jlc, I also have concerns about the appliances. It's a bit suspect since they insist we replace all the light fixtures for safety because they were in contact with water, but said nothing about the appliances. They also seem to think that the vacuum is fine having sat under a stream of water not once, but twice. I think that the appliances come under the contents insurance and we can challenge that later in the process (but I get all excited thinking I might actually get a gas range so I don't let myself think about that). I don't think the fridge will fit in that nook. I'm pretty sure we tried that route during the last reno, but it wouldn't hurt to measure anyways. dietician and annkh, I love that little micro! If we don't use it in this house, I'm going to keep it in mind for my in-laws lake house. Their micro is about 30 years old and I keep thinking I'll replace it, it seems a shame until it actually dies. Thanks funky camper. There really isn't anything to do but carry on. And if you heard me complain about this north-facing dark condo that has absolutely no outside space like my hubby does everyday, you might not think I'm handling it so well :) I know I need to draw a diagram, but I am so lousy at that. I actually have a woman who is going to be drawing up layout plans for all the rooms. I'll try to post those when they are done. Glad to hear I'm not the only one that likes the wood cab. It's also a good place for my KA mixer. I just have to remember to have the cab above it mounted about an inch higher so I can actually lift the mixer head all the way up - a wee mis-calculation on my part the first time around. See - a disaster is just an opportunity to correct past mistakes :)

Sit down dinners for eight? Well, you will certainly be hanging your capacious cookware from that potrack! The dimensions of the room don't allow for a dining table the size needed for eight people to be up all the time, but there are a few ways around that. One is a console table that when folded has a small silhouette and functions as a sofa table that you put behind the sofa table to hold a lamp, your remotes, a drink, etc. When you need it, it expands, and expands, and expands! With that you can use collapsible folding chairs and there are some very nice ones, including wood ones that you can store under your bed, along with the very long tablecloths. In fact, there is an article about just that sort of table on Houzz. Then you may or may decide to not get a small table for two or as you initially thought, just get two bar stools. [https://www.houzz.com/magazine/5-instant-dining-tables-stsetivw-vs~928815[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/5-instant-dining-tables-stsetivw-vs~928815) Another option is to get a small table that you leave in your room and then a much larger piece of wood or plywood to put on top for parties, (with maybe saw horsesif the table topper is much larger) padding the table and the wood and using a tablecloth, and storing the piece of plywood and saw horses under your bed or in a storage unit in your building. To seat 8 people, tables of these configurations should be of these dimensions: Round: 60 - 66 " diameter Rectangle: 8 feet long

unfortunately, we do not have a room that is near the dining area that could be used. We pretty much use this "breakfast nook" as our sole dining space. We have considered a banquette, but our concern was that it would take up more space than what is available. However, the dining set that I shared, in the description, the dimensions state that it is 48" x 36", which makes it narrower and rectangle, which is why we chose it for that space. I think, in that picture, it just looks square, but it is actually rectangle! It has a leaf built into it; here is a picture of it with the leaf added to it, bringing the length to 66" we were planning on putting the table against the wall like the current one is set up and putting the chairs on either end and along the side to leave adequate space when it is just the three of us (we are a small family) As for the china hutch, thank you klfische, I agree, that something shorter with artwork would be better suited to the space, which is why I wanted to invest in a buffet or server instead. I was actually considering the purchase of a base cabinet and adding decorative trim and knobs to match it to the new dining table, but my husband said we should reconfigure the current cabinet to be more suitable. I actually have a plan for the artwork to go over the top... Two framed New Orleans Jazz Fest Posters that create a pair that were created by artist Terrance Osborne. I actually created this plan to kinda see how the table would fit in relation to the space available. I actually used the measurements of the cabinets in my kitchen, etc. to figure out the wall openings, etc to get a more accurate idea of the space available! (the plan software only had a 6 chair table example available, we would actually move the table closer to the wall for the majority of the time. :) So no rug under the table or anything? I was wondering if a rug may brighten up the space, but maybe we will just do the table and repurpose the hutch and see where it goes? I will be back with pictures when all is done! ANy other suggestions are appreciated!!! :)

Congrats. What furnishings will you be bringing with you? This really cute condo is small enough that a room rug is unnecessary -- a room sized rug would even visually shrink and warm/heat the space. That doesn't mean you couldn't put a 3'x5' rug beneath a chair and ottoman. I grew up in a kitchen with walls and (metal) cabinets painted pale yellow, with only slightly darker yellow window trim and recently have been seriously considering repainting my own kitchen two shades of the same color ... perhaps blue; perhaps yellow. Perhaps you could use two shades of your own favorite color for your kitchen. Are you planning to leave the wallpaper trim tape atop the wall? If so, you might take that color into consideration as you choose your paint colors. Is that the back of a microwave I see at the peninsula? If you're not going to use that bar as a bar (wouldn't), consider removing it and perhaps adding a rectangle box shelf (with a back to it) the top of that pony wall so you'll have a shelf for your microwave and/or toaster oven without them sitting on your countertop. You'd probably have room to set S&P and sugar bowl and napkin holder on the countertop beneath the overhang of a box shelf and still be able to use the countertop space in front of that for meal prep. Instead of just a sideboard w/art beside the kitchen, consider a full 6' high china cabinet -- saving your kitchen cabinet space for other items. Having solid doors below give you storage for things you don't want to display; having glass doors above enables you to display some of your dishes. The open shelves in the middle enable you to place items there you need to access regularly such as decorative canisters. If your china cabinet and dining table/chairs are wood with a medium finish, that will visually warm your space. For end tables and bed side tables, consider 2drawer filing cabinets made of the same wood as your dining set. Not only will your "tables" do double duty as storage for documents you need to keep, the drawers are deep enough for purses and/or camera equipment and/or other hobby items. Some have a third shallow drawer above the two file drawers and some even have locks. https://www.google.com/search?q=two+drawer+wood+file+cabinets&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbupSi_7PaAhWLVN8KHfHRBxQQ_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=650