Did you ever notice a significant difference when changing from a small square table to a small round table? I agree, round might be better, but I don't know that it would solve the problem. If there's nothing else we could do, I guess we could get a more narrow table & some benches. We need to seat five regularly, though & I dont see us going much smaller on the table.

Pammyfay, that exact thing happened to me at Kohls a couple of weeks ago. I was in the store with my daughters and bought a pair of boots for one of them. They were $54 originally, on sale for $27. I bought them. While we were there, I saw a coat my older daughter liked but they didn't have her size. I decided to look for it online when we got home. First thing I noticed was that they were offering a 20% discount on all purchases (I'd had a 15% coupon I used in the store). They had the coat dd liked, so I bought that as well as a couple of other items. For some reason, I looked at the boots I had just bought not two hours earlier in the store. They were selling for $14.99 in the store plus 20% off. I purchased them again planning to return the ones I'd bought in the store which were double the price! I knew I'd be going back to the store anyway as I had another item to return so it wasn't a hassle and worth it to save $15 (actually almost $20 b/c the extra 20% off online vs the 15% off in store). It was pretty off-putting though to find the website was selling the exact same item at the same time for more than half what I'd paid in the store just hours earlier. Incidentally, I had something similar happen in the reverse at Lands End. I was exchanging some uniform shirts in the Lands End store at Sears that I'd ordered online. I'd gotten them on sale online but they didn't fit. I brought them to the store to return, explaining I wanted to exchange them for a different size, thinking they would re-order them for me. I didn't realize they carried the shirts in the store, so the salesclerk told me where they were. They only had one in stock and I needed two. When she rang me up, they came up even cheaper than what I'd paid online. She had to call lands End to order the second one, but they were advertising it online for the price I originally paid, not the in store price. However, the salesclerk told me that Lands End would price match the store price, which was 25% less. Funny how online vs brick and mortar can have such differing prices!

If you haven't totally lost patience with me yet, I did some doodling around this weekend and came up with this, which I'm calling "anchored island." (Ha!) Strengths of this one: 1. Ample counter space, including 2 prep areas. I don't think the second sink is necessary, but I put it in there as an idea. I don't use the sink a huge amount when prepping, typically. 2. Bar seating that is attached to the dining room. 3. Space for 2 cooks. 4. Adequate (48" plus) aisles. 5. Keeps wall ovens (not required, but preferred). Weaknesses: 1. Refrigerator position, particularly in relation to the bay window and the dishwasher. That's potentially a bit of a traffic jam. I put in a counter-depth fridge, but I would be willing to consider a built-in if that would make a workable plan. 2. Still a relatively small prep area between the main sink and the stove. I do think the proximity of the "island" to the refrigerator and cooktop helps alleviate that. Cooking prep could be done on the main cabinet wall, while secondary prep (salads, etc.) could be done on the "island."

I don't believe I would have any trouble getting that light switch moved by having that builder stand in the room with me and I would just stare at the switch and tell him he has completely lost his mind if he finds that acceptable. I would ask him to imagine replacing you with his mother, and his mother pleading her case to another builder about why the switch is in the middle of the room. If he has any decency, he will fix it. The whole expression " is this the hill you want to die on" is the worst expression. Every mistake, oversight, screwup, or other incompetent job needs to tackled as its own. Everyone starts acting like there is a bucket with ten chips in it and they must not squander these precious chips on supposed silliness like a switch in the middle of the room. Nonsense. Tackle all legitimate concerns aggressively. My best advice is don't be so worried about hurting their feelings. Most of them are numb and hardened so you almost have to be refreshingly forward in your delivery.