Hi All - Finally got the kids back to school yesterday, and had a moment to rework plans based on input - thank you! I was very tired Saturday night and probably shouldn't have gone online because I wasn't in the right frame of mind to accept the critiques!! My apologies, you are all so generous with your time and talent that I wanted to get that off my chest before anything else :) When I get to my office today I will try to scan my drawing and upload, but let me get the jist of what I have worked on out based on the original plan and your input. 1) reworked the powder room/pantry area to include w/d in the powder room (basically where pantry is) - the reason for the w/d on this level is because there is actually a basement level below this with two bedrooms/baths, and it is that laundry I don't want to carry up two floors to the other w/d. 2) moving the w/d gives me that whole space for a larger pantry - I will remove window there. 3) moved range down towards the window on the right as recommended, and increased space between range and sink. Also will have three windows on that side of range (I think, might make adjustments for shear wall) 4) ok, big decision made. I was silly to be insisting on eat-in area with dining room right there!!! I walked through the house and saw for myself that was short-sighted. So I am no longer stuck on that. 5) also walked through house and decided that my curved staircase was not only a big expense to build that I don't need, but interferes a bit with the kitchen - sooo 6) squared off stair wall and am thinking of something like upper/lower cabinets closest to dining room, then r/f (30"/24" respectively), then microwave in upper cabinet (more eye level) with lower below, then a prep sink??? , then a small counter which makes the turn where I can put two stools (can't quite let go of the eat-in!), and running the counter into the family room with perhaps a bev center or desk or something built on that wall. Any thoughts on that would be great, and I will try to upload my drawing (of course I did it on trace paper over plan, so it might be tough!!) But I will not give up - Thanks again!!

Thank you so much to those who replied with concrete, helpful advice about the kitchen itself, which is why I posted here. As I sad in my first post, I already posted the entire floor plan on the Building a Home forum, which resulted in some helpful critique, but overall, agreement that our architect managed to fit an amazing amount of function into 3,000 sqft -- five bedrooms, 4 baths -- into a home that is being built in a suburb of San Francisco, where houses fitting that description just don't exist. The space that is 10' x 15' in this kitchen is only the countertop and island zone... it does not include the nook, which I think some posters did not recognize. I know it's not the largest kitchen space, but it's twice the size of my very functional kitchen now, so I certainly don't think we'll be space-deprived. I love the specific suggestions on the island size -- thank you Sena, SJHockeyfan. and Gooster. Also, Sena, I think I agree about the DW being moved to the other side of the sink. I have definitely been convinced to not do island seating, and the "desk" zone had already been nixed... forgot to mention that in the first post. Live Wire Oak, the only two rooms in the house that will be a little darker will be the family room and the dining room, due to the covered porches. I would like the kitchen to get as much light as possible, which is one reason I'm considering the wall of windows on the sink wall. The view will be to redwood trees and a neighboring fence. Sena, thank you for the thoughts on the piano! We will be purchasing a new farmhouse style table for this room so will be hyper-aware of dimensions and making sure everything can fit in the space.

I think the attempt at a colonial look just does not mesh with the organic modern look it also had. I know it was done often as well as with the Spanish look (stucco, beams, etc...), but I just don't care for it. I think you could bring it forward into a more 70s natural look. Keep the ceiling and the slate floor, and try to work in clean elements and curves. Using raised panel doors and those hinges just did not look great when new, so to recreate would be period appropriate, but a mistake. I think a retro modern kitchen and vibe would make the most sense. Like noted above, you can use regular cabs under a curved counter. I could see it looking groovy with vertical grain veneer cabs, some retro color accessories and modern art. You can do an older style in a fresh way. There is no need to be a slave to someone else's vision for it, whether the original owner/architect, or some future buyer. If you added curves to your pix from 15:42 today, that would be quite nice. I am not sure you should whitewash your wood, but it is not a bad option. I would hate to see it get painted though. The workmanship and lines of it are really nice and that would sully it. I don't see too many painted surfaces as working in your house. I can picture grass cloth wallpaper and maybe some white walls. Certainly, you should skip crown molding.... Some funky table lamps in chrome would fit in as would some plants and macrame. I'd try to go for an ahead of its time look from years ago....

Oh, you guys are so awesome! Well, I made the trip after work tonight, and I bought all three chairs - the two off-white and the one robin's egg blue. All were thankfully still there. The store manager even went and checked today's shipment in the back, but there was not another blue one. They don't know what each shipment will bring. I put the chairs in the office, and I like the blue one best, as it just looks so much more special to me. But I do like the cream ones more than I expected. They are cute too. What I have done is place the two cream ones opposite my main desk, which clients/visitors can use, but I put the blue one near the window in the room, as a stand-alone accent. I kind of like that. I would keep all of the chairs then. What do you think about that? If I were able to find a second blue one, maybe I would return both cream ones, but as it is, I don't think I can part with the blue one, lol! I have one more question - I have a pair of matching pictures, which I wanted to place on the wall behind the pair of (now cream colored) chairs. The chairs are NOT centered on the wall, so that they can properly align with the opposite side of my desk. But, will it look funny having the two matching pictures on that wall, above two matching chairs? Any suggestions? Or should I stick with one large picture of some sort and place these other two pictures elsewhere in the room? lascatx - I will try the other stores - Marshall's and TJ Maxx too. I'm glad now that I bought it while I still keep my eyes peeled for another blue one. lisad82 - I asked about their shipments, and they said they get them every day. So, I think I will check back there frequently, unless I find a better way of knowing when one might come in. ellendi6161 - If I do find something better, I can return these within the 30 days for a refund or after that for in-store credit. So, I feel like I have the best of both worlds while I look around. justgotabme - I love your suggestion so much, I took it to heart, and I did just that! I have all three - brilliant! Thank you! I came home and told my hubby this was the way to go! It was his idea to keep all three as well, so you are on the same page. brdrl - Thank you! I'm glad I got all three, and I will still be scoping around for the next month. mimi - I tried to let this one go, I really did, but I just couldn't. I'm weak. badgergal - You are SO thoughtful to check the Milwaukee area. I think I called the West Allis store a few days ago, and they didn't have it, but who knows, they may get new shipments all the time too. If you do happen to notice one, please let me know. I wouldn't mind taking a drive to get it. Thanks again! maddie - Oh my gosh, a trip to Tampa would be fantastic! Too bad I have no excuse to visit now! lukkiirish - I will try that number, what a great idea! I have nothing to lose. sheila - Thank you for encouraging me to just buy it and make use of the return policy if needed. I am so glad now that I did. debo - What a creative idea! I hadn't thought of that. That's an option, and I will look for some inspiration on that. Just a huge thank you to everyone for your help. Any thoughts on my questions above or other ideas - are all still welcome!