Thanks folks! All good input. I just emailed my brother, who's an architect, and his suggestion is: Keep the built-ins ONLY on the long wall. Don't wrap them around on the short wall flanking the wood stove. He would like to see bare wall there (with a firewood bin on the right and the chair/ottoman on the left of the woodstove.) What do you think about that? Regarding door hardware: I was thinking no hardware, actually... just those push-to-open thingies :) Color: my brother suggested stained or painted almost-black (playing off the slate woodstove wall). Palimpsest suggests wall color. I would have done white just cuz its my fall-back. I will have to think on that! Depth: The built-ins as drawn are about 11" deep. We don't have any A/V equipment deeper than that, so no need to bump any part out. I'm also not a huge fan of bumped-out cabinetry in a more modern setting. I know I said I wanted to keep it cottage-y, but it still has to work with my modern furniture :) I could probably be convinced if there was a really compelling argument, but my druthers is for simpler, usually :) Height: I considered varying the height (taller on short wall, etc) but I felt like going taller made the already small room feel a lot smaller. DIY- yes, we're building these ourselves :) .... although I think we may buy the doors from Scherr's. We have a really long project list to get through this year!

I have a similar problem. Actually I've solved it in theory but haven't gotten around to implementing it yet. My cabinet installer said that my current hinges are European style hinges set to open 105 degrees, but I need to find some made to open 90 degrees. He suggested Louis & Company. I also posted on GW and several people suggested a transom chain, with some very nice pix of a tiny chain attached at one end to the inside cabinet and inside door at the other end, in very unobtrusive top shelves. Several other people suggested simply using the nearly-invisible silicone bumper pads that are on the inside of the doors, but that's my last resort on a highly visible range hood and outside cabinet door. One of these days I'm going to google Louis & Company hinges and/or ask for transom chains at HD (just so that I can get blank stares above orange aprons in return), in my copious spare time. Anyway, ask your cabinet people for the brand of their hinges. I'm sorry, I don't know how to save my own threads, but search "transom chain" or "truly invisible" and my name. HTH.

LOL, ironically it's not so "way late." I bought all the doors/drawer fronts about a year ago, and most of them are installed. What's left requires some custom building that I haven't yet managed to fit into my schedule. Those 2 far pantry lowers are still open. :-) On the far one, we decided on a recycling pull-out with a small drawer above. On the next one over, we decided to slice the door in half and hinge it open. Very "quirky old house." ;-) Once we finish helping a homeless family rehab a $5K house and get the flooring into our room addition, I'll probably get back to finishing this kitchen up. Can you say "longest kitchen remodel ever?"

I would close in the doorway to the kitchen from the front door, make that a true entryway. We did this in 2 homes so far with kitchens at the front of the house. My current home had glass block which we knocked down and replaced with an actual wall. My last house had what you have and we closed it in, took out another part of the wall to open it up within the kitchen and added an island. Let me find pictures...