Leasa, If your walls are plaster like mine when you get the last layer off you will still have some annoying remnants stuck on where the original glue was somehow tougher. For years I painstakingly scraped those places off, skinning my knuckles and gouging the plaster with fair regularity. Recently I found a much easier method: I use a steamer. I bought one in order to have a way to clean molded plaster more easily but found that it is the absolute best way to get wallpaper dregs off. You just hold the steamer over them and they can be scraped off like frosting off a cake. It is so satisfying, and as far as I can tell results in no damage to the plaster. (I don't do it in the depths of winter as I don't want to load my walls up with excess moisture when it could freeze.) But otherwise it's one of those rare old house projects that take minimal effort and give great results. I use a steamer called the Ladybug, but there are many types out there. Some people have sucessfully used a higher wattage steamer to remove paint from trim and windows, and mine will do a bit of that. (Much more info on that paint removal method on John Leeke's forum - www.historichomeworks.com) If you just have a room or two to do, a low power clothing de-wrinkling steamer would probably be fine. Be sure to save samples of the old wall papers. I take a good sized piece off and keep it in archival folder. Unless you plan on re-wallpapering, trying to keep a sample on the wall (except in closets) is a pain to work around. Molly~

Let me preface my critique with the comment that just b/c you're a one-cook family now does not mean it will stay that way...as a matter of fact, you should encourage your boys to learn to cook since most young people today live on their own for a few years b/f settling down...which means both boys & girls should be learning to prep, cook, & clean up (as well as laundry, taking out the trash, & house cleaning). Who knows, you may even have a future chef! In our family of 6 kids, my younger brother actually likes to cook more than any of the rest of us. One question first...If the counter b/w the ref & ovens is really supposed to be 12" narrower, does that mean the aisle b/w the island & that counter is really 4' and not the 3' noted on the plan? (That would match the 15' kitchen width) And, just to verify, the kitchen is 11' x 15' not counting the pantry & ovens area (i.e., to the back of the cooktop wall). My first comment on your current layout is the location of the DW relative to the cooktop...they're right across from each other. I know you have 5' aisles, but it's still an issue for someone working at the cooktop w/the DW open...if they step back there's a good chance they'll back into the open DW. If they have boiling water in their hands, it could be disastrous. I recommend you switch the DW & trash if you stay w/this layout or similar. Next, the island. If you want seating for 4, then you need a island 8' long/wide...2' per seat. Since this is your forever/4 teenage boys home, plan for seating 4 adults... I'm on your side...no MW over the cooktop! Regarding the MW location. Have you considered a MW Drawer? They mount under the counter. Another option would be to get a range and single wall oven instead of a cooktop & double wall ovens. If you did that, you could put the MW oven over the wall oven in the oven stack. It would also give you more storage above and/or below the ovens. Based on your comments, I suspect the layout you have right now will not meet your needs and wants...Rotating the island may work since your kitchen is wide enough. You could even add a 12" deep pantry or 12" deep pantry cabinets. Note that if you have seating and an aisle w/traffic and cabinets/counters, then you need at least 54" b/w them, preferably 60" - 66". So, doing the math, 12" pantry + 42" aisle b/w DR wall & island + 40-1/2" deep island + 60" aisle + 25-1/2" deep counter in front of window = 180" = 15'0" Something like this: Layout #1 Issue: DW is pretty far away from all storage...so unloading the DW could be a chore. AND, the island is a barrier island b/w the sink & refrigerator. Or, with the DW switched: Layout #2 While the DW is now closer to storage, it's now b/w the range & sink. And, the island is still a barrier. Layout #3 This is probably my favorite, but you may not like it b/c the cleanup sink is in the window (w/a 6"-8" bump out to give you more room behind the sink). No more barrier island & DW is somewhat close to storage. Visitors can see the view as can the person cleaning up. While prepping, you can visit w/your visitors or someone in the DR. And, the kitchen has potential for being a multi-cook kitchen. The only negative is that while prepping your back is to the window. Other than the DW & dish storage issue, the only other glaring issue I see is the view...yes, you'll be able to gaze out at the mountain while working, but the poor souls sitting at the island get to look at the DR wall & pantry! But it's late & I'm tired, so maybe someone else from the west coast will chime in tonight! To mitigate the barrier island issue in the first two layouts, you could add a prep sink in the counters along the window. It also mitigates the DW being b/w the sink & range...it still is, but now you have a second water source so it's not a real problem anymore. Like this: Layout #4: BTW...your plans call for a 32" cooktop. The standard sizes are 30" & 36". Yes there are some 32" cooktops out there, but your choices are limited and I don't know what the availability will be for them in the future (if you have to replace it down the road). If it were me, I would go w/either a 30" or 36".

We moved to Florida from NY. The house we bought was so dark inside because of large overhangs from the roof which blocks sunlight and a large lanai running across the back wall which has a roof, no sunlight. We liked the house, but I couldn't stand how dark it was inside. Before we moved in, I call a Tubular Skylight company to get an estimate on installing them in the house. Recommendation was a large one in the kitchen ceiling ($500.00), small one in a bathroom off the hallway($250.00), a medium size in the family room off the kitchen ($325.). I can't tell you how bright this area is now. What I liked is they just go through your attic, make the openings and can position the tube (in the attic) toward south so we get bright light from sunrise to sunset. Over the past 6 yrs when we could afford more, we added to the laundry room (no windows), another bathroom (small skylight), the dining room. My house is so bright when you walk in you think there are spotlights all over the place. It took me a while, initially when the first ones were put in to get used to the high level of light. Looked like a new house! Before putting them in, we had to have our overhead lights lit all day. That costs a lot of money. I feel these tube skylights have paid for themselves in 5 yrs. Plus the house looks like a bright, inviting home. Everyone who walks in comments on how bright our home is. I would look into installing at least one large one in the kitchen, maybe a medium in the hall. So much less expensive than 'real skylights' and keeping the lights lit all day. Jane

Thank you for that. Yes, there was a screw behind each hinge. With these removed, the cabinet is slightly loose at the end where I removed the screws, but I still can't see how to remove it from the wall. The free end of the cabinet (i.e the end that does not join onto another cabinet) still seems firmly fixed to the wall, but I can't see how. There are no obvious screw heads or similar. Thanks for any further advice - Rowan