First ... absolutely FIRST! Make sure you have a sound roof, no leaks. Same around windows and doors Sound footings and walls ... all the foundations and beams and cross ties and stuff Water control ... all the seepage, drainage, etc. See this post for why you need to do this first: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/realestate/msg0700333329476.html?14 ====== Check structural things before removing anything ... sometimes old chimneys are serving as floor joist supports. Then do your "remove this stuff" for everything you don't need ... old plumbing, dead wiring circuits, etc. ======= Make a plan of what has to happen in each area, and double-check the sequence for "sanity". Make a detailed floor plan with call outs and scribbled-on pictures of walls. Sometimes what you think is low priority may have to get done before a high-priority thing can happen ... Wherever you plan to "add a light" later, make sure you have a wire and an outlet while the electrician is there. =========== Things people (including me) forget ... Vents FIRST, Insulation LATER

Hi everyone, thanks for the feed back. The wall cabinets are shallow only 12" deep, so it isnt an option to put anything else on that wall. As far as the layout, i believe the current setup really is ideal for this awkward kitchen space. if you swap the range and fridge then you visually cut off the kitchen from the rest of the house... I'm surprised that the exposed duct was so disliked... but I love the feed back, keep it coming. Right now i'm leaning toward hiding the duct behind regular cabinets and just sticking the microwave in the corner. We have the smaller panisonic genie so it def isn't an eye sore. MORE COMMENTS!!! thanks :)

I would at least rehang the wall cabinets on the right side of the sink. Move them to the left an inch or so to mirror the right side. I would remove the crown molding because it seems out of sync with the cabinet style. Cabinets are contemporary and that style of crown is traditional. Then I would work on how to get the sink centered under the window. Looks as though there is enough space to be able to center the sink and still have the dishwasher, though it would result in losing the lazy susan cabinet. Would have to use some fillers or a combo of fillers and an open cabinet, custom sized. Narrow open base cabs work nicely for stashing cutting boards (trays, cookie sheets, etc.) With a shelf in the open cabinet at drawer bottom height. (Great for a rolling pin and rolled up silicone mats.) A larger sink, stainless steel, because that one looks dinky. Then, you would have to deal with the base cabinets on the refrigerator wall, the result of removing the lazy susan. Probably a combination of reconfiguring them and using fillers or another narrow open base cabinet. (Or cutting down the lazy susan cabinet...) The open base cabinets are an easy build if you have any DIY skills. Don't have to worry about sourcing doors (that match). Trim out the front with solid hardwood which should be easy to get a good close match to the natural maple finish that is on the other cabinets. Possibly ripping the trim from the unused lazy susan doors? I like the current backsplash OK but would think about replacing it with a more contemporary look or even just removing it and painting the splash area.

Right after I posted this that possibility popped into my head, but it doesn’t seem like it. I honestly have no idea. The fireplace is originally to the house and the house was built in 1948. I don’t know when the fireplace was tiled over, but based on it being ugly brown tiles, I feel like it was decades ago (see below). If there’s a way to determine if it’s just paint I’d love to know.