THanks for the honest feedback about cost. I cant believe this could cost $120K, but I guess I better be prepared to get blown away when I get these figures. And then get used to our existing floor plan, or move.  And unfortunately, no, theres really minimal work we can do ourselves. We have 3 little kids and my husband is not very handy and works really long hours. I still want to come up with an ideal solution and work backwards if its way out of our price range. THe original contractor who suggested a similar layout to above, I believe was implying that such a project might run about 60-70. I believe he said though that opening the structural wall up with about a 5-6' archway opening was more realistic than removing the majority of the wall entirely. Does that sound accurate? We are lucky to have a large finished basement where the kids mostly play now and I imagine when they,re older, that will be their getaway with the door closed, so we honestly do not have too much use for that formal LR. Although, I do occasionally sit in there and enjoy the quiet and the tidiness, since it�s the only room that stays clean! We moved furniture around last night! We put the kitchen table extended in front of the fireplace lengthwise. We pulled chairs up to the wall facing into the kitchen, as if we had a peninsula there. Ill attach a picture of 2 rooms I've seen online that made me think we could do this layout. We liked it and I really think we could do something similar. I agree Id miss the Fireplace in the FR, a lot. But I do think it'd be really pretty to have it in the kitchen/dining area and something that would make our cookie cutter house feel kind of unique! But we can,t figure out a good furniture arrangement for the 'new' Family Room. I feel like it could only work if we switched where the coat closet is, moving it down closer to the Entry Door, so we'd have wall down that end of the LR to put the TV on. If we cant make the new Family room feel comfortable, all this will not be an option. I'd love to see what you mean about bumping out the back wall of the kitchen. I've always thought that would be easiest rather than messing with the rest of the house! All I need is a little more kitchen space to make me happy!! Just a counter to work on is all I ask! But I have been told that will be way more expensive to add on to the house than it would be to reconfigure the existing layout. Might be a question for another thread on another board? But, if you have ideas I'd love to see it! Although, we don't have much room along the back wall of the house, especially on the kitchen side. Id only be comfortable bumping out 4-6 feet. After that, it would encroach on the back yard too much and behind the powder room, any larger would block our entrance into our backyard. We could add on adjacent to the family room out the back, but I don�t even see how that would help much. I don't need a larger FR, I need a larger kitchen. Plus I'd prefer to not lose backyard space, but I would consider it. How hard is it to move a powder room to the complete opposite end of your house?! I am overwhelmed :( Here is a link that might be useful: [Similar layout I think we could do[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tiburon-home-remodel-traditional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~46400) This post was edited by homebuyer23 on Thu, Jan 10, 13 at 16:08

Pfft it's just the mudroom? Then it's fine! As long as you fit through with an armful of groceries. Like the others said, even with a CD fridge, you aren't going to be totally clear of the doorway if you want to open the thing. Orrrrrr you could find a single door, left hinged, freezer on top model...in counter depth. Unlikely! I assume you have explored recessing the whole thing into the wall so only the door sticks out? Can't do that with all walls of course, but even doing the plug like Jancey suggests can help. Try it. It might not be as bad as you think.

I remember your prior posts about this kitchen and the challenges you have in this space. I like how you've made the butler's pantry into a scullery. The only thing that concerns me is the distance your fridge is from your prep/cook space and your blind corners. Do check out Super Susans to see if they'll fit in your space. I don't think you'll regret it. I wish I had an easier solution for the fridge. I think it would be convenient and functional to have it on the L opposite the range but I also think it would not be aesthetically pleasing there. I sure don't feel qualified to tell you where to store things. The links Buehl gave you on that should be helpful. My only tip is to try for mise-en-place storage as much as possible. That means you store things at/near where you use them. For example, the items you regularly use at the stove should be right by it. Items you sometimes use at the stove but not regularly can be one storage unit over. Same idea for clean-up and prep sink areas. Items used occasionally can be stored farther away. Rarely used items can be stored even farther away even in a basement or garage if necessary. Group your items in those various categories and measure how much storage they need and then measure the spaces you have planned for them to see if you need to make adjustments in the sizes of the storage areas.

My Electrician was asking me where I planned to install my microwave -- he assumed I was going to do a built-in. Nope, just plugging in my $60-65 guy on the countertop, close to where I keep the dishes I'd microwave on. Yes, the fridge is further into the kitchen, but on the way out I'll microwave, and then walk out to the dining region (or outdoors) to eat. I guess most food I nuke is either for hot tea, takeout leftovers, and occasionally parmesan'd asparagus. Serve on whatever I nuke the food item on/in! Having it on the counter on the way out to the dining table is also useful if I host pot lucks. If I get tired of having appliances on the counter top, I can always put them in the pantry -- but I don't want to be moving it in and out especially if guests are going to be using it. (I will store *ugly* appliances in the pantry, or under the counters.... my crock pot is hopelessly stained, for instance.) I don't use it all that often, but often enough.