Do you have any pics of the space as it exists now? Tha tmight help us visualize it better. I'm making some suggestion that may be based on incorrect assumptions, so a pic might clear things up if I'm wrong in assuming.

If you could steal a bit of space from your pantry, you could move your fridge to the wall that has the pantry opening and have a wall oven in place of the fridge. Then you could use the area close to the dining room for a lowered height baking area with a mixer lift and dedicated ingredients storage. For the message area that doesn't work for you, what about turning that into a snack center? Put in a MW under the counter or hanging from an upper and put in drawers to hold the cups and paper plates or whatever the snackers need to grab to do their thing but stay out of your hot zone. That would let you use a real vent above your cooktop instead of an OTR. You could also put in a bar sink and undercounter ice machine on the snack wall making it do double duty for entertaining. TO get seating for 4 at the island, you'd have to give up cabinets on the cleanup side and narrow your island. If you're willing to do that, then I think you could probably get seating for 4 rather easily.

First, welcome to the Kitchens Forum MileHiHouse! Interesting user name... From your post, I gather you're in the mountains...with a wonderful view! I'm sure you don't want to lose that!

On to your kitchen and some questions to start...

You say you don't want to move walls (and, I assume, doorways). However, if you're not willing to move walls (like Pantry walls), I'm not sure how much can be done with your "ugly" Pantry wall.

If you allow us to move the Pantry walls at least & we manage to come up w/a Baking Center somewhat separate from the general Prep Zone, would you want a single wall oven or double wall ovens?

It looks like you currently have:

• 30" Cooktop

• 30" Oven

• 42" Refrigerator (counter-depth or built-in?)

• 36" Sink Base, Cleanup Sink

• 18" Sink Base, Prep Sink

• 30" Microwave (OTR)

• 24" Dishwasher

• What's to the left of the cooktop?

Are you replacing any of the above? Will they differ from what they are now?

What is the extent of the remodel (new cabinets, counter, floor, island, etc.)? (I.e., gut to studs, just cosmetic, or somewhere in between?)

What is your family size & composition (infants/toddlers/young children/preteens/teens/no children/# adults)?

How long do you plan to be in your home? Is it your "forever" home?

Is the pantry on an outside wall? If not, what's behind it?

The answers to these questions will help us help you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

Thanks LiveWire and Buehl. I appreciate your thoughtful questions and insight. Photos are below. We're in the early optimistic stages of planning this and don't really know what needs to be done yet, so I guess I shouldn't rule out moving walls....

The snack center is an interesting idea live wire. I just moved the coffee maker to that counter and almost burned myself answering the phone. Moving the phone around the corner is next up...

On to your questions: Your assessment of the appliances is correct, Buehl. We can/should replace most or all of these. That's a grill (used primarily as a cooling rack!) next to the cooktop.

My husband and I have two teenagers who cook occasionally. They're often hanging out in our kitchen with their friends.

The stairway is behind part of the pantry. I included the blueprint so you can see. It's a little screwy in that center area where the stairs, closets, etc are located. We had problems with structural support during construction (oops!) and had to add extra beams in that area.

Our next move will be to downsize, but with the housing market as it is, we probably won't do this for 5 or more years. So this is a "for the foreseeable future" house. : )

There are indeed Rocky Mountains beyond the glare-filled windows. Snow-covered at the moment, reminding us that ski season is just around the corner.

Thanks again for your great questions and insights!

Buehl, I forgot to answer your question about whether our refrigerator is counter depth or built-in. It is counter depth, but I thought that all counter-depth refrigerators were built-in? I must misunderstand what "built-in" means. Does it refer to the wood surface on the front and sides rather than the depth?

I'm not Buehl, but since I'm here: Panel-ready or panel-front have wood doors. Builtin fridges don't have finished sides, and must be built in to a wall or cabinet. Freestanding counter depth fridges can be made to look builtin, but really aren't.

Do you not use the kitchen table much? Was just wondering why you wanted so much island seating with the table so near.

If the fridge was on the family room side of the pantry door would that be too far? Another option would be to put the dbl oven there and use the fam room end of the island as baking space, leaving the stove end free for prep. The area that's now a message area could be built in behind the fridge or oven.

I don't think you mentioned the butler's pantry area. It looks like great space, but do you utilize it as such and want to leave it as is, or is it something you could change or give up? Did you like Live Wire Oak's suggestion to make it a baking center?

I have a question, do you have an inspiration photo or an idea of what your ideal kitchen should look like? If so, can you share with us. It is helpful to have a picture in mind. Secondly, can the soffits be removed? What is your main purpose for the kitchen? Gathering place, a true chef's kitchen, etc.

Is the wall where the pantry is a load bearing wall or where the door is? Can you eliminate the pantry? I think you can reconfigure that space as a breakfast bar and all your pantry and fridge storage can go there. I think you can also have a wider island and remove the overhang seating on the island. If you can eliminate the pantry, it will create a smoother walkway and remove several doors from your kitchen.

Good luck!