Kitchen

Things like to have: open to dining room / incorporate space for entertaining better, view to pool, fridge that makes ice, oven and stove top can be separate (range and oven), storage for nice things (vases etc -- possibly in dining room where piano is), place for Meg's crafts, tv, clean countertops (mixer hidden etc), dual sink is preferred for air drying, small bathroom in space, display cabinets (for steins and coke bottles), hello kitty things part of eclectic mix. glass and windows, lights, light colors, subway tile, dark floors, mix of light and dark colors (dark woods that recall rest of house), traditional look but modern use-ability. I like our square table that we all sit around -- like more seats -- don't like "bar" rather have a kitchen table. Could even keep the current one as the "island" to save money. Outlets for sure and sink in island? We use two freezers currently. Would like "beverage area" - wine cooler, beer storage, ice machine :) KITTY LITTER ISSUE MUST BE SOLVED. Cat/dog food issue must be solved: place for cat/dog food (cat food has to be up so dog cannot eat it). Open/incorporate dining room/pool area. Storage needs to be increased.
Things I don't really need: Don't need marble countertops! don't need real-wood floors (unless the real wood is under the layers that is), don't need custom cabinets (happy with pre-fab), don't have to have hot water at stove (but like the idea). Happy with/can live with: counter space right now is OK (storage not), sink looking over pool OK, the table and its "patina" from our life in the kitchen, stools OK, I can live with stove and fridge for now if moved to new location,
Not happy with: fridge where it is, feeling closed off from dining room, small space when we are all in here and crafts being done, hate the floors (hate them! but afraid of clay from Meg on new floors more), cabinets are horrible - organization terrible (my fault), feeling of disjointedness in the space, cat litter in dining room (hate that),
Plugs in kitchen pantry for charging, or for items that may end up living there
-Full size broom cupboard in pantry or laundry room to hide all the cleaning items away from sight withplugs in several closets for charging a cordless vacuum.
Dryer vent lint box
pre wire for generator to essential areas.
Definitely recess your fridge, which means having a closet-like dip into your wall, but with no door, of course. Ours aligns perfectly to the depth of our pantry, which is right next to it, and which doubles as a broom closet, so that the next room didn't have a strange bump in it.
Kitchen features on my wish list...
drawer microwave
knife drawer
pull-out garbage/recycling/laundry (for dirty dish towels/napkins/bibs!)
paper towel holder in drawer slot
drawers for all lower cabinets (more efficient use of space)
two soap pumps at sink (one for handsoap, one for dish soap)
motion sensor on pantry light
place to store fresh fruit
easy-access place to store frequently used appliances
place to hang aprons
place to hang hand towels
place to store broom / kitchen vacuum
recess the fridge