If I understand the seasons in India correctly, you have already been through the rainy season. Don't wait until the next rainy season to get the problem with your drainage fixed. Now will probably be the ideal time to get it fixed. Please get someone who will tell you what to do and then have the work done. The paint on that wall in your beautiful home will keep coming off!

It totally depends upon your cooking pattern. Indian cooking is more oily and tadka wala, so if its the same in your kitchen then i wouldn't suggest you to go for it. But if its not then its quiet easy and handy. Or you can have a powerful chimney and keep the shelves a little away from the cooktop.

You can't increase the depth of cupboard by just adding plywood doors. You have to apply wood to sides of the cupboard also. Suppose you have a corner cupboard, then either on left or on right side you have to add a wooden plank vertically. In this case the final cupboard will be a few inches out from the wall. It will look a bit awkward.

Rui, On the contrary, If you look from the left it should align with the base cabinet because they are in same size. Most likely, it will go off by 3/8 of an inch after the dish washer (as it has been wiggled in). It is too small a difference to be noticed by average person because they are at different heights. We are suggesting to change either the cabinet above sink or the single box above right of dishwasher. It will be easier and the filler will be least noticeable above the sink as the shutters are already of a different size. Good news, is that you may have the cabinet boxes already. You can check by placing them starting from the left most wall whether the above suggestion works for you. Thanks, Nitin Cornerstone Designs, Bangalore.