Kitchen

Think of kitchen layout as an upside down G. Current position of sink, range and bar area is most like the white "Moroso Construction" kitchen. Wonder if we could convert the currently attached "breakfast island" to a bar that extends all the way to the backyard wall and back it further into the dining room to create more kitchen space - build cabinets like the ones in the photo to the right of the sink.

I like the bar area in the "Janie K. Hirsch" kitchen. Would use all the space under the bar for drawers and cabinets (would lose the drawer space currently under the coffee pot area). Would like to build some kind of open shelving above the bar similar to the example in the "www.thisoldhouse.com" kitchen without the top row of cabinets. However, the trade-off of openness and light for the load bearing structure of the shelving might not be worth it.

For lighting, I'm thinking a chandelier over the bar and maybe recessed lights in the ceiling like the "Louie Leu Architect" kitchen and LED lighting under the cabinets for prep work. Also like the idea of the angled power strip under the cabinets ("Task Lighting" photo).

Replacing refrigerator and moving it where the ovens are and moving the ovens to where the refrigerator is. Will plumb the refrigerator for an ice-maker. Replacing the range (with gas if budget allows) and the dishwasher. Apparently, the microwave must be replaced also.

Will remove the "desk" area and will create a wall of cabinet space and shallow drawers. Will clean, sand and repaint current "pantry" cabinets - might rebuild to match "desk" area cabinetry if budget allows.

For colors, I am vacillating between a very pale yellow ("Louie Leu Architect" kitchen) and very pale sage green ("Rick O'Donnell Architect" kitchen). If I go with the yellow, I'll use the greenish quartzite countertops. If green, I'll go with something like the white "Bianco Quartzite".