decent and works for a 5' 8'' woman (or a 6' man for that matter). Third thing: the window could be changed. The existing window (shown in the sketch) has no view of anything but gets great sunlight - and in the Pac NW, that's a precious thing. It could be made it bigger. The existing leaky double-hungs could be converted to casement or tilt-out for easier opening. It could be bumped out, and herbs grown on the resulting deep ''ledge''. It could be two or three separate windows, similar to florantha's wall. There could be reinforced points to grow hanging tomatoes outside the windows. All those will cost money, so the cost-benefit has to work.. Or, I could leave it as is, make it visually interesting as david suggests, or hang a colorful picture. The pre-rinse faucet does need a bit of wall for the support arm. Here is a link that might be useful: Here's The General ''Look'' I Am After

The house actually looks fine. It is the inside that is a hot mess. People buy without realizing the issues then sell in about 3 years when it won't seem like they are dumping it.... At least that is my take. We built 7 years ago and have our 4th neighbors. The first ones were from CA and could never close their custom build - they rented for a few months from the builder before leaving in the middle of the night. See my bias from CA .... Mind you I was born there, lived some there, and have family at both ends. CA housing obviously extremely diverse. Cookie cutter tract and then hodge podge. At least that is my take. Just like with other things, diversity is a bit more celebrated. My sister has and still does live in extremely flawed and expensive housing in the LA basin. But back to your situation. RE in CA - people tolerate and pay high $$ for less than ideal housing. When land is less scarce, people tolerate much less. Unusual may not sell (or appraise well) outside of Dallas for example. Carolyn's case is unusual for the amount of cash she has. Back in 2007, this forum was ripe with stories about people who couldn't close their build. Like my neighbor - that was 2009 - we were a little late in NC. I believe we live in uncertain times. The interest rate market is becoming volatile. I put caution into building because I remember 2007. My house is just over 2x my income and am considering building at 3x my income. Going to wait a bit to see how things shake out. Affording it is not an issue but I'd be pretty upset if I had to close at more than 5% APR

It depends on the layout -- a prep sink isn't about the size of the Kitchen, it's about how it helps/hinders functionality. In a small Kitchen it might be a big help or it might not; ditto in a large Kitchen. We would need to see your layout to know. Don't let it keep you up right now -- wait until it's time to settle on a layout! :-)

I really appreciate your comment. I will work on getting something drawn up. He says the main narrow space is about 60 by 15 feet. The space with the dark kitchen table is about 12 by 15 feet. No we definitely don’t need the two dining tables. We don’t entertain many people, normally we only have 5 or less people in the space at a time. Since it’s a vacation home I would really like the idea of games and I’m okay with the space being fun and less formal. Sorry this is all new to me! And we don’t know a thing about interior design