Gosh, thanks!! I was so focused on the 36" versus 2 18" cabinets I wasn't focusing on the function of the dishwasher. After reading all the opinions, I'm going to leave the DW on the fridge side. The real clincher was the visual of me taking a hot casserole out of the oven, turning around and falling over the open door like a scene in a sitcom. The fridge is a french door. I gave a lot of thought to how I clean up. Before I start cleaning up I pack up the leftovers and stick them all next to the fridge till I'm done cleaning and they've cooled down some. Then I open the fridge and stick them all in at once. So I don't think there'll be much of a conflict between fridge and DW. The trash is going under the sink on the opposite side of the DW, so putting the DW closer to the fridge puts the trash closer to the stove and I like that. It'll be on a pullout with a magnet and pulley system so I can bump it with my knee and it pops out. I never think of opening the door BEFORE I put both hands inside a chicken. The pantry is ginormous because it's a half hour to the nearest store, also we grow and can all our meat and most of our vegetables. I need to store a lot of weird, large things like canners, a grain mill and a cheese press, and all the accompanying accessories. I want to have them close but not sitting on the countertops. I like the swinging door idea, or a pocket door maybe. Thanks for the tips on clearances around the range and fridge. I'm planning on 3 inches on each side of the range plus a couple added to that end cab. Also, making sure the pantry wall and counter leave the fridge doors able to completely swing open. Instead of paying for a counter depth fridge we're just bumping out a niche behind it by a few inches. I'd like to extend the island to the left and out, but I'm concerned about not having enough room for traffic around it. We've got the exterior walls up now and as I stand in the dining room space it seems incredibly tiny. I'm afraid I've made the whole thing too small and if I extend the kitchen any further it's going to be awkward in regards to the traffic pattern around it. What do you think? From kitchen for KF The dashed "walls" are invisible, they're just there to be able to measure the rooms. I hope when the interior walls and floor are in I'll be able to judge it better because - eek, it seems so SMALL. Framers are coming tomorrow. I agree about extending the counter outward by a few inches. I would worry more about knocking stuff off a pony wall than pushing it off a single level counter. I think. I sure hope I have enough room to do that. Right now it feels like I can stand in the dining room and reach out and touch both sides. Plates and silver will be next to stove so I can plate at the stove or helpers can set the table without coming fully into the kitchen. Glasses will go next to fridge which is again planned so they can help themselves without getting underfoot. I can't thank you enough for all the help. I couldn't do this without you. THANKS!!!

Congrats! Doesn't it feel good and comfortable when thoughts and imagined images finally fall into place? That range corner looks primed for some real drama. We await the ideas for it. It's not too late to insert either side of the range in your plan... a carved wooden oversized salad spoon and fork set, ...or a macrame plant hanger, ...or a gingham check teddy bear and white goose wallpaper border. But then, I suppose you will be impertinent enough to come up with your own idea.

Ok now I think I get it too- you are just showing as a point of reference how the rooms play off of each other, and are thinking that in addition to doing the kitchen, you would also do the fireplace wall and the wall perpendicular to it(facing the kitchen).... I think that sounds good, but being the cautious type, I think maybe have that in mind but first just do the kitchen - I do think that will look great. And, chances are doing it in the family room will be nice as well, but you might just decide that it could be too much... so I would wait and do one step at a time. Of course , that is my bias because I frequently don't see the obvious and need time to "digest". To repeat though, I do think the larger tiles in the latest rendition will be wonderful in your kitchen. (I believe we have a winner!) :)

FYI, Ikea's corner Susans require 38" of wall, not 36". Do you already own the fridge? If not, have you considered purchasing a smaller fridge? That would help if you don't have 2" to spare on the fridge wall for Ikea's corner cab. It's unlikely that your guests would need a full size fridge anyway. 33" between island and range run seems a bit on the tight side. What if you were to do an island with a narrower side facing the fridge and a slightly wider side for the seating overhang, like this: I added a 6" cab for wine bottles that would be something like this, but only 1 bottle wide. You could probably make it wide enough to do 2 rows by making the island slider larger than 48".