Thanks for that list Elizpiz, that's what I was looking for!! I think this will help. I'm amazed at the planning that Buehl did to reload her kitchen! Redroze- I do remember how long it took for you to get those last minute details, you were so patient. Can't wait for your finished kitchen post! charlikin- I'm not sure if I posted on your Finished kitchen, but it looks amazing!! I had considered your countertop much earlier in my process, and I think it turned out beautiful. I just moved from NYC to NJ a couple years ago, so I can relate to the galley kitchen. I do remember how efficient it was, and I actually had some great storage space. Where are you in the city? I was an UES gal....DH is a chef at the W hotel Times Square. You made me laugh about your carpenter looking at you like your crazy. Happens to me all the time when I bring something I learned on GW up to the electrician, plumber, granite guy etc. Feeling much better this morning, I'll print out that list and start getting organized. When I am feeling let down about a decision I made, I have to kick myself and remember how lucky I am to have a brand new kitchen. Wait till you see my before shot of it!

I remember your prior posts about this kitchen and the challenges you have in this space. I like how you've made the butler's pantry into a scullery. The only thing that concerns me is the distance your fridge is from your prep/cook space and your blind corners. Do check out Super Susans to see if they'll fit in your space. I don't think you'll regret it. I wish I had an easier solution for the fridge. I think it would be convenient and functional to have it on the L opposite the range but I also think it would not be aesthetically pleasing there. I sure don't feel qualified to tell you where to store things. The links Buehl gave you on that should be helpful. My only tip is to try for mise-en-place storage as much as possible. That means you store things at/near where you use them. For example, the items you regularly use at the stove should be right by it. Items you sometimes use at the stove but not regularly can be one storage unit over. Same idea for clean-up and prep sink areas. Items used occasionally can be stored farther away. Rarely used items can be stored even farther away even in a basement or garage if necessary. Group your items in those various categories and measure how much storage they need and then measure the spaces you have planned for them to see if you need to make adjustments in the sizes of the storage areas.

Have had ours since 2008 and I've never regretted it nor have I had any problems with it! In fact, I'm starting on designing/planning our retirement home to build in the future and I plan to include a MW drawer. With the exception of my (very) old Montgomery Wards Convection MW oven, it's lasted the longest. When we remodeled, the MW drawer cost the same as a built-in MW with trim kit. I've had no problems cleaning it. If food is stuck on it, simply boil a cup of water + vinegar for several minutes in the drawer and then wipe clean - the food should be loosened up and wipe off with a swipe. Yes, you do have to lean over and peer into it to see if it's clean, but... I'd much rather have to do that once every week or two compared to having to lean over/squat to use the MW several times a day! A regular MW in an alcove under the counter is not easy to use - you have to bend over or squat to use the controls and to add/remove dishes/food - usually reaching blindly into the MW and trying balance the hot dish as you're struggling to remove it from the MW, balance it to keep it from spilling, and standing back up - all at the same time! Regular/counter top MWs are not designed to be used under the counter - they're designed to be used at counter height or higher. Note that MW drawers have a "child lock", so if you're worried about your children getting into it, lock it when not in use! Oh and having a child lean on the door of a "regular" MW means potentially bring the MW down on top of the child - so be careful. No amount of child locking can prevent that! [I had a friend over a couple of weekends ago who kept trying to push the drawer all the way in and pull it all the way out - without letting the drawer do it's thing (automatically opening w/a gentle pull / automatically closing with a gentle nudge). Not sure why he didn't understand when I explained it to him, but his forcing the drawer open/closed did not damage the drawer in any way.] Sharp makes all MW drawers, so I would stick with a Sharp-branded drawer rather than pay $$$$ for a re-branded MW drawer with a higher-end name - it's the same MW! Here's a thread from 2008 about them. BTW...the concern that someone had 8 years ago about them being short-lived has not panned out. They're becoming more and more popular! http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2688345/microwave-drawer-pros-and-cons?n=42 .

If your only table space will be a banquette, keep in mind that while children love them, they get old fast for adults if you have to slide in/out and/or have to ask someone to move to get to the back. I think small banquettes are fine for very informal eating/visiting, but I would want a real table/chairs for sit down dinners, etc. As your children grow up, dinner time becomes more and more important (look up the studies). If you and your husband would be OK with sitting at the bench full-time, then it might work. Caution: Older people usually have a more difficult time dealing with slide-in (and island) seating, so if you have elderly parents/grandparents or you plan to age in place, then include that in your thinking/planning. . The next question is: Will all that you're planning really fit without creating a bottleneck or cramped space?