My main concern is the island. It's 6x3 and we wanted to reduce it to 5x3 but maybe we should change the footprint also? Any suggestions for a different layout? I'm trying to keep seating for at least 2 and maybe a landing zone for the stove, but lose the "too large" island. The seating is entirely too tight! Teens and little kids don't mind it but no one else will sit there and even without barstools the passage way between the island and the wall feels too small. The ceiling is 8' and the walls can't come down. A pass thru is possible to the DR, although it might open it up visually I'm not sure how that would look and the seating wouldn't change inside the kitchen. The DR is also tight so putting stools in there would also make it tighter. The intake must stay, because the renovation to move that would be too much. This island is so large but convenient! I always thought if I had the chance to get rid of it, I would. We never did because of loss of storage concerns and the floor under it is an unknown. Now I realize how much I use it.

We've thought about simply moving the island cabinets to the wall, but then we are back to no seating and no landing zone.

Sorry the drawings are not to scale. Any ideas on a new shape? Size? Or direction?

Right now our kitchen is "get in, cook, get out". I would love it to be a place to sit and have coffee/chats with family or a friend.

http://s1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/Laurensmom2010/?action=viewät=DSC03328.jpg

http://s1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/Laurensmom2010/?action=viewät=DSC03328.jpg#!oZZ6QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1224.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee363%2FLaurensmom2010%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DDSC03327.jpg

Colors? The floor is oak. I have been trying to find something to look good with it. Thank goodness for the photos here!

We looked at Kraftmaid cabinets and we're both liking the Chestnut with a dark granite OR Biscotti/Coconut glaze with either dark (Emerald Pearl is my fav) or maybe N V Gold. I'm just not able to decide! DH doesn't care he just wants it done yesterday.

There's one eastward window above the sink so would the chestnut be too dark? It would coordinate with our dark DR furniture.

I've never used a white kitchen and wonder how hard it would be to keep it from chipping or general cleaning? I've also read about KraftMaid cabinets having some problems with the white finishes? Although I have a formal living room my house isn't formal and it has a modern cottage look (with a small porch)outside.

I think either color would look ok. Just need suggestions on how to decide? Or if there is a better choice? We currently have builder grade medium oak cabinets and almond formica, so this is a big change.

Here's the floor.

http://s1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee363/Laurensmom2010/?action=viewät=DSC03328.jpg#!oZZ4QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1224.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee363%2FLaurensmom2010%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DDSC03304.jpg