If you use lisa_a's with 2 entrances to the pantry it may just vent itself easily as I'd imagine the pocket entry door to it from the garage may stay open or ajar frequently. You could possibly fit it in the bump back to match the entrance stairs. Fridges in garages are pretty common around here but we have more issues with freezing temps than overly hot. Otherwise I'd put it in that spot in the garage where the writing says small appliances for inside the kitchen. That's not far of a walk at all.

*lacunosa - attractive, small leaves, fragrant flowers (floral fragrance), compact, hanging *variegated kentiana - attractive, variegated leaves, compact, hanging, never seen flower, but assume it smells like regular old kentiana...caramel scented *deykeae - beautiful, elongated heart shaped leaves. Splashes on leaves, and nice veining. Pretty flowers with a nice fragrance (hint of citrus). Trellised (easily on 18 inch trellis)or wrapped around and up hanging pot. *mindorensis - plain jane leaves, but flowers are amazing balls of fuzzy and come in a rainbow of colors. Trellised (easily on 18-24 inch trellis) or wrapped around and up hanging pot. *balansae - pretty little leaves, pretty little flowers, easily grown hanging, twined around and up hanging pot. *incrassata - attractive foliage, which can come in an array of styles, from variegated to plain. Needs a bit of space, but could easily be maintained around a 3 foot trellis. *clemensiorum, finlaysonii, callistophylla - all similar, yet different in their leaf looks. Boldy, high contast veins with beautiful leaves, ranging from dark to light green, many with splash patterns on them. Small, pretty flowers with a light citus fragrance. Easily grown wrapped around and up a hanging basket or on a 18-24 inch trellis. *australis - can get big, but easily maintained with cuttings (don't cut areas with peduncles, or you won't get blooms on the mother plant, unless she has some still, or she grows more..this goes for all hoyas). Can be grown hanging or on a 24 inch to 3 foot trellis. Beautiful, fragrant flowers. *pachyclada - EARLY to put on peduuncles and bloom (in my experience), pretty yellow cream flowers, likes it slightly drier (water once every 8-10 days). Thick, succulent leaves with beautiful color and aesthetically pleasing. *elliptica - gorgeous turtle shell leaves, compact, can be grown wrapped up and around hanging pot or easily on 18-24 inch trellis. Beautiful porcelain flowers with red or golden coronas. Subtle fragrance. *many of the pottsii varieties - beautiful leaves that get a red tinge grown in high light, pretty, fragrant flowers *scortechinii or sp. UT-001 - pretty leaves that get gorgeous veining in high light (leaf size is generally not big, but I have had a couple of ones that got a bit exhuberant with their growth). Pretty flowers! Most hoyas only want to be watered weekly (there are some that are less thirsty and some that like it a bit damper). Feed them when you water (1/4-1/2 strength water soluble fertilizer).

So are the kitchen cabinets staying? What do you want to paint? The cabinets? The walls? Not sure what you are asking…

I don't mind the painted brick, but here's something that may look better. lose the mirror and replace w/a nice piece of art. Not a photo. You could paint the brick white, gray, or just get something to put right over the brick. this one pictured is a solid piece of stone cut to size and mortarted into place. diff mantle. similar mantle to yours painted a taupe shade w/black brick. Notice the matching color window trim. (you don't have any trim so adding this will do a lot for the windows) Also notice this mirror and what it's reflecting compared to yours. look at the accessories and how the colors, textures all work w/one another. I did a quick mock up of the white on white, no mirror, and a new fan. (this one is a driftwood gray, but you could do any type of wood tone) here's an example of the wood trim work (that matches your mantle surround) being continued up to the ceiling. Ditto this one in white. ignore the built in. if you did this all in white and painted your brick black, added some sconces and a really nice piece of artwork, that fireplace would become the focal point of the room. I vote for something like this. you already have the mantle. Just bring in some simple wood trim molding, sconces, art, and some window casing. Or, you can simply tile over that brick w/something else. I like this idea of a storage bench under the window (s). notice the fireplace surround and window trim Since the sofa is so large, I'd remove that corner chair and replace w/a tall plant. prob remove the kids stuff under the other window and look for diff storage. I also think the white consolde (and the tv above is hung too high) is just too much white. I'd get a diff console, wood or some other color, for some contrast. or something in a light wood. (this fireplace was skim coated w/cement or you could do a plaster