I came up with a plan that does not require changing doors or windows so it's budget friendly and then two variations of it. They do require some work to recess cabs into stud space but that's it and the plan can work even if you're unable to work in the stud space. You get 3 seats at the counter. Oops, I forgot to add length and depth of peninsula. It's 40 1/2" deep x 83" long (includes 1" cab side to support counter at end plus 1" counter overhang at end). I gave you much better clearances between fridge and counter; 42" between fridge face, not fridge box, nearly 10" more than your plan allowed, which keeps that area from becoming a pinch point. I also gave you more aisle space between perimeter and peninsula - 42" vs the 36" your plan had between perimeter and island - plus a larger section of counter between sink and range for prep work. I gave you a separate spot for the MW. It can either be a counter unit or a GE Spacemaker II, which is sized to fit into an upper cabinet. You can just see one of these in the upper cab in the right of this photo: Here it is in a larger kitchen: Yes, you could do a MW hood but moving the MW to another area means that one person can use the MW while another is at the range. I suggest you add shelves in front of the window to increase your storage like this: Use all your vertical space possible. Also, check into Ikea hacks to add toe kick drawers; Ikea hacker Super Secret Toekick drawer for kitchen cabinet Here is what is meant by between stud storage. A GWer recessed a 9" or 12" cab into her stud space so that the cab only stuck out 6" or 9" from the wall. It gave her lots of storage but ate up very little floor space. The only difference between Plan A and Plan B are the cabs in the upper left corner and along the side perimeter. Plan C has minor changes to the cabs in the lower right. I'm assuming that is your only bathroom; moving the door to the bedroom would route all bathroom traffic through that bedroom. Not too big a deal if you rent to a family or childless couple. Big deal if you rent to single, young professionals. If you can add another full bath elsewhere, then go for it and create a master suite, but if you can't, I would leave the bathroom door where it is. If you think you'd recoup the additional expense of moving doors and windows, etc, and adding another full bath that opens up more possibilities, including the plan benjesbride suggested above.

We have cork floors in the kitchen, and they are really nice. We have natural colored cork, which goes well with our oak cabinets, the expensive thick kind (We Cork, IIRC), not Lumber Liquidators, which is fine for bedrooms but not acceptable for kitchens, I don't think. Definitely a do it yourself job, although you would have to level the floor somehow since any bump or indentation shows through after use. Less so with the thicker cork, but eventually. Glue down with Dap Weldwood, green can, not red, water soluble, not flammable. Make sure you fit the tiles together tightly, and use several coats of varnish to keep grunge out of the joints. Whatever varnish the manufacturer suggests. Not sure how the natural will go with the cherry cabinets I am hoping to get, but we shall see. Not that hard to put down a second layer of cork if I hate the contrast. Advantages of cork: soft, warm, resilient, water proof, fire-retardant, easy to DIY. Disadvantages: dog toenails scratch it, grunge can get in the joints. DH didn't put enough coats of varnish, for sure. I think only two. Not enough. I'd post a pic but our kitchen is an embarrassment right now. Melamine countertops have cracks, several drawer fronts are loose or even off. As for your kitchen, I like the cabinets, would advise new hardware, maybe bigger but still brass. The color contrast between your cabinets and countertops is unappealing to me. Cool countertops, warm everything else. I would consider a lighter countertop in a warm mid tone, nowhere near white.

janmark275 10:32 PM I do NOT recommend Wolf Designer cabinets. We just had them installed, on the advise of our contractor, who said we would be very pleased with these semi-custom, budget friendly, made in America cabinets. We are so disappointed. These cabinets are poorly made and poorly painted using low end wood. The shelves are light weight and low end. Please look at the pictures of my "new and improved" kitchen (not!).

Do some research on "California Friendly" gardening for tons of ideas on drought tolerant planting plans and plant selection. Lots of photos of existing CF gardens, as this has been a big promotional push for all of CA for about a dozen years or so. There was also a long standing incentive or rebate plan associated with this program to encourage homeowners to remove resource-thirsty lawns and other plants. Check with local authorities to see if this is still in place for your region. A designer not familiar with CA's climate and growing conditions and plant selection will be of much less help than one that is local. Many of the suggested CF plants would be very uncommon outside of that state. Try posting on the California Gardening forum for more localized and site specific advice.