The Kitchen

So, I'm just a crazy blogger today. I put together new sketches of our kitchen remodel, and I wanted to share and get feedback. General notes:

• White cabinets with vertical insets. Yes, like Michelle's; just like Michelle's, I think.
• Removal of the soffit above the existing cupboards; who thought of those anyway?
• Cupboards on far left of the window are glass front, cabinet to ceiling, with a row of cubbies. I love the cubbies, but might forego them if I need a little more counter space.
• Dark wood countertops unless I find something I like better.
• Dark wood (laminate) floors.
• Stainless steel appliances.
• The walls will be a real red, I hope, and not that pinkish crayon red that appears here.
• We're closing the door into the kitchen and shortening it on the other end to open it into the living/dining area. It's going to be a great room (yup, totally chuckling to myself . . .)
• The island will match the cabinets, but be about 3" taller.
• We think we'll be able to center the sink better under the window with minimal effort. We'll see.
• The sink is a huge farm-style basin with a huge frontal presence. I love it, and will love it even more more with a tall antiqued faucet. Yum.

So, here's the floor plan, subject to some ooching and shuffling, but pretty well in place:

And here is each wall, first the way it is, then the way I wish it was:

And this is what we're doing right now to make sure that everything will work the way we want it. I decided to tape off the actual area of the island and put the table there for good times, then tape off the new wall of cabinets. I did this all early in the week, of course, then I opened my Martha Stewart Living tonight, and lo, there was someone doing exactly the same thing so he could see where his furniture would sit in his room. I am obviously Martha-worthy.

So, what do you think? Thoughts? Advice? Mean-spirited remarks meant to taunt and annoy? Well, if it's too mean, maybe you should email it . . .