The latest example, I just came across it this week. Broken up in the middle, but interesting: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/laurelhurst-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-seattle-phvw-vp~242080) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Seattle Architect Goforth Gill Architects I like how this bumps up in the middle. Sort of an interesting twist to it: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-modern-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~27996) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Rossington Architecture Up off the counter backsplash, and very modern: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-laquer-and-dark-oak-kitchen-modern-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~40006) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Los Angeles General Contractor See Construction Another one that is raised up with a counter backsplash: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/feldman-architecture-modern-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~18937) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Feldman Architecture, Inc. Right to the counters, but tall, full windows: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mill-valley-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~20571) [Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by San Francisco Interior Designer Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc Full height windows, but not down to the counter: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-modern-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~20757) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Los Angeles Architect Koning Eizenberg Architecture Back on subject... lol [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~1358126) [Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mill-valley-house-modern-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~787945) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect yamamar design Smaller versions tucked into tile BS, which means you get to choose a tile [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/chestnut-hill-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~116124) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by Philadelphia General Contractor Kenny Grono This is pretty cool...living in a glass cage box ;) [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/east-hampton-house-contemporary-exterior-new-york-phvw-vp~67768) [Contemporary Exterior design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2103) by New York Architect Eisner Design LLC It's rare to find these in traditional kitchens, but here's one: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-kitchen-rustic-kitchen-huntington-phvw-vp~767819) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Huntington Kitchen And Bath Merri Interiors, Inc. Totally reverse of how you usually see it. This time, there is blank wall above the window. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/pied-a-terre-modern-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~1454212) [Modern Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect Three Legged Pig Design Here's another one like that. Hmm... [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~106047) [Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by New York Interior Designer AMI Designs [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rossington-architecture-transitional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~29288) [Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by San Francisco Architect Rossington Architecture A small one, framed in tile, next to a regular-sized window: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/jimmy-crisp-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~393865) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by New York Architect Crisp Architects This one they boxed out, which is kinda cool. It would give great space behind the sink or whatnot. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/monroe-remodel-contemporary-exterior-austin-phvw-vp~336907) [Contemporary Exterior design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2103) by Austin Architect Stuart Sampley Architect Some awning windows (looks off to me, how they did it: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-coastal-kitchen-design-traditional-kitchen-dc-metro-phvw-vp~1062951) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Dc Metro Kitchen And Bath Reico Kitchen & Bath This one is kinda neat: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/queen-anne-remodel-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-seattle-phvw-vp~243211) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Seattle Architect Goforth Gill Architects

I'm just at $20K. All my cabinet refacing work (new doors, painting-rehabbing insides and frames of cabinet boxes, custom side panels, custom island and hood, pull outs for existing boxes and 3 new cabinet boxes) was $7400. I don't know if I could have purchased IKEA cabinets and had them installed for a similar price, but I actually like the less-shiny new look of the painted white cabinets versus the shiny new Adel cabinets that I was considering. We had an 18 mo old white Bosch DW which we kept and bought a Frigidaire wall oven, micro and warming drawer. Nothing high-end. Our appliance splurge was the Samsung CD FD fridge. Purchasing from a local appliance mom & pop type dealer resulted in lower prices than big box stores. I saved money by not replacing the decrepit old window over the sink, buying Lowe's basic white subway tile instead of the handmade Cobsa tile I loved. My tile backsplash, labor and materials, was under $500. We saved 10% by using a warehouse source for hardwood floors thru my floor installer. I also chose extremely inexpensive HD knobs (instead of the $10 glass knobs I really wanted) and splurged on the more expensive RH pulls just for the drawers. Lastly, I used Costco's painting company, Certa Pro, for the walls, ceiling and trim - they were itching for business and gave me a great deal with fantastic service. Before: After:

