tbb123's Profile

How about a U-shape with a mirror and the stove on the right-hand wall?

Refrigerator and a good corner cabinet on the left leg of the U. Sink with dishwasher to the left under the window, with the window opening so that it just clears the faucet and swings out over the sink (since you are more likely to clear what is in the sink than what is on the counter.) Another good corner cabinet, drawers and stove with the mirror acting as backsplash. On the end of the run, a cabinet or shelves with a countertop that curves or angles into the wall. Line the area to the right of the chimney with pantry shelves.

In these pictures, the closest I could get to showing a mirror was glass block - you'll just have to use your imagination. http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii515/tbb1234/AptT1.jpg, http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii515/tbb1234/Apt2.jpg
http://kitchenplanner.ikea.com/US/UI/Pages/VPUI.htm?LoadDesign=fc100f72b9234ed2922c3f3c3a038134&UIContext=Kitchen&IsSharedDesign=1

Wow, Blueintuit! Fabulous job and documentation.

Modeled on a cinder block set of shelves?

Lots of good suggestions.

The element that caught my eye was your living room window - wow! If you use that theme of 3, that would tie things together. Three panels with art on the staircase wall - perhaps the 3-over-3 of the window. Three panels of glass to fill in both larger sections of railing - and stain the rest of the railing to go with the floor. I agree to paint the garage door and trim to match the walls.

The most problematic elements are those fluorescents and the white chairs.

How about wrapping those truss chords with tulle and white lights, with the tulle puddling on the floor on each side? You could continue the tulle-and-lights over the fireplace on a huge wreathe, a branch sculpture, or something else large-scale that fits in with your theme. If you want a less conventional look, you could use bigger lights: http://www.partylights.com/Strings-Bulbs/GlobeLightSets/G30-25-Light-Set-Clear
If you stop there you'd have three cohesive elements.

(Tape over the light switch for the fluorescents so no one turns them on.)

Chair covers are available on e-bay, sometimes for $ 1 each, and you can turn around and sell them yourself.

This space has so much potential - with the stage and the nook, for great flow and a warm ambiance. We can only see the pictures you've posted, so we're unaware of other aspects of the space that might be off-putting. Nothing like soft lighting, maybe screening, and conviviality to mask those flaws. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and on scoring this space!

Design Remix, with Karen McAloon, although she's gone on to Find Your Style. I loved the premise of using what you have plus the magic of paint.