Well I think my husband mainly wants to hide the chocolate stash away from me as where I would use it to store vases and everything else that you usually keep in the top of the pantry(you only get out once or twice a year). He does have a point but I am worried about boxing ourselves in - no room for growth. He is definitely not itching for his next project (we have been working weekend, after weekend on this house - decking, paving, etc) I worry about the lack of storage. Mainly because I really just like to finish a room and move on. Because I use this space every day its annoying me with how uncompleted it feels to me. I do think it needs something to finish it off and look complete. But I'm glad you like it though Madeline :) I have been researching with what people have suggested and the main trouble I foresee having is actually getting the right product delivered and available. Most don't ship to where I am (I live in a small coastal city) and its about 5hrs drive from the only Ikea in the state or I will have to wait 8 weeks for delivery from over east. So I really have to plan it right. I am reading the reviews on open shelving... well lets just say that is interesting. Thanks again!

We have a glass rangehood similar to Futuro Futuro's Acqualina Glass product and I love it. The top and bottom of the glass gets given a clean about once a week with citrus multi-purpose cleaning spray and then wiped down with a moistened glass cleaning cloth for a pristine finish. Takes around 5 minutes in total. Cleaning the brushed stainless part is more difficult. As mentioned previously, its hard to remove all the marks. Will definately try the WD40. Me, personally, I don't like the mirrored finish. Given the window is acting as the "splashback" I would have gone for something invisible like what Sheryl Horton showed.

How about moving a fridge to where a pantry is per you idea, then make the rest of the right hand side cabinet a full height cabinet all the way in, and move oven and microwave to this right hand side wall. You should have a bit more storage space. For a sink, you can opt for one big single bowl either a 500 or a 700. I have had one 700 bowl for a few weeks and really like its functionality over two bowls sink of similar footprint. Keeping breaky area is nice, perhaps free up the space below like in the above comment is a good compromise for visual aspect. you could also opt for a glass top to make it a bit less intrusive.

No, I'm sorry, but it doesn't work for me at all. That unrelieved expanse of shiny white is quite disorienting. You don't quite know where the light is coming from. But the colour isn't the main problem here. Although it isn't pretty, the "before" kitchen actually has a lot going for it. The new kitchen has the benches all at the same height, which is a problem because different kitchen tasks are most comfortable at different heights. The surface that houses your sink needs to be relatively high so that when you're using the sink you don't have to bend your back. That's uncomfortable! Conversely, a cutting surface is better if it's relatively low, because that way you can control the knife better. It's a safety thing. The new kitchen has the cooktop and the sink under wall-mounted cupboards. You're absolutely sure the extractor fan whisks all the steam and particulates out of there? Most don't, you know. And with the cupboards at that height, if you're standing close enough to cook or wash up can you see to the back of the bench? No, it's not you, it's the design. Look at the old kitchen. It has surfaces at a variety of heights, and although the sink is under a cupboard you can stir the sauce on the stove without bumping your head, I think. I could be totally wrong about this. The featured kitchen might be a joy to work in. I do think, though, that this does not look like a kitchen designed by a cook.