I am right in this position right now. The plan was to take out this wall between the back door and the kitchen area. Plans were made, drawn up and I was excited about my new kitchen. I have now been told that it might be impractical since this turns out to be a load bearing wall! We are already over our budget so I am not keen on spending more putting in a new beam to open it up. Why did the planner and gc not realize this before my hopes were all set for an island. Nobody bothered to look in the wall to see what is there before plans were all finalized and. Now if I leave the wall the kitchen will be updated, but not with my island.

@renov8r - When it comes to decisions like that, we tried to look at the extra cost over the number of years that we would be using our kitchen, instead of just the up front cost. Since we intend to stay in this house for quite a few years, the cost per year of a particular change made it a much easier decision. Of course, it all depends on really how much that you can realistically swing up front. For us, we did end up going for some things that did increase the scope and cost, but cost per year breakdown wasn't too bad. So far, we don't have any regrets.

Renov8r, if getting an island is one of your top goals, do not proceed without getting it! Moving the load bearing wall may not be the only way, consider posting your plans here for more ideas. And please consider getting opinions/bids from another KD and GC - these folks let you down after pumping you up, that isn't a great beginning.

It occurs to me that an important corollary to "don't accept someone's word that you can't/shouldn't do something just because THEY can't/won't get paid for doing it" is this:
"don't accept someone's word that the only way to do something is the way that just so happens to make them, or cost you, money."