Sorry for the delay in responding; I was away till this morning. bmorepanic: Thank you for taking the time to rework the plan. The hot water rads never get too hot so we're ok that way. Silly I know... I admit that the reason I didn't want to go around the corner with cabinetry etc was to keep that end wall clear to have a place to display my artwork. We do need 2 chairs & table. Currently we have a 54" round table (pre this house purchase) with 2 chairs and it is a very tight fit with a utility cart too behind the north chair along the long wall. Definitely a tight fit. We've been living with it for 7 1/2 years so downsizing to a 28" square bistro style will feel positively spacious! I close the door when seated at the table, but have thought of putting in a pocket door instead. David: I hadn't thought of an island 3 different widths. I'll give it a try. laxsupermom: Due to placement of stairs to the basement & to upstairs attic/loft bedroom the DR door can't be moved over. The appliances have all been ordered. I went with the KA convection micro/oven combo for the features of having a dual oven without having to purchase a double. buehl: I don't mind at all the personal question. I realize I should have given more background. My DH & I are empty nesters (mid 50's). Our 2 children (1 grandchild - 2yrs) live at a distance and visits to here are about 4 times a year for a weekend duration. I have a non-functioning ankle (fusion or ankle replacement hopefully in my future). This causes issue with inability to bend correctly from the knee to reach down & lifting. A raised oven will be so much easier & safer. This injury also causes instability in balance, so having to move only a couple of steps when carrying anything hot like pasta water to dump in the sink is important. A place to sit to chop veggies etc is necessary from time to time. jejvtr: Good question about soundproofing, but not an issue. The music studio is only a couple of steps down from the kitchen level, cinderblock wall with the hallway in between and a door on each side. It is almost completely soundproof. lascatx: I mixed up my dates and the cabinet guy comes next Saturday. It's good the hear from someone who has lived with a similar setup. Even though I'm the only cook, there is at times 2 of us trying to do things in there at the same time. Thank you everyone. I will take all your suggestions & work on more layouts and see what revisions I can make that will make me happy. Jazzie

Vu Nguyen - counter looks good.. maybe once everything is on it she will like it a bit better.. also accessories make a difference especially if the color pops... Buy her a huge bouquet of flowers and plop them on the counter.. :-) I like your cabinets and the floor as well... My fridge is currently next to the range with a 20" counter between and I do not like it.. this layout works better for us.. see photo of my current kitchen.. the fridge juts out too much and everyone is in my way when i am cooking.. the distance is no issue as I would rather have the counter space bigger by the range; see new layout v. old layout and i usually pull out what i need to cook with - also the L shape of my kitchen is about 12 x 12... with the fridge on the other wall it is out of the way.. we are doing a 12" pantry at left side of fridge to allow for the door to open properly.. my new cabinets will be similar in color to yours but a shaker cabinet not flat panel.. although i do like the way yours look..

Would it be that we all aged at ninety plus to this?: Yes....... the wonderful lady, client and now dear friend is one whose apartment at senior living i remodeled, and also " mini re created" her former address. Will be 93 this summer, and she is INCREDIBLE. She doesn't shuffle, has no mobility issues..........however. Note no thresholds, area rugs that can come up. A kitchen with her favorite place to sit -at the counter on a Serena and Lily stool . We should all be so damn lucky. She wishes she had made the move SOONER and is enjoying the heck out of her busy life there. ( she's yapping on the phone second pic.... hard to catch up with her. Swim, bridge, duplicate bridge........"dinner with the WIDOWS" LOL " I have accepted that this will not be MY old age conditions, unless I cease eating and drinking.... and a lot of other stuff too : ) Folks? Go before you need to go. Don't cling to junk. Your kids don't want it. Or want a miniscule fraction of it. Whenever I read one of these "age in place" dilemmas? I think.....yeah.............right. You need friends, community, and spur of the moment help. Or as a doctor said to me: "At a little over eighty, your physiology balances on the head of a straigh PIN." Memorize it.

as the floor plan and measurements of all furniture are not clear it is hard to offer solutions to your dilemma...however there have been many discussions like this and many of them involve setting the bed lengthwise along the wall...without any problem..which leaves more room for most of the other needs..like seating by the window ...even a second chair for visitors...and a small dining table w/ easy seating if that is needed...i would definitely return the oversized chair...for smaller ones and begin collecting colorful accessories..such as comfy decorative pillows...and throws where needed...next the walls can add lots of room for pictures of family ...or times of fond memories..if they will allow painting ..it helps to add colors she loves to at least one wall...if you are not creative find someone who is...to help you...this is the sort of thing that needs to be made cozy and homey more than “decorated”