I think what you're running into is Kitchen Designers who are really Cabinet Salespeople. Did you ask if they are NKBA-certified (not a guarantee of a good designer, but it's a good first step)? So many KDs are really cabinet salespeople - they know a lot about their cabinet line(s), but not so much about good design. Did either ask you about your lifestyle, your family composition, your plans for the kitchen, etc.? If not, that's a red flag. Check the Layout help FAQ for the types of questions KDs should be asking you - and that you should be prepared to answer. How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include? If you cannot find a good KD, then I suggest starting the design process by posting your space here. We have several professional KDs as well as several talented amateurs who can help you. When you're happy with the layout, go back to the KDs and see what they have to say - both for cabinet specifics in their cabinet line(s) and pricing. If you do find a KD, then see what s/he comes up with. I would still come here and post the layout for additional critiquing. Between your KD and here, you should be able to come up with a functional layout and a nice looking space. Good luck!

Thank you both so very much, that sure makes like simpler. Sure wish I could convince my husband that we should stain all those cabinets darker but there are a LOT of cabinets.

Sheen? You don't want gloss for your walls. With white appliances and window/door trim, you can take your pick of colors for the wall but do remember ... If your apartment is small, lighter colors of paint are probably a better idea since darker colors can visually shrink a room. That said, an accent wall in your bright bold favorite color could be a good thing. As you decide what color(s) you're going to paint your rooms, think about how well the color(s) in one room will blend with the colors in the adjacent space. (To state the obvious, beach colors and goth will not blend well.) If you and your girlfriend are on a tight budget, you might want to experience the adventure of checking out nearby Habitat for Humanity Restore Stores. One HfHRS near me frequently has cans of paint in different brands-- some actually full and others nearly full -- where someone bought more than they needed and donated what was left of it. Spring and summer are the seasons for building and rennovating so you're likely to find construction items through fall. The larger stores will have more room and more stuff. If you don't find anything of interest on the first visit or two, do a walkthrough occasionally. [ Just before the holidays, it seems you can find a lot more interesting furnishings (perhaps its people wanting to upgrade before their relatives visit?). You might also try the larger GoodWill stores and nearby charity thrift stores. When you walk through, do so with a critical eye -- think of it as visiting an urban museum -- and don't get in the habit of buying things you don't actually need.] A bit of unsolicited advise -- stuff to consider: When furnishing a small space, remember to buy furnishings that are of a smaller scale. A round table with a pedestal and chairs with legs that are mostly vertical -- as oppesed to splayed -- are less likely to be knee knockers, groin jabbers and/or toe stubbers. Small lightweight items and/or items with wheels are much easier to move about, including for cleaning. Taller storage pieces (tall chest of drawers vs. low dresser w/mirror above) will get you more room for the amount of floor space used. Getting the most use out of what items you do choose to furnish your place is another good idea -- his/her lockable wood two drawer filing cabinets as bed side tables and/or living room end tables can help secure items when y'all have nosy visitors: it has been said that every party has that one guest that opens the medicine cabinet and a few unlocked doors. Tables with shelves below can provide storage but take more dusting. A used hutch w/glass doors (top part of a china cabinet) can be used as a china cabinet and/or double as a tv stand and/or a bookcase and/or a curio cabinet w/less dusting than displaying collectibles on open shelves. Less time cleaning means more time for enjoying other things. Let us know how your project turns out; good luck to the both of you.

I always try to cite the NKBA guidelines, because they are standard for a functional kitchen, and it's better to know all the rules, before we start to bend them. ;) In my own kitchen, on two sides I have narrower aisles than recommended, but it works OK for my layout. My DW opens into a long aisle, not against the island, and the island overlaps the fridge and range by 50% each, so there is step-back space in front of each appliance. Behind the seating I have base cabinets and uppers, providing more space at shoulder height than vertical elements would. My DW is in the prep space between the sink and range, but due to an entry on the other side of the sink, that couldn't be changed. One of the advantages to an island is a second egress--if someone is blocking a path on one side, another person can go around. For instance, if two people are sitting at your island on the long side, anyone entering from the back door can cut through the work aisles, rather than try to squeeze by the second seat. Of course, then you have someone cutting through the work zones, but that might not happen often, if ever.