As to the pullout pantry...are you talking about pullout shelves behind doors? Or, shelves attached to the door that pullout when the door is pulled open? Or, one of those pantries that pull out & pivot? Examples (made by others as well!) Pullout (shelves attached to door): http://www.rev-a-shelf.com//Common/ProductFamily.aspx?Class=Tall/Pantry%20Acc.&Family=White%20Accessories Pull/Pivot: http://www.rev-a-shelf.com//Common/ProductCategory.aspx?Class=Tall/Pantry%20Acc.&Family=Wood%20Accessories&Category=Pantries http://www.rev-a-shelf.com//Common/ProductCategory.aspx?Class=Tall/Pantry%20Acc.&Family=Chrome%20Accessories&Category=Chefs%20Roll%20Out%20Pantry

My Conestoga RTA cabinets have plywood interiors that were pre-finished in a very tough, smooth conversion varnish. It's better AFAIK than brush-applied finishes. The plywood is available thus prefinished on the good side. If your builder wanted to, he could probably source it out. Almost anything is better than melamine board. He could also use MDO plywood, prepared one side with a primer-coated resin-impregnated paper. very good substrate for painting upon. Casey

I was happy with the end result of the Barker cabinets. I thought they looked good and the finish seems to be very good--no damage in the year or so we had them. I actually saw them again when we visited (sold the house to a friend) and they still looked new at the two year mark. We had one place where edge banding, trim and cabinet met and the colors were not quite right. My GC made it work with some extra cover panel or something. The drawers opened and closed beautifully. My GC grumbled a bit about the door sizing and it being difficult to adjust them perfectly, but again he made it work. (He was a carpenter before he became a GC and made my bathroom vanities for me, but wouldn't do a full kitchen because of arthritis). The countertop is honed marble. I wanted a light color and Dh and I both really liked the looks of marble. I tried to find a more sensible substitute but we were never really happy with any of the other options and everything else was actually more expensive than Carrara marble--which was dirt cheap for us, almost as cheap as IKEA butcher block. We decided that we would be okay with scratches and etches. (Also Carrara can be rehoned in place, which reassured us that if we needed to make it look new for resale purposes we could) I loved that sink. It's the kohler stages 45. I wanted a second sink, mostly for the rest of the family to wash hands and get water to drink, but could not fit one in. The stages with two faucets filled that need nicely and functioned beautifully for food prep, etc. I think for induction you want a dedicated circuit and 40 amps? The appliance forum here would have the answer or someone else may chime in. I just know that out of all the great things in my kitchen, my induction range is the one I miss the most. And yes cast iron works. Anything that a magnet sticks to will generally work with induction. edited to add:. Thanks for your kind words. My kitchen was awesome due to the generous and knowlegdgable people here.

And then I cleaned and got side tracked watching Will & Grace. There’s very little stored downstairs that we use..the debate will be: will we use those things if they’re more easily accessible in the pantry or do we get rid of them. The pantry is where it says garage space. The only cabinets in the actual kitchen would be the 37” space side of the sink, above on both sides of the sink, and then two 18” uppers and lowers on either side of the stove-which isn’t in there but is on the wall to the right. The bottom picture is the area in question. No uppers there or smaller like 24 x 30 rather than the 34 x 45. No cupboard over the sink.