We did a gut remodel keeping the existing footprint of our kitchen but swapping a wall oven for a range to get more counter space and ripping the soffits out to get more cabinet space. It's still a small kitchen but it's much more usable, attractive, and easy to clean now. Actually it was almost a year ago that it was finished. I've cooked a lot more in the last year than ever before in this kitchen (it was pretty bad before).
Favorite things about kitchen remodel-Single large stainless sink*
-Faucet with integrated pull out sprayer
-Built in instant filtered hot and cold water (on one side of sink)
-Built in soap dispenser (on other side of sink)
-French-door fridge with freezer on bottom
-Granite countertops (like the look and the functionality of not having to worry about hot pans)
-Undermount sink (easy cleanup, a couple more inches counter space). My undermount does have the lip thing that pokes out from the counter. I like this because I can see any dirt or food there. It has not been a cleanup problem.
-42-inch cabinets up to the ceiling (goodbye soffit!)
-Cabinet door automatic soft close
-Undercabinet lighting
-New ceiling lighting
-Tumbled marble backspash…very simple but very attractive, have not had any cleanup issues
-Large-size tiles on the floor…less grout and less busy-ness
-White appliances (nice and bright)
Love/Hate-Tile floors (love the look and functionality, especially when the dog drips water all over the floor, but hate having to cook in gym shoes because my back hurts after awhile)
-Undercabinet lighting (love the functionality but have to not use it too much b/c it heats up any food in lower cabinets)
-Hood (was limited in my choices due to space but wish that I could have gotten a quieter and more powerful hood)
Wish list if I were building from scratch and had more room and plenty of cash-Double wall oven instead of range
-Larger fridge
-Wine or beverage fridge
-Island with seating
-Euro-style faceless cabinets
-Better quality cabinets and more of them
-Lazy susan in corner cabinet
-Special storage for baking trays/sheets
-Automatic drawer closers
-Walk-in pantry or more storage options in kitchen
-Smaller second sink
-Extra dishwasher, probably just one drawer for overflow
-Good window or two with nice view from sink and good natural light
-Maybe some open shelving for pots that are in heavy rotation
-More storage for small appliances or odd-shaped items
Would not do-Microwave over range (not a safe appliance placement IMO plus they don’t really vent)
-Any kind of island when you don’t have the clearance for it
-Corian counters (great in the bathroom but would not do in the kitchen)
-Corian sink (too many concerns about pouring boiling water into sink)
*I really agonized over the single sink because I had a double sink before and wasn't sure I'd like the single. What did it for me was the reason seebee has above--you can always create a double sink with a plastic tub but you can't make a double sink single. Every day I'm in the kitchen I am glad that I went with a single sink. If you have anything more than a small pot to wash it is wonderful.
"things like being careful with your coriander/ that's what makes the gravy grander" - Sondheim