Sorry for the delay in responding; I was away till this morning. bmorepanic: Thank you for taking the time to rework the plan. The hot water rads never get too hot so we're ok that way. Silly I know... I admit that the reason I didn't want to go around the corner with cabinetry etc was to keep that end wall clear to have a place to display my artwork. We do need 2 chairs & table. Currently we have a 54" round table (pre this house purchase) with 2 chairs and it is a very tight fit with a utility cart too behind the north chair along the long wall. Definitely a tight fit. We've been living with it for 7 1/2 years so downsizing to a 28" square bistro style will feel positively spacious! I close the door when seated at the table, but have thought of putting in a pocket door instead. David: I hadn't thought of an island 3 different widths. I'll give it a try. laxsupermom: Due to placement of stairs to the basement & to upstairs attic/loft bedroom the DR door can't be moved over. The appliances have all been ordered. I went with the KA convection micro/oven combo for the features of having a dual oven without having to purchase a double. buehl: I don't mind at all the personal question. I realize I should have given more background. My DH & I are empty nesters (mid 50's). Our 2 children (1 grandchild - 2yrs) live at a distance and visits to here are about 4 times a year for a weekend duration. I have a non-functioning ankle (fusion or ankle replacement hopefully in my future). This causes issue with inability to bend correctly from the knee to reach down & lifting. A raised oven will be so much easier & safer. This injury also causes instability in balance, so having to move only a couple of steps when carrying anything hot like pasta water to dump in the sink is important. A place to sit to chop veggies etc is necessary from time to time. jejvtr: Good question about soundproofing, but not an issue. The music studio is only a couple of steps down from the kitchen level, cinderblock wall with the hallway in between and a door on each side. It is almost completely soundproof. lascatx: I mixed up my dates and the cabinet guy comes next Saturday. It's good the hear from someone who has lived with a similar setup. Even though I'm the only cook, there is at times 2 of us trying to do things in there at the same time. Thank you everyone. I will take all your suggestions & work on more layouts and see what revisions I can make that will make me happy. Jazzie

@debbi Thank you! I've met with a couple kitchen designers to asses a fit for us, but I've not connected with one and I'm reluctant at such an early stage to sign on with a 2k retainer and we've not even shopped cabinets yet which I'm thinking is a mistake. Architect wants plumbing set in stone at this point and wife is itchy to keep things moving. I just want it right! I absolutely want to have a KD on board to finalize the kitchen layout and help with the cabinets though. Would love an hourly KD at the moment, but haven't found one yet. Most of the new kitchen is in addition so windows can change. My preference would be sink in front of the big window as you suggest to check out the garden and keep an eye on our four chickens, but seemed a little claustrophobic with ref landing + ref + wall oven + DW + dish storage + sink in that run. There is an OK view to the street as well, but I'm definitely just accepting that is the way it is.

not a pro but here are a few thoughts. if you could close the laundry door (it seems there is another door,, but the present configuration may be practical for other reasons) I would reconfigure the kitchen as a u shaped kitchen and get rid of the peninsula or shorten it. Otherwise, I would move the fridge at the other end of the wall, shorten the peninsula for better access, slide the stove and two counter tops to the right. in this case, I would see if I can move the door a few inches to the left. but I would wait a few months before changing to see how the present configuration works, what you like or not.

Am I to understand that to get to the new master you have to walk through the study and the office and to do so, it's not even in a straight line? Not good. Instead, I'd make the study smaller, and make that walkway from steps a "hallway" or at least a cased opening, and have the entrance from the "hallway" go directly in a straight line into the bedroom instead of the convoluted path you now have. The advantage is then you're also not walking directly into the dressing area and seeing into the bathroom. It will also make it a heck of a lot easier to move large furniture in and out. As for the open study, I vote no because it's nice to have quiet spaces and with it open, it won't work as a study but will be another space where you'll hear all the noise.