Evolution of a house - Kitchen

Last March Steve and I put an offer on a house being offered as a short sale. Well six months later after we had given up and started looking again it closed. Don't believe what they say about the 45 day rule. The house was built in 1986. It has a wonderful floor plan and sits on a half acre of beautiful desert landscaping. We felt it just needed some updating and besides we were getting it at a really good price! Besides new counter tops and appliances Steve and I decided the kitchen needed two things. He wanted the ceiling raised. Although most of the house has nice high ceilings the kitchen for some reason was only 7' 6". I felt the hugh U shaped counter left a lot of open space in the middle of the kitchen and maybe needed an island in the middle. Working with a kitchen planner and a contractor one thing led to another and the whole kitchen is being redesigned. Along the back wall the pantry is being replaced by the microwave/ oven, the refrigerator is going where the oven is, and the range is being moved to the back wall in the middle. The pantry which is really hugh will be half the size and the access will be from the hallway. And the hugh U shaped counter is getting straightened and while we are at it why not move the sink to the middle of the new counter. You just have to saw cut concrete!