EXAMPLE #1: L-shape, Table & Chairs, Remove Bench for Fridge and More Counter * Your Back Door: where they have large ceiling to floor window. * 1st Counter Along Window Wall: counter top with sink under window, and upper cabinets over counter on either side of the window. * Turn to Right Side and Create 2nd counter: put your full stove where this picture has a cook top. * Removed closed wall so your kitchen is open to the hall. * With this expanded "wider" space that combines with the hall, you can put a round table with four chairs. (Almost where they have their "counter island". * In your diagram, to the left of the door is your bench. If you have a table & chairs in the "wider" space, could you remove the bench? * On the wall where the bench was: a. put a fridge, b. build a counter with cupboards overhead. ********************************************************************************************************************* Example #2: U-shaped Kitchen In this photograph, beginning from the left-side corner: * Back door. * Fridge (theirs is built-in / too expensive for me / just put a fridge with freezer). * 1st Counter: Your sink under window. * Right turn: 2nd Counter: Stove (they have stove-top and built-in own below). * Since a full fridge & freezer is beside the door, you can use a longer counter to the right of the stove. * (Ignore their sink in this picture.) * 3rd Counter with cupboards below and above. * Remove bench. Along the "removed bench" wall: a. buy an "island" on wheels with chairs; b. when you are alone you can use this table-top for large cooking projects; c. use the island and chairs for eating; d. use a chair to change your shoes coming/going into the backyard. ******************************************************************************************************************** EXAMPLE 3: L - SHAPE * Remove lift-top freezer. * Keep sink under window. Have counter on both sides of the sink. * Counter on the right. * On this second counter, put stove (they have a stove-top and built-in oven). * Remove the wall so the kitchen and hallway are combined. * Move the fridge against the Bedroom #1 wall (on the kitchen side). * On the bench wall. Make the bench smaller so it will fit under a kitchen table. Use the table top for food preparation. When you have company, pull the table away from the bench so you can sit on the bench and use the table. With a small bench, you can put a table on this wall. Build the bench in a U-shape. Put baskets or wood boxes underneath to keep your boots and shoes. This table costs $99 at Ikea. When it is folded in, it can be used as a counter-top. So you don't obstruct the back door from opening, you can push this table over the bench. When you have company, you can pull-out the table's sides to make a larger table top. www.ikea.com Table Name: BJURSTA Table Description: Extendable table, birch veneer Size: 19 5/8" wide x 27 1/2" deep (when table is folded) x 35 3/8" height x 35 3/8 " (when table is unfolded). ******************************************************************************************************************** EXAMPLE #4 If you remove: * the lift-top freezer, and * the wall between the kitchen and hallway. * Will you have room to build a counter from where the freezer was into the space that was the hallway? * Move the fridge to the wall against the 1st Bedroom * In this photograph, there are many "fancy extra" to ignore (i.e. built-in ovens). I think your stove would be on the counter where this picture shows just a built-in range top. Hope something from these suggestions is a help to you! - K

Depends on your house and what you want. We planned out our renovation and have drawn a timeline in pencil on the wall and put the things we want to do on post it notes that we re arrange as we rethink what to do first etc... It keeps changing, things move up and down the line but every idea is still there. First thing is to get imagining and have fun thinking of what you want the place to look like. Look for some photos of rooms you like for inspiration and have fun scheming and dreaming! Then figure out your budget and see what can be done from your dream list. I think organising your to do list into chunks according to manageable budget amounts works. So like $5000, $2000 or whatever. The main things to do first is decide what you can leave as is, what works and plan the house around that. The less you have to change the better. The first things to do will be the ones that have the biggest impact, so typically new appliances, maybe new floors, reorganising rooms to flow and function practically, maximise sunlight and airflow, storage. Again it will depend entirely on what your house needs.

i would fill in the space above the dishwasher with cabinets, to balance the look. i would even consider swapping out that rangehood for a slide out built in one, and make that entire wall cabinetry around the window. As you would lose all your top cupboards if you remove the wall in between, you will most likely need additional storage. also, i think that building it all in, will actually streamline the look, as the rangehood does look a bit squashed in between the fridge and the window. i like isellev's idea of taking out the wall, but bookending with storage pillars. Very functional, and would look great i believe. you could even plan them so they can have some storage on both sides, so then they look nice from the living side, as well as being functional. good luck.

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