Blum slides have very specific requirements for drawer box sizes. Go to your local supplier and grab the Blum Concealed Runner Guide and read up on the specs. (You might find it on Blum.com) Check out Rockler.com for other brands that may work if the Blums wont...

I've seen this online before (can't find the links now though) and it looked like it wouldn't be that hard to change lower cabinets into a bank of drawers. Has anyone done this themselves? Was it hard? We've got a stile in the middle of the cabinet. How can we know if it's needed to support the countertop (formica now but will soon be quartz)? I remember seeing a youtube video showing how you can add support to the cabinet after removing the stile by adding a vertical brace. Would that really work? ETA, has anyone used the Rev a Shelf door mount kit to create a base cabinet drawer?

Better to get quotes for both but I don't think you'd be saving all that much if you plan to resurface/paint and change to drawers. Depending on your cabinets, full overlay vs frameless, that might not be be possible for many of the cabinets. Changing to drawers means you also need new door fronts for them. Afterwards you might want to change the hardware, backsplash, add under cabinet lightning, etc. All can add up to $$$ that might be better spent on a forever home or remodeling from scratch.

Thanks all. I do see the slight efficiency improvement that the peninsula design would offer, but it would be much less interesting visually and I don't see a big enough efficiency hit to scrap the island alltogether. Perhaps folks can recommend, in the island design, where is the best placement of the 2nd sink? Where is the best place for the garbage and recycling? (We use a countertop compost bin). How about microwave? My current thinking is to put the 2nd sink on the island; then the countertop at the left window can be used for toaster oven, espresso machine and temporary use countertop appliances like a blender. I'm thinking the garbage/recycling can be a pullout at the left end of the island so it can be easily accessed by both the L area and the island area. And lastly I think the microwave could go under the left counter My latest iteration also includes a full height pantry/storage area opposite of the door to the powder room. Throwing in a 3d render for fun.