I think your stackers can be a good thing for you, but I do think you need some sort of "deep storage," and it does NOT have to be there. it might be easier if it were, but oh well. You live in the real world. So you'll need to find some other place to keep papers that are longer term, not needed for reference, but needed to access now and then. So use the file box or tote, and go get it when it's "paperwork processing time." And what goes in there is stuff you don't intend to refer to in the next four months. Stuff you *will* refer to can stay in the stackers. As I mentioned before, I think if you live with it for a while, your eyes open to what's working (which you have), you'll figure out for your own situation what's just permanently floating in the stackers and should get filed away (or tossed) You say you have more kitchen storage, which is great, but maybe spend a half a cabinet on a file box for stuff that's not in action at the moment? Insurance forms (unless you can download), etc.? I think a long-term, ONGOING project like the Girl Scout project *belongs* in the stacker. You need to look at it, put stuff with it, etc., every week or so, maybe even more often, so of course it goes in a high-profile spot. But paid bills don't go there. (some people even TOSS their paid bills) Personally I would--do--stick the report cards in deep, deep storage. "Heirlooms & Mementoes" storage, deep in the closet. I don't refer to them again, but if I needed them for some reason (not sure why--not even applying for a new school would require them), I could dig them out. I agree w/ you about your need to get tougher--I think most of us have a procrastination problem (well, mayb enot Ginger, LOL, but *most* of us). I have only JUST this year gotten good w/ schoolwork papers. I toss 'em pretty rapidly. Fortunately, my son's teacher has a "sign and return" stamp, so I know which ones she wants back; the rest go in the trash. I figure, if I haven't had time to discuss them w/ the kids in the 2 days following when the papers came home, it'll be too late to make much of a difference. I'm lucky, in that there's not usually much to say--"oh, I see you skipped over that one; watch more carefully" is about it--bcs they usually understand their schoolwork. They get sloppy, but I don't need to spend much time on that. I try to review the schoolwork briefly when I'm doing the school forms (the ones that you won't let leave the backpack? wise you! I got that concept last year, an am enjoying it this year), and try to deal w/ them the same way. It would be harder if I needed to review stuff with them--if they were struggling w/ the concepts. I used to try, to reinforce by reviewing, and finally just gave up--I never had time to, and decided that, since the kids were basically doing fine, I didn't need to be their tutor, too. It has saved me no end of time and guilt. I think if DD was having trouble w/ fractions, for example, and I wanted to sit w/ her for 15 or 20 minutes to coach, I'd have a tougher time, but I might still not want to keep the paper. Or, maybe that would be the ONE paper I kept, and the rest got tossed. I have gotten absolutely RUTHLESS about paper. I had a basket that was collecting paperwork I needed to "do something with" or "might do something with." And it just ended up really dragging down the house. Ostensibly it was for bills to pay, but other stuff went there, too, and it was just a huge mess. I went through it in early Dec. when my mom was here, and was amazed at how useless all that stuff was. I throw SO much out now. (I know what you mean about keeping your hands out of each other's paperwork, but are you SURE your DH couldn't give you one of his 4 drawers? Not for frequently used stuff--your stackers should help w/ that--but for deeper filing? You really need some place, and I bet he's got stuff that could go--4 drawers is an awful lot. Think about it, send up a trial balloon. You wouldn't have to OPEN the other drawers, so your hands would still be off his paperwork...)

Wow--what a nice space you have to work in, and you've obviously put a LOT of thought into it. In reading your list of things important to you, you said: Ability to interact with others while prepping/cooking, with space to cook with family/friends My first thought was that the people sitting at the island are going to be waaayyy too far away from you to be able to visit with you while you prep and cook. If your kids are doing homework there, it's gonna be a long walk for you to go around and offer help (and you know they'll be asking!), because you won't be able to see what they're doing from your spot next to the prep sink. I can say this with confidence, because my own island is 8'X 4.5 ft, and when people are sitting there, 4.5 feet away from where I'm standing, it's at the outer edge of being a comfortable visiting distance--sometimes, it's slightly hard to hear them speak. Also, you will not be able to reach to the center of your island, making anything that's in the middle too far away to use easily and also making it hard to wipe off. If you put something decorative there, it may well block the view between the seating and you--which again, makes it hard to socialize. If it's your heart's desire to have a huge island, go for it, but just keep some of these things in mind as possible drawbacks. The second thing that jumps out at me is that the oven door appears to open across the doorway to the covered porch. I'd consider putting the oven to the left of the cooktop/induction burner and moving your pantry cupboards to that wall instead. I'm sure that others will chime in with ideas on this, there are some really great design minds on this forum! I agree with your idea of moving one of the dishwashers, presumably the one to the right of the sink? It's awfully far away from the dining room and the prep area, two places where dishes are most likely to be soiled. Putting it closer to the butler's pantry might make it easier to dispatch dishes coming in from the dining room, and if you're going to store your china or "good dishes" in the butler's pantry, it will make it easier to put them away as well. One thing I did with my recent remodel was look at my layout (amply tweaked by the folks on this forum) and "mentally" cook a meal, getting everything I'd need, prepping it, serving it, cleaning up, loading/unloading the dishwasher and putting things away. This gives you a "mental video" of how the kitchen will flow, and will also help you place the things you use when you prepare a meal. Others are sure to chime in with more suggestions for you--as I said, there are some really talented people on this board. Best of luck, it's going to be a "wow!" kitchen for sure. Don't forget to post pictures when you're done! Cj

A few more pics as things get finalized... The countertop arrives! My husband Russell cutting the sink opening. Notice how he has the blood pressure, heartburn, and arthritis medicine handy. LOL Here is a shot of the seamless corner and beveled edge. Close-up of Butterum Granite (Formica) Another one The breakfast room side of the kitchen getting into shape. It is separated by a half wall on the left where the refrigerator is in the kitchen. It also shares one long common wall (with arch openings) with the kitchen and our den which I am also painting in "Praline". Here I got a new curtain with button accents $24 on clearance at JC Penney, oil rubbed bronze curtain pole $18, and Russell spray painted our old light fixture to match. Another shot Thanks everybody for your comments!

This is the plan I was thinking of. I did have it with a lazy susan in each corner whick would bring the fridge and the stove closer to the sink wall, a bit, but then I saw a picture of a kitchen that was open on the sides like this to the window and I liked it. I don't know if it's very practical though. I could switch the fridge and the cabinets around, I suppose or maybe put the range and the fridge on the same wall, or maybe just forget all about it. I tend to have what I think of as initially brilliant ideas and then slowly realize that they aren't.