Yes, sometimes I leave things in my cart until I get a coupon. Also, I really recommend joining Club O! It's $19.95 for a year. You get free shipping (even though normal shipping is only $2.95), and 5% back on every order. I had over $120 in my rewards account and just paid for 2 sets of soup plates using $75 of rewards :-)No actual cash outlay, woohoo! *Disclaimer* I don't work for overstock. I'm a jewelry designer. But I get TONS of stuff from them! I furnished my basement bar area entirely from overstock.com, saved almost $2000 over buying the exact same sofa, leopard chairs, bistro table, coffee table and end tables from other sites. And all free delivery!

I like Marcolo's idea of switching the closet and adding the cubbies! Here's that option, but I kept a small table for crafts, snacks, breakfast, etc. You said you like to watch the kids out that window, but a setee would look very nice, too. While an island is very nice (and popular) I thought I'd leave the wall (perhaps load bearing?) and make the kitchen easily accessible from both tables. And you still have a little more 'formal' feel in the big dining room. By having the French doors opening into the kitchen, you have the option of closing off the noise...but still seeing the main sink (maybe farmhouse?) and possible 'buffet area' opposite the French doors. I added the extra sink by the fridge, so you have one sink/prep area to the left of the range and another baking area on the right. The dishwasher could go by either sink (or both) but if you have one opposite the French doors, cabinet front or drawer dishwasher might be a nice option. Hope this helps and have fun with your planning :) From Kitchen plans

The kitchen space hasn't been created yet because we don't have the building permit yet because we need a zoning variance but can't get that till we go to the zoning board meeting in a few weeks and all of this has put us about 7 weeks behind and a few thousand more in cost. Gaaa. So while it would be nice to actually try out some things in the actual space, we're doing the next best thing ... our bathroom has a double window w/walls on either side and the space is very close in size to the sink area that will be in the kitchen. The paper shades weren't quite doing it so I hunted around in the basement and found a 10" (across the bottom) shade and a 13" (across the bottom shade) that we alternately tacked up on a ribbon into the ceiling in our bathroom. We've gotten input from several people, including the folks at Schoolhouse Electric, to go with the 10". While I don't think we'd have a problem with it I do think we'll always be like "ahhh, should have gone just a tad bigger". Since it is the only fixture in the kitchen (the rest is recessed and under-cabinet lighting) we're leaning towards the 12", making it more of a statement piece. Thanks for the replies, greatly appreciate the input!

We are getting a new countertop, granite. Sink... stainless single bowl, about 32" (that's as large as I can fit) about 9/10" deep undermount The counter area the sink will live is pretty much in the middle of a 9' 2" long, about 40" deep spot and then the leg starts to head toward the stove, like an "L", but that is only about 14", then the stove, then an 18" counter spot and the end. Faucet... Type we are getting- a touchless type --high arc --pull down --one handle --no plate Material/Finish... My other half originally wanted, badly, ORB. But it seemed like it would not match well with the stainless sink. Not 100% on the finish yet. We could use some input here as well. I have always been a non chrome person. But...Our cabinets are a very dark, rich black/brown, one with glass doors, stainless range hood above the stove, appliances are black. There is a 7' wall of off white cabinets across from the dark ones and we are undicided if we should do the same color pulls on it or do brushed nickle, stainless or polished pewterish type. Our island pendants are dark cylinders like the dark cabinets. Our DR light is an open swirly thing with chrome. Our kitchen light is also funky and stainless (there is very little metal showing with theses. So, I am pretty sure we are going with oil rubbed bronze pulls on the dark cabinets (reduces eye clutter and I just love how they disappear). But putting ORB pulls on the off white cabs, for me gives it a countryish look, which is I like that look, but not sure if it will look fantastic with everything. Hopefully the pics help. We are standing in the LV looking into the kit. The pics have the DR light and the kit lights I was talking about.