Stephynb, In all reality, as blocks come open, you'll do like everyone else... you'll pick up your seed packets and see what "fits" in that spot best. Will carrots or radishes grow quickly, or do you need a square of beans to make up for the ones that aren't producing yet? Oh, or would lettuce be better there because the tomatoes are getting big and the lettuce likes the shade better than the beans like it. You can plan your crop rotation and everything else to your heart's content, but your garden will tell you when it's ready for something else...and that something else may not fit the "plan" you have drawn. I rotate the heavy hitters from year to year. I planted my maters in a different bed this year than last year. I used what I learned last year about the sun patterns on my beds to lay out this year's garden.

Decorating a small apartment on an even smaller budget can be a tricky task. The goal is to create a living area that is comfortable, and enjoyable, while at the same time maximizing your space, and minimizing the amount of cash spent on the whole design project.

2LF - Yes, you are going about this the right way. Make a list of everything and try to play ahead of time where everything will go but I can tell you from experience, once you get in the space, you will change a few things here and there. (You sound basically exactly like I did a year ago trying to plan everything out. Below is an inspiring link in that direction.) Don't forget about cookbooks, dishtowels and paper towels. As far as where the pantry goes, I agree with you in term of open space and entertaining. The only thing I would say is having snacks and/or cups accessible to your kids in a cabinet that is out of your prep area and close(r) to the table might be nice. That is a potential benefit of moving the pantry. You can accomplish the same thing by putting a narrow cabinet at the end of the island. You currently have an overhang there but in another drawing, all four stools are on the back side - do you plan to use it for sitting? Here is a link that might be useful: Look at Buehl's Organized Kitchen Diagram (about 5 posts down)

@herbflavor Very good point. As for the sink basins, they have not been selected yet, but they will be big enough. @rhome410 Good food for thought, integrated, more or less, in to this new iteration. @springroz I really like the idea of a prep sink/prep area. Especially with where the fridge and stove are now, I think it will be a easy pull out of the fridge and place on the island. The island can also be a staging are for foods going to the stove. Not that you do not raise some valid points, I just see this working better for us. Ok, here is my latest iteration. I do not even want to know what version I am up to now. This kitchen design thing is more difficult than designing a network/phone/IVR for multinational call center :P Notes and stuff: - Loc A: 2 shallow drawers for cooking utensils. An open vertical area for cookie sheets, cooling racks, etc - Loc B: 1 shallow drawer for alum foil, parchmnet, plastic bags and the like. 2 deep drawers for regularly used pots and pans. - Loc C: 1 shallow drawer for flatware. Pullout for garbage - Loc D: 1 or 2 banks of 4 drawers - Loc E: Full height pull out for garbage and recycling - Loc F: Appliance (Mixer) lift and a bank of 4 drawers - Log G: Narrow (12") drawers or a door (or both) and an open corner. Message center, home phone, charging center, etc. This will also be the "flex area" for expansion. The way I see it is that I will have the cabinet and corner fitted with a sacraficial peice that the counter will be glued to. When/if the time comes that we want a wider fridge (up to 48"), we just remove the cabinet section, attach a new sacrafical peice and put the cutdown counter on that. It is all very simple in my head, not sure if I typed it out as simple as I see it. - Basement steps: When I go to look at the house again today, one thing I am going to look at the feasability of mounting a recessed MW in the wall there as well as trash and recycling center. Either to eliminate one of those area in the kitchen proper or to suplement them. There may be some other things I can do there to. (Recessed buffet and/or dry bar area or other convieniance. - Dining room wall. I know I can open up the doorway to a full 10'. Currently at 3.5' (I have it on here as opened to 5') and the partial wall is 6.5'. I may explore the potential of opening it all the way to the angled storage area, for a total of 13.5' of opening in to the dining room. I think the design is all coming together nicely. Thank you everyone for the your feedback and suggestions. Please keep them coming. Jason