Here's my latest attempt which I think addresses most of y'alls concerns...I hope Here's a slightly modified floor plan for the kitchen. What's different here is that we've moved the fridge to a new wall and recessed it into what was originally going to be some sort of broom-trash storage closet. We also flipped the DW and the sink because EVERYBODY says you can't have a sink at the end of a run of cabinets.... I like this idea because it frees up space around the stove...but now I'm not sure where the broom closet stuff is supposed to go? Where can we put the mop, broom, trash and recycling bins? We Still Need Help With The Closets-Pantries. Here's a different shot of both closets and the appliances we need to fit. How can we best utilize the space in the pantry closet for bulk storage and small kitchen appliance storage...and now possibly broom closet stuff also? Pretty Pictures. Here's what this current design looks like if you are standing at the stove and looking back at the rest of the kitchen. Sorry about the odd color walls...but the granite and cabinet colors are spot on for what we have now....yes our kitchen has a silly amount of granite... Here's how it looks standing at the corner by the fridge and looking back. Yep, lots of granite.... Here's how it looks from the dining room entryway looking into the kitchen. And here is how it looks if you are standing in the entryway and looking through the breakfast bar opening and into the kitchen. So, whats everybody think?

Tundra Finish Works LLC "Notching that 2x4 wall to realize your "written vision" of adding new notched "skirt" externally and lapping/extending new treads and thus extending / installing new risers over it is a major expensive project if you UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR CURRENT STAIRS ARE BUILT under that wall. Its not cost effective. Before we dream with you what is your budget for this. The easier way is to shorten that wall add A new cap and railing system on top of or a full bannister. Unless you have 8-10K+...to throw at this." How can you cap the existing wall and treads? Only way I know of to do it that way would be to only cut the 2x4 wall to a certain height ABOVE current treads, say 6". Then cap the cut 2x4 wall, install bottom rail, balisters, top rail. Does it open up the stairwell? Yes, but doesn't give that fully open look that a new exterior stringer, new risers, new extended treads would give. No way that's an $8K project (unless you are in NYC/CA/etc). Heck, we ripped the entire 15 steps, stringers, risers, etc out of another house, rebuilt to exactly the look I am trying to do in this house for less than $3K all in. Please tell me if I am not understanding you correctly.

How nice to have an introvert thread. My husband and I are both introverts, and it often seems as if the whole world wants open layouts where you cannot do your own thing without being interrupted by others. Meanwhile, we are all about walls and soundproofing. As others have also stated, my first thought was also that you want SO much to be different that it sounds as if all signs are pointing to just moving. But I understand that is not an option. Given all that you are doing and wanting, it sounds to me as if what would make more sense for you is building a second story. That'll cost more up front but usually adds A LOT to the value of a home. Run this idea by a realtor and see how much value that would add to the home in your areal Might be worth it? This is why, in terms of your goals, it makes sense: -- If the goal is a higher ceiling in the living areas, you can vault the ceiling as you are proposing. Or you can just make the ceiling higher (say, like, 10'-11') while you're adding a second story. Either way, the roof comes off. -- I don't think you will enjoy an open layout at all. It may make the house feel more spacious, but it's a terrible layout for introverts. And basically miserable if you have no other living areas. My husband and I have and that now (an open layout with no secondary living area) in our one-bedroom condo, and it's one of the main things we are going to avoid our future home at all costs. You just CANNOT get away from your family in that situation. You mentioned that you want your home to feel "restful," and this definitely does not. The normal noise/smells/activity of life in your home are all jumbled together in the same environment, and the result is unpleasant and chaotic and something you can't escape from unless you go lock yourself in your bedroom. We actually set up our bedroom to be a secondary TV room so we could actually escape each other, but it's really not the same thing as a second, separate living space and never will be. -- "I thought I would use the basement space for our family room but I am finding the basement not as comfortable as well. Too cold and too far removed from the kitchen." If you add a second floor, the bedrooms will be upstairs, and then you can use the current bedrooms for a family room. They, presumably, are not cold like the basement. And they're much closer to the kitchen. -- I have thought about adding on to the house but it will mean $$$ and less yard on our narrow property. A second floor doesn't save money, but it take NO extra space on your property. -- "We will move the washer and dryer to the basement (it was already upstairs when we moved in. I love this convenience and will be sad having to go to the basement to wash clothes but we do need the space!)." With a second story, the laundry can go on that second story along with all the bedrooms. It'll be just as convenient, but also not taking up the space you need on the ground floor. Do you have a floor plan of the entire first floor as it currently is, including all the bedrooms? Could you post that?

Agree that the lighting is of prime importance to change out. Accessories can add all the Tuscan influence you want. I would pull out the peninsula and replace it with a Tuscan work table. Your cabinets could stay, but I would add matching crown to all of them and remove that top on the one over the range. Evidently it may cover a vent system, but it looks like you're using a micro with recirculating vent. A warm Tuscan wall paint would be a major change. Work table with storage Accessories Beams that don't cover the entire ceiling might work, plus a Tuscan pendant or two More of a Tuscan farmhouse, white appliances and cabinets; more Tuscan accessories Unified crown molding helps This one is defined as "modern Tuscan" but might be a bit plain for you.