florantha, you can use Google Sketchup which is a free download. There is a learning curve for drawing 3D, but for 2D it is really easy. There are all sorts of tutorial videos on YouTube but they are geared toward 3D. If you download it and want a quick primer on drawing 2D (it will take 10 minutes to figure it out, tops) you're welcome to contact me via the GW email link. maria410, even if the floor is not perfect in your eyes, it sure looks beautiful in pictures. As histokitch, dan1888 and davidro said, the uppers on the sink wall still feel unsatisfactory. There's a few things going on there. First thing: I'm trying to have those uppers echo the built-ins elsewhere in the house. Below is a link to a prior thread - scroll to the bottom for a sketch of the overall ''look'' I have in mind. This makes me want to have those uppers as open cabinets with sides, backs, etc, rather than wall-mount shelves. And I'd like the left and right uppers to be consistent with each other in style, although not exact mirror images. Second thing (and somewhat contradictory with first thing): the left and right uppers are supposed to serve quite different functions. The left uppers will be in the corner of the kitchen, where the sink and range walls meet. The main prep zone is to their right and the range is to their left. I plan to store only stockpots there, to eliminate any reason for others to invade the cook's workspace. So the left uppers should be deep enough to hold 40 qt stock pots (which are appx 14-15'' diameter by 15'' tall, plus lid) with no doors. I may have a problem with lateral clearance to the grease hood (currently sketched in a 5 ft W X 4 ft D x 2 ft H grease hood with enclosed ducting overhead), but otherwise this seems pretty straightforward to me. The right uppers, at in the other end of the sink wall, seem more complicated. - They should hold daily mugs and glasses conveniently close to the dishwasher, but low enough to be reachable if you're not Wilt Chamberlain. 8'' height between shelves would be enough, we have storage for tall wineglasses in the dining room. - I also want to put beverage-making there, as far away from the prep and cooking zones as possible, but without the associated clutter on the counter. So I'd like to have French press, tea press, electric kettle, coffee grinder, etc stored in those uppers. Those items need more height than typical glassware (French press is 11'' tall, burr grinder can be 13'' tall) and might want to be concealed behind doors. The blender is used daily for smoothies, needs a space up to 20'' tall, and I've no other nearby storage space so it will probably be a loitering counter-dweller, smoking cigarettes and bumming for spare change. - Finally, I'm also thinking the counter at that end can also be an occasional baking center. I'm not a baker, but hope to learn someday. This suggests the stand mixer as another counter-dweller (copper-fetishist SWMBO wants a copper KitchenAid ''Artisan'') and some storage for baking supplies (whatever those are? as a non-baker I am clueless) in the upper or below the counter. I have totally not figured out how to accommodate all those functions in anything that looks decent and works for a 5' 8'' woman (or a 6' man for that matter). Third thing: the window could be changed. The existing window (shown in the sketch) has no view of anything but gets great sunlight - and in the Pac NW, that's a precious thing. It could be made it bigger. The existing leaky double-hungs could be converted to casement or tilt-out for easier opening. It could be bumped out, and herbs grown on the resulting deep ''ledge''. It could be two or three separate windows, similar to florantha's wall. There could be reinforced points to grow hanging tomatoes outside the windows. All those will cost money, so the cost-benefit has to work.. Or, I could leave it as is, make it visually interesting as david suggests, or hang a colorful picture. The pre-rinse faucet does need a bit of wall for the support arm. Here is a link that might be useful: Here's The General ''Look'' I Am After

Agreed. a full mortar bed is required. It may be subject to heat as well as weight. All the more reason to make it solid.

That really looks nice Buehl. As a former IT pro, it amazes me how much I still prefer to do via paper, including layouts. I think due to costs among other reasons, I'll stick with having the one wall done now and maybe add/update cabinetry on the other walls before sale time (quite a few years from now). I'm still leaning towards IKEA cabs since their product should be around during the next 10 years. Also, since we have several nearby IKEAs, the tenants can buy all the IKEA interior drawer organizers themselves...on their dime. (I am glad they no longer plaster 'IKEA' all over the little hinge covers as in the early days). next I'll need to pull together flooring (vinyl planks?), countertop (Formica/laminate) and backsplash colors (something modern/contemporary). Going with IKEA shaker style cabs, I think...I'm never sure of my choices. This rental update has to be budget friendly; i'll start a new thread. please don't desert me now! I'm heading into the details and here's where I *always* seem to 'crash and burn' in my choices and then by the time the project is done, I hate the results. Please spoon-feed me. Haha!

Some thoughts. Layout, not paint colors and materials, should be the focus of your first changes. --Get rid of the sofa entirely since you're going to do so anyway. But don't get another one just yet. --If the oak pieces are moveable, take out the central, computer section and put it against the wall where the lamps are. Group your chairs in a conversational circle around a nice brown leather or colorful ottoman. This idea: --Move your lamps behind one of the big chairs flanking the fireplace. This will light up that end of the room and 'invite" people to take a seat, bring a book, put down a drink. --Anchor your space with a large light patterned rug that picks up some of the golden oak and other colors in the room. --Put some pillows in golds and whatever accent color you have in a rug. --Fill the bookcase with books! --Take down the dark "Home" sign. If the room is homey--and it will be with rug, coffee table, and comfy chairs, and reading lamp arranged in a homey way, you don't need a sign to tell you. Replace it with a large light-colored skyscape or woodlands landscape on the mantel that suggests the sky or the outdoors and opens up the room. --If you don't want to use the office chair as part of your group, just get another comfortable chair so you have four of them. Put small accent tables next to them so people can put down a mug, plate or book. You need to give your room airiness, comfort, and usefulness to make it a great family room. I frankly think a room with the chairs you love arranged conversationally doesn't need a brown leather sofa. I hope you don't get one, but if you eventually do, get one in gold/cambel tones or the whole room with brown floor, dark stones, and wood will be a sea of darkness. Get camel instead. The cozy layout where everyone has a big comfortable chair, centered on a colorful rug with a coffee table/ottoman within reach, a painting, some books to look at and read, and a colorful warm looking rug will create an inviting family room for not a whole lot of $$.