Practigal, the DW is one cabinet "south" away from the sink. I have no idea why there is a cabinet between but it's there, marked DW. It's possible the microwave is part of the DO stack. Rascal, do you plan a prep sink in the island? It would make your space more functional and give you a separate prep zone. This way you could have someone prepping, someone else cooking, someone else doing dishes, and someone else baking at the same time and they are all in their own zone. Without a prep sink, people would need to constantly walk over to the sink which adds unnecessary steps to prepping/cooking. And the DW should be right next to the sink.

I'm sorry, but we don't have enough information to even really guess. Just speaking of the design, It's all about the measurements, the overall layout of the home (all rooms), and how you plan to use your space. Read the Layout FAQ to see what we need. Any guesses people make right now are WAGs, and really big WAGs. (WAG = Wild A** Guess) Excerpt from the "Read Me" thread: (1) If you would like layout help...first, please read the Layout Help FAQ. Then post a fully-measured layout (all wall segments/windows/doors/doorways) of the space and a sketch of the entire floor. [Also see "Work Zones, What Are They?", "Aisles Widths, Seating Overhangs, etc.", "Storage Planning", and "Ice.Water.Stone.Fire"] . I echo Live Wire Oak -- both the estimate -and- the "recommendation" to STAY HOME! The estimate should give you an idea of how much you'll have to spend, figure 100K at least if you're aiming for a dream Kitchen and b/c you live in a HCOLA.

removing windows and putting in a door is easier than vice versa. remove the brick, frame out the area for the door, install. if you want to bring up the floor level,(what do you plan on doing w/the fireplace? you would have to redo it and the book cases) for the new floor, they would have to lay joists, sub floor, and flooring to even it out to the other. At this point I would advise you to replace all of that white tile and do the same flooring throughout the first level. can you match the wood you have in the other room? .Oh, demo of all that tile? 1-2 K (can't see how much you have) remove a window and install french doors, about 2-4K. building a banquette? have no idea. 1-2K? new table, custom made cushions, etc. I don't mind the sunken part. I'd do the french doors and close off that other door by the nook. would be cool if you could extend that whole side of the house further out another 6-10 feet. I'd rather do that than raise the floor level. i'd also widen your stair area leading down. on the living side, you could do something like this w/stair sides (little built ins) install a cool beam above it: or move the stairs to one side If you replaced your windows w/doors, you could do one large sofa, and place the two chairs as you come down the stairs. (that's why it might be nice to move the stairs off to one side, gives you a bit more space. or try this layout. you may have enough room to walk behind the other sofa in front of the doors. (if you could bump out that wall another 6' or so, it would be perfect!

so you know you will have 2 walls and the island. cabs come in 3 inch increments. you should get drawers/ a sink base cab and some way of dealing w the corner . have you studied cabinets? corners can have a "blind corner" cabinet for a 90 degree angle. or a lazy susan cabinet. stovetop and separate oven will take a lot of space. time to get the tape measure/ buy a pad of graph paper ..measure the walls before and after the demolition and start to find spots for things on paper. when you get a couple different good possibilities on paper and post the sketch people help you fine tune the plans. Do you have a place to buy cabinets..do you have a designer.. are you using Ikea?