With respect to the low cost estimate, $ 27,975.00 was the original estimate from our first bidder, the lower end kitchen design shop. When we sent in a list of questions, we received the following (appended to bottom) . Note that this does include 6 more rollouts, but moves the peninsula back to MDF rather than plywood upgrade and does include probably $2k in permit fees. I am a bit stunned because this is about an $8000 increase in the price of the bid. (For non-CA residents, Title 24 is the requirement to increase energy efficiency in new construction. This means ripping out the ceiling and removing any incandescent bulbs and replacing them with new flourescent fixtures that cannot accept standard bulbs. Welcome to California!) Note that the new estimate only includes Merillat "Classic" cabinets with veneer inserts in the doors. I have now received TWO preliminary bids including custom cabinetry at less than this price. I have to admit, I am actually stunned because I never thought I would be able to afford custom cabinets. For what it's worth, some other comments to respond to the posters (Thank you!) The remaining walls can't come out. The one next to the Fridge can't come out. The reason is that it actually is not well drawn by the kitchen designer and is actually in the hall. It would involve doing a lot of work in the slab to remove. Also, we can't take out the remaining wall next to the peninsula. It contains a lot of HVAC and it would be too expensive to move. If we take out the wall stub next to the dining room, it increases the span of the ceiling beam. Since the span is bigger, it would require an engineering permit and inspection as well, which is quite expensive and would require an engineer's certification of the removal of the load bearing wall. That would increase the cost for the remodel by several thousand dollars. Sears Outlet: We have been looking at the Sears Outlet. Our learnings are as follows: 1. It is a great place to get refrigerators. Fridges are 50% off retail. Many have handle issues- broken handles, etc. You can purchase new handles for any fridge Sears sells from Sears for under $200. 2. Sears outlet does have stuff online. However, it bears no relation to what is actually in the stores. Since it tends to be scratch and dent, you have to actually go to the stores to look at the stuff. Some appliance have dents in the inside of the Oven. That's OK. Some have the oven door falling off. That's not OK. The website will give a bit of information, but not enough to really make a decision. For counters- I have been quoted installed granite prices from 5.7k to 8.7k for this kitchen. I still think it is high and that I should get a better price. Our other option is Ikea. For $1400, we can get a 23cft Ikea counter depth fridge. For another $800, we can get an OK slide in range in stainless steel. Sears Outlet doesn't have many slide in ranges, although we did see a top of the line GE induction slide in for more than we want to pay, even discounted. One other question: I wanted to put the microwave in the peninsula. I have been warned against this as it is supposedly not child safe. Is this really not child safe? A MW doesn't get hot like an oven. Append Quote from bid: I have gone over your project with XXXXX, our company owner and the Sunnyvale Building Department. We have determined that rather than speculate on what may or may not be required by the City we will price your project based upon what we know is requiring and what is normally involved in a project such as yours. I was aware that these upgrades would be required because when you do other improvements that require a permit then you are required to bring everything up to code. I did not include this in your original quote as we had not cover in depth the electrical and lighting plans other than moving an outlet and phone jack as well as installing the boxes for 3 pendant lights. The City requirements are to bring all of the electrical up to current code, requiring new circuitry, additional outlets and lighting is to be brought up to title 24 energy codes. This involves much more work including running power from the subpanel to the kitchen, adding new outlets and switches, determining the amount of load on existing circuits, drywall penetrations, patching, texturing and painting. Under cabinet lighting may be required if you keep the existing overhead incandescent lighting. This would then require a molding along the underside of the cabinet to conceal the light fixtures. Other smaller items required are additional prep, demolition and related items. We have revised the total proposal to reflect all of the City requirements, upgrades, deletions, modifications and to show the complete and total package per the design and specifications. Total of all work including plans, engineering and permit fees.____________ $ 37,850.00 [jmm76 note: This is 10k more than original bid!]

if your doors are frame and panel construction the panel must be allowed to float freely in the frame. It will expand and contract with seasonal humidity changes much more than the frame. You probably want to paint in the dry season when the panel is contracted so that it doesn't then shrink further and show an unpainted stripe. If you seal the panel to the frame the wood *will* move and something will give--you can hope for the paint or caulk bond, but it's also possible that the panel will split. When making new doors it's much better to finish the panel before installing it in the frame, but that's not usually an option in refinishing. Just try to not let too much paint gather in the rabbet that holds the panel.

Here's an update: I decided to do away with the gothic mullions design on the area next to the fridge. We need a counter there to set things down on (microwave drawer underneath) and I also decided to make this white like the rest of the cabinets. The main concern is that large area further "down" that wall where I want some sort of built-in hutch or something. I like the wall of flush built ins in the wood mode southampton advertisement, but in order to do that we'd need to narrow that section of the kitchen. We cannot push into that wall because there is something on the other side that we cannot move. Should we make that section of the kitchen narrower so we can have a wall of built-in display and storage there? I want something gorgeous, historic-looking, and functional, but cannot figure out what that is and what to do. The whole kitchen's cabinets will go up to the dentil molding near the ceiling. The rest of the house is also a Georgian design so this needs to make sense with that. Please help, I'm super frustrated.

kirkhall - You raise an excellent point. Yes, this won't exactly be a focus point, but we pass through the pantry constantly (walk-through to garage on one side, and regularly used room on another. No one else will probably notice, but I'm hoping to smile every time I pass by. practigal - I really, really appreciated your detailed comments and questions. Charging station is currently at the desk in the kitchen. Any Apple related charger disappears within hours of being plugged in, but that's another post :(. DH would love to keep his cordless drill plugged in but I think he can continue to make the trek to the basement (IXNAY). I can't think of any other appliances I might need to have plugged in and at the ready. I can see storing my rice cooker, panini, etc. here. To be honest, I don't understand the mixers, etc., one sees without water ready to clean up the mess. (I'm sure I'm missing something). I don't see this space as a prep area at all - fortunately, I have good counter space in the kitchen. Not enough room for round lazy susans (boy do I love them though and I do have them in two cabinets). I also really like the notched corner shelves I'm showing. Fun stepstool definitely planned! (Suggestions...? 8 foot ceiling) No vacuum, just broom and dustbin. I'm mentally planning what I'd like to store in here, and figuring out what goes where; your comment is spot on. I'm not sure I'm following the recommendation for etched or stained glass, with backlighting. Any inspiration pictures? I don't think I want a door which says 'pantry', for example.