Different strokes for different folks, as they say. We have a butlers pantry, smallish, with a sink in it. The pantry has become effectively a walk-in pantry, with storage, a wine fridge and the toaster and microwave. It's very useful, but we almost never use the sink because there isn't enough practical counterspace and because, well, who wants to do dishes in a closet? We also have an island, with a single basin sink in it, and of course the dishwasher. That's where we do prep, and it works just fine for us. We can watch TV while pealing spuds or washing those dishes that don't go into the dishwasher. Even with the sink, there's still plenty of prep space, and we have a good work triangle between sink, oven on the wall directly behind it, and fridge, oven and pantry on the end wall. In practical terms, the arrangement works for us. When we entertain, we clean up and load the dishwasher as we go, dump the pots and pans in the butler's pantry, wipe off the bench, and we're good to go. And since it's only a single basin undermount sink, the look is clean enough for us.

Thanks for posting this dilemma - I am facing the same predicament! I have been stalking pendant lights over kitchen islands for about 18 months now and have noticed that there are a lot of interior designers, in new builds and online etc. who are using two pendant lights instead of the very common ''rule of three''. This is more so the case when the lights are quite distinctive or a feature. You don't want to close in the space or obstruct the line of sight... yet you do want to opt for functionality and balance. I have just sold (argggg!) my three medium solid black pendants and have opted for a ''lighter'' feeling material that are larger, to ensure they balance. sit above a 2.8m lenght bench. What did you decide to go with.

thank you for the suggestions & the photo helpful I get down to a ushaped kitchen with a 2.2m island & sink maybe across the U and a servery bifold window - does this close out the room and make it look crowded ceilings are 3.1m OR the island butted close to sliding doors which looks like an island when sliding doors are opened like the photo Also does the window splash back add very much in a small kitchen with no outlook from this window, that is the splashback window spilts the attention focus and doesnte seem to add much to the overall perspective. Is a more traditional title a better option & shift all of the focus to the large sliding door opening & garden.

It's time to relay our crazy paving and put in a new underlay(ants, weeds and undulating surface...) Do we reuse our natural stone paving or get new pavers like to rest of town? Taking into account that the going price to relay(That's not lift, clean and prepare) is 100-150 per sqm compared to 80 to buy new pavers and have them laid. Big question is are they too busy? Is it a niche market that appreciates them for resale? What to use in the adjoining pool area? (Buying more at 130per sqm out if the question)