Weissman - this post has dragged on for a while, but I have heard enough dissenting opinions here that I have concluded, as Palimpsest said, the quote is "pricey, but not gouging". I gave the go ahead. Hi Lascatx --- no worry --- tone is to hard to read here. I didn't think you were saying that, I was just letting you know that I understand you get more bees with honey etc etc etc..... Marcolo, Funny, both you and Rococo mention rising costs and I have not heard that at all from anyone. I do think you are being just a tad harsh, now --- much of the labor is indeed quite skilled, not chicken pluckers. And in this area, we really don't have hungry contractors. I am told the lesser ones folded, and the 'good" ones are doing work for all the people who would move but dont want to sell into this market. BLfenton - as i mentioned in my post, part of it is the "change order" terminology. Inspectors telling me I need a steel beam is a change order ... conceding to paint the whole house instead of just the new construction elements is a change order .... replumbing to accommodate a taller washer and dryer than what was there is a change order... electricians' time to rewire european fixtures is a change order ...KWIM? We are not indecisive dilettantes dreaming up new ideas as we go. And this is part of the research now ... questioning this item. By the way, this item does not put me over my allowance for counters, so in that sense I did "know the costs before starting". But just because something comes in within allowance, doesnt mean I dont want to understand it. Thanks Pharaoh, But, if i get it right, wouldnt that mean every slab of the same size would have the same fab cost? Whether I cut it into 10 peices or 2? That seems counterintuitive.

I decided to revisit placing a 30" range in a 10' island and came up with this: This eliminates the concern I had with your range in island plan. The fridge is no longer deep in the kitchen at the end of the aisle between sink and range. It's now at the right end of the kitchen so family won't need to cross through the cooking zone to grab drinks, or items for the nook or DR table. This plan gives you a dedicated cook zone with fridge, range and prep sink with oodles of storage and counter. The pantry is also near at hand. I placed the trash pull-out at the far left end so that it's also (somewhat) close to the clean-up sink. I eyeballed placement so I don't know if the hood is centered on window or nook but since I eliminated uppers on the window wall, if it's not quite centered, I don't think it will be obvious. Keep in mind, unless you stand or sit in the sweet spot, you won't notice if it's not centered. Here are images of ranges in large islands. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/wainscott-residence-beach-style-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~985996) [Beach Style Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/beach-style-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2110) by Philadelphia Architects & Building Designers Sandvold Blanda Architecture + Interiors LLC [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/landon-contemporary-kitchen-austin-phvw-vp~3656675) [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Austin General Contractors Davenport Building Solutions This one has a copper hood - yummy! [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/elegant-traditional-kitchen-beaded-inset-traditional-kitchen-charleston-phvw-vp~819500) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Charleston Cabinets & Cabinetry Carolina Kitchens of Charleston, Inc. I purposely placed seating at the far right end of the island, out of the splatter zone. You will see images in mags and on houzz with seating directly behind a range or cook top; I wouldn't do that. Given your very large island, you really don't need to either. I added shallow storage behind the range. You could keep this stretch of counter at the same level as the rest of the island or you could raise it 6", something like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/crisp-architects-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~193135) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Millbrook Architects & Building Designers Crisp Architects [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/crisp-architects-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~193137) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Millbrook Architects & Building Designers Crisp Architects [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/green-lake-classic-craftsman-craftsman-kitchen-seattle-phvw-vp~334221) [Craftsman Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/craftsman-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2116) by Seattle Design-Build Firms RW Anderson Homes This plan gives you a dedicated clean-up zone on the west wall. I centered the sink on the island but the other choice is to center it between pantry cab and garage entry. Here are images of sinks against walls, not under windows. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchens-by-julie-williams-design-traditional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~114198) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Novato Kitchen & Bath Designers Julie Williams Design [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchens-traditional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~1994291) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Los Gatos Kitchen & Bath Designers Kitchens of Los Gatos [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~1865013) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Woodbridge Architects & Building Designers Huestis Tucker Architects, LLC There are GWers who are dead-set against ranges or cook top in islands. I don't share that viewpoint provided you are ready for the added cost of island venting and provided the island is wide enough and deep enough to provide ample space around a cook top or range. I have a 30" cook top in a 5' island; 16" on either side to work. HATE it and can't wait to remodel and move my cook top to the perimeter. If I had an island as large as yours and upgraded from a pop-up downdraft to an island hood, I would happily keep my cook top in the island. But my kitchen isn't nearly as large as yours is. In your OP, you asked about where to put a MW. I would do a MW drawer either next to the fridge or in the island across from the fridge.