Thanks :) All very good points. We thought about having the cabinet doors put in for the fridge but we personally haven't found them to be too practical in the past. Ones we've used haven't seemed to seal so well. We are also planning to upgrade the fridge in the next couple if years. Good thinking about placement of the microwave too. We have a power pack range built into the wall cabinets so unfortunately we can't put the microwave above the cooktop. I like the idea of the appliance cupboard being turned into a corner cupboard, although I'm unsure if that would mean that you then couldn't easily access it from the other side of the bench..? I'm hoping our kids will sit at the breakfast bar and make their own toast etc while keeping out of the kitchen itself.... I also wonder if we should have the wall cabinets all in the same line or if we could drop the usable ones, on either side of the power pack, down further to give us more storage....? And (I promise this is my last dilemma!) does anyone have any ideas on whether to place the 1/4 sink to the left or the right of the main sink? Again it's one of those things that I'm going around in circles about....next to the prep area vs next to the dishwasher.....? ...... Ahhhh decisions, decisions ;-) Thanks again

You have a good nice project planned here, with your kitchen now a part of large living space. Here, though, are some cautions and suggestions. Your extra-large peninisula counter and full window wall over the sink seem to be features that you like and want - but they also cause some problems with this plan. If two people are ever in the kitchen, one will be trapped there. And even for one, the peninsula forces an irritating hike around it to the table for serving and clean-up. Table and array of counter stools are uncomfortably close together, creating congestion especially when occupied. And while your back wall may well contain a fridge, wall ovens, pantry and cook-top, it would just barely do so - and leave no other space at all for counter. This, together with your nice bank of windows on the outside wall leave no space at all for upper cabinet dish storage. I agree with Laurie that an island here would be much preferable. I would put the sink and dishwasher on an island, with fewer stools, and some mid-height dish storage - letting gatherings of more than two or three enjoy the table in a conversational arrangement instead of facing away from the room in a row. I would also minimize the window array a bit, and extend the kitchen toward the dining table window a foot or so - and put the wall ovens at this end of the "L" - with no side wall at the left. This would distribute your countertop space more happily among your work stations, allow for some upper cabinet storage, and make the kitchen feel more part of the nice big room, instead of separated from it by the peninsula. Perhaps a careful in-person visit with a kitchen designer would be wise before you build this fun new addition. Good luck! Mark

Thank you for all your comments. We have been looking at the black granite composite made by Franke but is triple the price of Blanco. Was concerned the black composite would scratch etc. will probably go two stainless steel, because as previous poster mentioned the blacks are never the same. Sure I will be back for more help or advise.

This is a kitchen going into a dog kennel building so I'm not too worried about resale. My dogs are raw fed and so I spend quite a bit of time prepping food, washing bowls, etc. I'm only 5'6" but I've been doing these tasks in our house... in our current kitchen which has counters at 35 1/2"... and my back is constantly killing me after I get done. I've purchased a long stainless steel counter top for the kennel (with built in sinks) but plan on the cabinets underneath being custom built. Just can't figure out what height. I was wondering... if I'm sitting at a table (which is comfortable for me to work at for hours on end) and I measure where the table top "hits" on my body and then stand and measure the distance to the floor, it's about 41". I'm wondering if that is an indication as to where my counters in the kennel should be! Seems awfully high! I may need to take the counter top I've bought and put it on some saw horses and varying heights and work on it to see what is best before I make the call!