We will be building in about 12 months and a butler's pantry is an absolute must. Bear in mind though that we have bought 100 acres and my aim is self sufficiency. We will have our own beef, pork, chicken, duck and of course eggs and veges. Butler's pantry for me will be a food prep area for preservation and storage and to have probably at least 2 large freezers. Now I could arguably just use the kitchen but I want a door way to articulate outside to the garden and I still want a space (kitchen) to do normal cooking and living. I know this is a little different from a suburban situation buI I have to mention that my very suburban sister has a small butler's pantry and I love it. The toaster and the coffee machine are out of sight but hugely accessible. She can have that messy and nobody knows out cares! At the end of the day I obviously love a good pantry but there are also some innovative cupboard ideas that certainly seem worth looking at!

Personally I love angles & splays, BUT they have to have purpose and be functional. Without seeing more surrounding context hard to comment but i can't help wondering why this all being so squeezed in one area, but then almost wasted/under-utilised space in-between the island and the table - it's like the pantry's boxing/internalising the kitchen which is not ideal.....either way I'd make sure that it flows and is functional and not awkward anywhere

Unfortunately Erina, your best bet sometimes in this industry is to cut your losses and if it important enough to rectify, outsource a separate contractor/company to come in and re-do it at your own expense.....you just have to look at it as part of the cost of your project.......many people will have stories of deciding pay twice (sometimes more!) to eventually achieve the satisfactory results - ultimately you have to live with it long term and sometimes it's worth it to get it right....ultimately only you can make that decision one way or the other........it's not necessarily right or fair, but unfortunately these are the risks (& hard lessons) of building Best of luck Erina, PD :)

some extra ideas without changes to external walls or windows, removing the ens bath would allow an extra biw and giant shower (although an external door from the ensuite could be great for access to the pool or courtyard) strongly suggest you keep the hallway entry to the powder room for easy access from garage and home office and, adding sliding doors could make the home office more flexible for a future baby's room, the original study divided into garage storage and mudroom, walk in new pantry with sink, replacing the crooked central walls allows for the pantry, extra storage, private access to the minor bedrooms and bathroom and a better location for the heater ...simple refurbishing of the kitchen and ensuite with relatively minor demolition and reconstructing of walls and storage could easily use up $150,000 so probably best to plan and price each area separately but there are extras like the sink in the pantry and handbasin in the family toilet that will improve comfort and be much better value than changing any external doors or windows