Oh, yeah, Dalette - you've found a passion that will challenge you, that will fill your days with a lot of joy and just a bit of sorrow (we all lose a few...), but it's a hobby that will keep you busy once you get into it. Plants (Hoyas & succulents) have been a lifelong hobby for me because I don't have children - I imagine trying to do BOTH would be challenge a lot of people couldn't handle! Which probably explains why the cactus/succulent club I belong to is mostly us older folks! Denise in Omaha

I must also thank all those who advise here. Because of ya'll and the things I've learned here over the last year or so, my HVAC guy says I'm the most informed customer he's had in quite some time. Oddly, we also ended up with the very same system he has in his own home. THANKS AGAIN!

There are some problems I don't like here, but there may also be some ideas you can play with. Can you, do you even want to, take down the wall between den and kitchen? This gives you great prep room. I do urge you to add an extra sink if the idea of an island appeals to you. You will love it. If you don't want seating at the island and if you don't mind moving another foot into the den, the island could be double-sided with cabinets facing the den and the kitchen. Biggest problem: fridge is far away from pool traffic, and fridge and DW somewhat interfere. Not a great problem if you usually work alone in the kitchen. For me, biggest plus: you would have prep area facing an attractive room instead of a wall. Personally, I would go no deeper than 18" in the storage opposite the kitchen table, and even that is crowding passage when someone is seated at the table. But the storage there, and an 18" deep cabinet top for toaster and such like would be very nice. I would prefer this to floor to ceiling pantries which would really crowd the feeling of the already small eating area. It is a tough area to work with. Please let us know what you finally decide to do--and share pics when you finish! This post was edited by Bellsmom on Sat, Feb 15, 14 at 10:55

Oh, Lavender Lass! I just now saw your modification of Buehl's layout #3, and it's right in line with what I've been playing around with tonight. My sister-in-law keeps reminding me that I want to keep traffic out of my cooking zone so I was thinking about a peninsula coming out from under that window next to the oven cabinet. Is the cabinet that you've rotated from under the window in the entry hall still counter high? I like your addition of a plant next to it near the window. I wasn't sure in my drawing how it would look if the countertop ended in the middle of the window but with a plant there it kind of looks right. The variation that I've been working on tonight has the doorway separating message center counter and the fridge storage, but I think I might like your way better. And I like that you managed to tuck in an extra stool on the island, too. I'm still torn between buehl's Layout 1 and Layout 3/4 -- the latter puts the cleanup zone in a more visible spot from the entry, and then I wonder if I'd use the prep sink much since that area between the cleanup sink and the range is a natural for prep. Well except that the fridge is across the room and there's an island to navigate around to get from it to the sink. So I think you're right, and the space will work best if the fridge is closest to the entry hall and maybe I'll just knuckle under and dry those few dishes I tend to let drip-dry on the counter. I'll see if I can get my modification of Layout 3/4 in shape to post just in case you or anyone else might have any thoughts or comments. Oh, did you also slide the island closer to the dining room?