Sink wall:

Pantry wall:

Details:
The area is 12x10', opens up to a living room. There is a gas meter near the ceiling to the right of the sink about 2 ft down 2ft across. The narrow upper and the half of the open shelf upper(open for dishes) to the right of the sink will enclose it. The sink cabinet is 12" away from the window since I didn't want to hit the window(it's been built out 7" with molding). I inserted a 12" open base shelf in that spot to hold olive oil cans and baskets of onions, garlic, potatoes.

On the pantry wall is a fire escape window, circuit breaker box and steam pipe. I put a shallow 10" wall pantry(it's essentially a bookcase) for mason jars/baskets because I can't continue cabinets to the window. The open upper on this wall will cover the circuit breaker(cut out for access) and the CB box will be painted the same color as the uppers. Next to the circuit box is a floor to ceiling steam pipe which will be boxed in with metal behind it to bring the heat forward. A decorative grate will be inserted into the box. The steam pipe will be insulated below the base cabinets and covered with a filler between the undercounter fridge and base drawer cabinet.

The original kitchen although a good size, only had a small area by the sink/DW of counter space. I had an outlet for the fridge and a wall outlet installed on the pantry wall to enable me to put cabinets there. I figured that because I am using a large (31") SS undermount sink I need to increase the counter, which in turn allows me to have 2 large drawer cabinets.

Now to the fun details :)
Shaker(Homestead door), Inset style.
The uppers including the pantry and fridge panels will be painted soft white, lowers and molding medium Cherry Coffee. All uppers will be finished inside, and the glass(English Flemish), and Cherry molding increased the cost. The final cost made me ...PANIC. Have you ever second guessed yourself...1000x.
On the other hand I have no experience with current costs since I haven't purchased anything in years ! LOL.
The 50% deposit has been paid(GULP!) and I hope to get the final measurements taken and an installation estimate this week. Because of the steam pipe and cutting out back panels for the gas meter/circuit box the installation will be more work than for a straight install. :(
Thank you all for your encouragement, especially shadesofidaho for reading my emails. I have been doing research into cabinet prices so after my initial MELTDOWN I realized that the cost is not excessive to get a finished kitchen within the constraints I had. No gas lines/water lines can be moved. The freestanding range remains between the two windows which I think is the best place. I open both windows when I grill on top with a cast iron pan or use a wok.(I'm keeping my old Magic Chef for as long as he cares to stay!)
Any kind words of encouragement would be....GREATLY APPRECIATED.

The second fridge is a great idea, too. I should look into something like that for my island!

By the way, I like your DH's attitude. He must really love you and just wants to see you happy.

Hi Lynn
Thanks-I've read your posts and hope you find a good dealer & installer. There's only one dealer in my area but you have a few so get your layout done and get a few quotes when you are ready.
Hardware is the brushed nickel knobs the dealer gives you and I'm purchasing brushed nickel cup pulls ("Top Knob" is the company) from the dealer. I refuse to obsess about hardware ! I might buy a few cabinet latches to put on the glass cabinets/sink. I have 5 weeks to make that decision. :)

Keeping your kitchen appliances like the range in the same spot saves a lot of expense, and who knows what amount of problems moving gas lines and such.

Your successful planning is very encouraging to me, and heaven knows I've been dreading it. (What if somebody says I cannot have what I've always wanted?)

It will be great to see your progress.

Curious if the housing is in the same slump we are here?

who would DARE do that? not your dh I'm sure!

both of those cottages are lovely! the land around that first one is just awesome - what a view to see every day!

Well I can tell you what happens when you don't stand back and think and stick with what you want. This happened to me because of exhaustion/frustration/too many carbohydrates...We originally bought cabinets at a Salvage shop...They are new look like display cabs.
1)they don't cover everything(pipe/meter/circuit box)
2)I now hate them.
I agreed to them b/c of the insides. I had never had drawers or pullouts before(only builder grade cabs w/shelves) or a pull out cutting board-these have it all including two tall frosted glass towers. I was enthralled b/c of something as simple a drawers ! Why haven't I had this in the kitchen before? Why isn't this standard in all kitchens for new home builds not just semi custom or non-stock higher end ?
3)They will be sold on craigslist.
Before I started this apt. reno. I didn't even realize how many bottom freezer fridges there were. I guess b/c everyone in my family bought the typical freezer on top $400 model. I know I need to get out more !
After looking at Armstrong/Kemper/Hanssem I picked Shiloh immediately, did not question the style/construction not once. I had to take 3 trains and a cab to get to the dealer...once I decide that's it. I hope it looks good once it's up. If everything weren't so expensive it would be easier to make decisions wouldn't it ?

(What if somebody says I cannot have what I've always wanted?)

I was agonizing over that yesterday. Dh tweaked the size of the refrigerator cabinet so it wasn't as deep as I originally planned (and a good thing too as it already seems massive), and there wasn't room for the phone center facing the same direction as the fridge. So I began looking at it again. I could do without the coat rack and just put a shallow closet in, but then the shoes wouldn't fit either. But I want it all!!! So I decided to go with a much simpler bench and a separate shallow cabinet overhead.

I couldn't do the big cuts alone so dh took over and is building most of it, so I'm not sure what the final result will really be. But it is so disappointing when you have been dreaming of what you want and then can't have it.

Eatrealfood, you have put a lot of thought into your kitchen in order to work around the challenges. It looks like it will be beautiful. Are you saying that you have to sell your apartment to buy the cottage? Were you planning to move to Ireland, or is DH just doing some internet dreaming?

Shades: things are very down there. That's why we haven't jumped on anything yet. To convert the money add about 30% so if something lists as 200euros it's $260. The estate agents are not realistic, no one is going to pay those list prices now.

We've been looking for a duplex that we can live in one side and have income from the other. But we haven't been able to find anything like that around here yet.

DH is "first generation" which means he has dual citizenship, US and Ireland, because both his parents were born there. I wanted to buy the old family cottage, over two hundred years old, in Fahanlunaghta near Miltown Malbay and LaHinch.
The last brother farming the land died, and the farm and house were sold quickly. I am so sad about that.

However, I will continue to dream of moving to Ireland. My concern would be possibly losing my two parrots, if they are not acceptable to them because of avian diseases.

You'll have to stay in touch, you know. Love the cottage.
Love the weather! Love the green and the gardening.

Who knows, we might just find out that Eatrealfoods and my DH or her DH are related. Ireland is a bit magical that way.

Oh. An Irish joke....
You know what Irish altzheimers is?
You forget everything except the grudges.
(I guess you have to be Irish to appreciate that one.)

lol! great way to save on batteries...

We spent a week in County Cork (Around Bunratty) last year & I fell in love with Ireland. Friendliest & greenest place I've ever been. Love the cottage. We found the real estate market to be hugely depressed there & there are many bargins! Not so many cottages. Lots of new construction. There seemed to be for sale signs everywhere and the locals said prices were way down.

Marti - Sorry about you having to tweak some of your kitchen plans. It is frustrating when you know exactly what you want in your head & they tell you it won't work. Have been going through that for 2 months with our bathroom remodel but I'm finally seeing daylight at the end of a very long tunnel!! Hang in there.