1) Memorize the Bermuda Bible linked below. 2) Water deeply and infrequently at 1 inch per week, all at once. 3) Definitely use a pre-emergent like Dimension in early spring, like March 1 to stop the crabgrass. Halts does not last very long as is not recommended. 4) Give your lawn 1 lb of Nitrogen per 1K square feet every 4-6 weeks. This can be done affordably with a visit to John Deere Landscapes and ask for Lesco 39-0-0 or 44-0-0 slow release fertilizer. Instead/also you can put down Milorganite at a rate you can afford. Scotts brand is pricey when comparing Nitrogen rates. 5) Shut out weeds by lowering your mower setting on Bermuda. 1/2 inch to 1&1/2 inch tall, and don't cut more than 1/3 of the blade with each cut. 6) Don't use Weed-n-Feed products. Instead, spot treat with Weed-B-Gone anything the pre-emergent doesn't stop. Good luck, and thank your wife for her generous support! Here is a link that might be useful: Bermuda Bible

deedles - you are correct that I have come a long way from my initial post. Unfortunately for many reasons, we are no longer taking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room. We are working with the existing space we have in the kitchen and eat in space but trying to make a new layout that functions better for us. I posted a new layout with these changes in mid-January this year to get new feedback since the plan had changed so dramatically (see link). From that feedback, I ended up with this plan. I am attaching the most recent 2D layout I have that was used to create the 3D drawings. The doorway on the bottom left - along the refrigerator run goes into the current dining room; doorway on bottom of page goes into the hallway and towards front of house; opening on right is completely open to the family room. The whole house plan is available in the link below / previous post as well. I know the dishwasher between the sink and range is not optimal and thank you scrappy25 for reminding me of the long threads on this topic. I think I have read that one and others and it seems like there are varying opinions on this layout feature(?). I felt this was the best setup given our constraints. jellytoast - With regard to moving the refrigerator, I certainly entertained the idea of moving it over to the other wall where the shallow set of uppers and lowers exist (calling that my "hutch"). However, when I do this, even with a counter depth fridge, two problems exist - 1) the room that is left for my eat in space is squished too tight for even a 42" round table plus 4 chairs between that and the opposite doorwall to the deck, and 2) I also worried that it was out of the main work triangle and couldn't wrap my head around that working for us. That said, maybe I need to reconsider? I greatly appreciate everyone's feedback and since I have not yet purchased any appliances or cabinets everything is still game for change. Here is a link that might be useful: Most recent thread with new layout

My kids are off to college now, but I remember all the kids had a blast using the walkway along the step down as a "stage" and putting on shows for each other. Ah, the memories. I could never think about light neutral colors for that room before, but I can now. :-). Thank you for the pic yaya - it was not in my ideabook, but it is now. That's exactly the look/feel I am going for.

My layout is almost identical. My range wall is a few inches longer and the legs of my U are only 92". I wanted the drawer stacks next to the range to be as wide and functional as possible. When I researched storage options, I read where someone "did the math" and found that there is actually more square inches in storage when you close off the corners and use all drawers instead. I like the quick access of pulling open a drawer rather than pulling out and pushing back a contraption or opening a door and spinning a Susan. Not to mention the $$ savings. Your long U would allow you to put another drawer stack to the right of the sink. Then you can eliminate that 9" tray storage. I had a 12" one in my old kitchen and it was too cramped and too low to find what I needed quickly. Trays can go over the fridge or you can design a space in the pantry. My tray storage is in a cabinet over my pull-out pantry. You do not want your trash between the sink and stove, as suggested. One, you won't be able to pull it out while prepping in that corner, and two, while you're at the sink or the stove, someone will want to use the trash, making you step out of the way. My trash cabinet is only 13" and is between the sink and DW. Close to the sink while prepping and accessible to the table clearer without bothering the dish washer (DH!). I'd suggest two other layout changes. Make your pantry 24" if possible and move the fridge down. You'll appreciate a little more counter space in the corner where the microwave is more than you will the shelf space to store a few more cans of tomatoes. Is there a dining room on the other side of the peninsula? If so, I would eliminate seating and do a one-level peninsula. You have no large prep space in your kitchen. I use mine like a mini-island.