Kitchen Planning!

We are renovating our kitchen starting next month, so last night I looked at all our ideas we have been collecting and drew up the plans... the for real ones. *wow* I am so excited about having a more functional kitchen I can hardly believe that after all this planning we are finally getting going on it!

There are so many things to consider - like having a proofing drawer for raising bread - would LOVE one of those in the new kitchen, and an island for rolling out dough and  other large food preparation.... and finding the right stove - right now I have my heart set on a 48 inch dual oven, 6 burner + a grill gas stove... (swoon), I love the Liebherr fridges... but they are pretty expensive - not sure w can justify the money at this point. Which leaves us wondering what do you choose as an interim appliance after looking at the top of the line?

Then there is the whole space management thing - making sure there is room for all the 'occaisional' appliance storage,  room to move around comfortable with 3 cooks in there at a time sometimes, making sure the kitchen can grow with our small children, as it is also craft and creative expression central for them - and will be until they are at leat 12.  Hell, even though we have a craft and sewing room, my 21 year old daughter and I turned the family room and kitchen into creative textile remodeling central just recently ourselves...

In our home, the kitchen really is the heart, so while I am super excited to get started - I want to make sure I have considered all the important elements and that I don't overlook anything in my excitement. We also want to keep in mind our commitment to enviornmental responsibility, and if there are ways to make the kitchen a more green space at the end of the reno.  Things like a better place for the compost pail than on the counter or under the sink.... other waster management, and "green" energy management

This is the first kitchen we will completely gut and re-do, other kitchen renovations in past houses have always been facelifts only.... Off to look at cabinets - again, and to see what fits into our design specs now that we have more or less finalized it!

If you have ideas to share, please! share!

below is a rough sketch of the plan so far