I'm in the planning stages but have put tons of thought into this. Hopefully I won't have to tweak it too much when I do the framing walkthrough. (You really should walk though the framed house before finalizing the locations.) No Christmas package (don't decorate for holidays) or intercom. Outlets at a few locations specifically for nighlights (in bathrooms and in hallways) so we don't have to flip on the overhead lights in order to use the facilities in the middle of the night. Switch for the bathroom fan between the toilet and the vanity (instead of with the other switches near the door) so that it is accessible from the toilet and standing in front of the vanity. Duplex outlets near the TV area. Duplex outlet mounted higher on the wall than normal for the main phone area which will be a nich in the wall. Duplex outlets to either side of all potential bed headboards. Oulets dedicated for cell phone charging in an elevated nich. Duplex outlet, tv cable (for internet) and phone (for fax) anywhere that I plan to (or even might) have a computer. Outlet immediately beside the loft railing in case we ever want to put lights across the railing we can plug them in without a tripping hazzard. Although we probably won't need them, I am putting one oulet just inside each WIC. In my workshop, I'll put an outlet 5' high so that I can put a shelf under it to hold a small radio and clock but still be able to put tables or work space under it. Outlets closer together than Code requires so that it's more convenient. Switches for a room at EVERY entrance into that room. (Our current house doesn't have switches at every entrance and it's a pain.) We will have a small vestibule (for guest entry) and small mudroom for our entry from the garden that are beside each other. Their lights will be on the same switch so that when we walk from outside, into the mudroom, into the entry (from interior access) and then finially into the main house we don't have to flip lights on and off every few steps. Just once when we enter the mudroom and again when we enter the main house. Don't forget electrical service for any undercabinet lights. There are past threads about outlets that are mounted so that they are accessible from inside cabinet drawers so that clothing irons or hairdryers can be left plugged in all of the time and stored in the drawers. I'm considering that, too. In a similar manner, outlet inside of mixer lifter kitchen cabinet for mixer. Outlets and switch for pendant lights on the kitchen island. Outlet for microwave that will be raised above countertop height. Exterior grade outlets at multiple places outside that are easily accessible from the porch and patio areas (not for Christmas lights). Outlet at attic access incase I need to plug in a light there since we will have minimal lighting there.

The space is empty right now so taking a picture wouldnt help unfortunately. What I have is a small house with a small living room and the kitchen beside it, I took out the wall between the living room and kitchen and am re doing the kitchen. There isnt any room for a dining table, there never really was before either, so what I was planning is having a peninsula/bar to eat at. The peninsula would stick out where the wall used to be or a little bit towards the kitchen, to not take up any more living room space. SO the stools would be on the kitchen side. I have approx 8 feet for the peninsula so room for 4 seats. I keep saying 2x4 wall because I cant use base cabinets, just cant afford the room. So Im thinking basically a pony wall with a bar top. Im just not sure on the best way to finish off the open end to give lateral support to the wall. Should I return the wall 90 Deg. and go the width of the top? Or just go with a gable and secure it really well. Or something else. Im leaning more towards the return wall because it would be more support. But Im completely open to other ideas. I can try and explain more if anyone needs. Thanks for the help :)

Love this forum! Here's my question: our 1978-vintage "open-plan" kitchen/dining/greatroom has a 4ft x 3ft countertop that extends into "free space" above the floor. It's an extension of the countertop on the base cabinets that run along a wall but there's no base cabinet beneath it, just a post to support the far end (i.e., it "grows" from the end of a wall). We call it the "breakfast bar" and do 99% of all our meals there since it's so convenient and we can put bar stools on both sides. Based on my poor description (sorry, wish I just could draw it), is this a "peninsula?" It doesn't have a receptacle in it or under it, but there's one in the backsplash just before the end of the wall out of which the bar "grows." I'm wondering if this was OK per code in 1978 but not now ... which might create problems if we want to replace the cabinets/countertops/appliances one of these days. Thanks in advance, as always.

The back of the island is 3/8" plywood, and we used a hole saw to cut a hole the size of the outlet then chiseled out the inside of the plywood so the front of the outlet would sit flush (didn't own a router at the time). There's a slim blue plastic outlet box on the inside behind it as well. We didn't do a permitted remodel (our county is relatively liberal on permitting requirements and we weren't knocking down walls) so didn't get an inspection.