I'm always amazed at the amount of help people put into this board. So first off, thanks for reading and responding. I wish I could treat you to a cup of coffee or a beer for your help. To be fair to our KD, the plans that I posted were the 8th or 9th iteration. One of the first ones that she presented was very similar to bmorepanic's drawing above. My DW and I weren't crazy about that plan because we really like looking into the front yard as we prepare the meal. The other issue that we've really debated is opening the kitchen up into the living room. When we started this planning phase last year, that was a "must have" for me. I've since come to agree with the belief that we will benefit from having two open spaces: (1) the living room / dining room area and (1) the kitchen, nook, study area. As our kids (ages 6 and 3) get older, I think we'll want a second space for us to go when their friends come over. If it is all open then it will be hard to escape the kids. An architect friend also suggested that making one giant space might make the 8' ceiling seem low when you look from one corner of the house to the other. He said there were ways to get around it (breaking the line of sight on the ceiling), but to be aware of it. I'm sorry if I miss answering other questions. *houseful: in terms of the bedroom, our current bedroom is the biggest (10x13 ballpark), but we may move into this room to give us more privacy and keep the kids on the other side of the house (behind the fireplace). I'm nervous about the size, but like Rhome, we don't spend much time in our bedroom so having an efficient but small one is okay with us. *buehl: our house is a classic 1949 northern california ranch. The garage on the front has a door that accesses the left side of the house (as you are looking at the plans). The plans aren't on graph paper; would it help if I added a ruler into the picture? You asked about the windows in this room, and yes they are all windows looking onto our front yard or a wooded area that is the back part of an elementary school. You also asked about knocking down the wall between the study and the nook. Definitely an idea. I was also thinking about excluding the cabinets on the wall of the BN. My mom is a painter and we're lucky enough to have a number of her larger works around the house. I was thinking that it might be nice to put a painting on that wall. And like the last suggestion, I think we're going to try to make the refrig seem as built in as possible (a wall or hardwood ply). Todd

I think the attempt at a colonial look just does not mesh with the organic modern look it also had. I know it was done often as well as with the Spanish look (stucco, beams, etc...), but I just don't care for it. I think you could bring it forward into a more 70s natural look. Keep the ceiling and the slate floor, and try to work in clean elements and curves. Using raised panel doors and those hinges just did not look great when new, so to recreate would be period appropriate, but a mistake. I think a retro modern kitchen and vibe would make the most sense. Like noted above, you can use regular cabs under a curved counter. I could see it looking groovy with vertical grain veneer cabs, some retro color accessories and modern art. You can do an older style in a fresh way. There is no need to be a slave to someone else's vision for it, whether the original owner/architect, or some future buyer. If you added curves to your pix from 15:42 today, that would be quite nice. I am not sure you should whitewash your wood, but it is not a bad option. I would hate to see it get painted though. The workmanship and lines of it are really nice and that would sully it. I don't see too many painted surfaces as working in your house. I can picture grass cloth wallpaper and maybe some white walls. Certainly, you should skip crown molding.... Some funky table lamps in chrome would fit in as would some plants and macrame. I'd try to go for an ahead of its time look from years ago....

I agree with Patricia, kitchens are the most expensive, difficult space in the home to renovate and when you make even the smallest mistake it can throw everything off. Questions: Is this home on a slab? If so, plumbing changes will be prohibitive. If load bearing walls, expense goes way up, and you might not even be able to do it, so do consult with a structural residential engineer. You have done some good initial planning work which is a good thing. It makes you think through things. With basically 4 adults in your home, plus friends, etc. I would opt for the most kitchen space possible. However, your family room width is very challenging, especially with door wall, fireplace and kitchen so that is a serious consideration. Good luck. Remember, general contractors aren't kitchen designers, they are coordinators of craft! And they are in it to make money, so let the "buyer beware"!

OMG I love those Medallion kitchen cabinet doors! I've gone so far as to replicate them. I LOVE LOVE LOve their lines! I've had a pic of them forever, and have not given up on the idea of buying the doors for other cabinetry. My replicas are pretty darned good, though. LOVE them. I also live and breathe for inset cabinetry. It makes me go, "ahhhhooooooohhhhhhaaaaaaaa..." I disagree with FriedaJane that there is "a lot of lost space" with inset cabinetry. This has been beaten to death, but once the inset cabinets are put together, they're brought out to match the 12.75" "standard" cabinets, which makes the inside space the same. I'm here to tell you. Plus, if you were to order them, you can order them as deep as you'd like. (Brian @ The Cabinet Joint.com does it for me, yet the ones I've picked up at the H4H were the same depth!) A couple of commercial (Norcroft) base cabs I bought before I knew any better have really stupid upper drawers: 3" tall. Just look at that and get what you want. I've never heard that independent carpenters can't make frameless. It's so much easier than inset, because there's so much less precision. I'm one, who has no set, follow-the-lines design style. I think you can achieve a combination of the items you enjoy, and it'll look collected, vs. purchased. I feel sorry for people who buy the showroom and talk about their "eye." I must admit, that table is over the top fancy and oh, so fun. Right now I'm negotiating a butt-ugly armoire on CL. It's so ridiculously contrived it makes me laugh every time I look at it. Someone has painted it, so it's fancy-ness is somehow under control, but again, so over the top. If I get it, I'll make it work and love it. I really look forward to seeing what you bring together!