The L-shaped plan is not well suited for small kitchen spaces and you need to allow enough open counter space between the two workstations that share the same wall. This is at least four feet. Other things to consider is the arrangement of the workstations which are critical. The work needs to flow from the refrigerator to the sink and then to the stove cooktop and serving area. Always pay special attention to traffic flow because if the flow is not conducive and does not flow smoothly from one to the next, try changing fixtures, appliances or even entrance ways. Angling countertops is a simple solution for the narrow doorways and the same can be said for certain corners on a kitchen cabinet island. Contractors do not all have experience with building foundations, blending your 1800's home with new construction and other issues that are sure to come up. In room additions it is well worth your money to get an architect involved. The architect is responsible for preparing floor plan layouts, understanding zoning issues, kitchen design goals and other issues. The general contractor though, has other subcontractors that he oversees for the renovation of your home. The repair and maintenance contractors you need are very different from the general contractor. Typically the General Contractor does not provide the labor to build the house. The laborers come from the subcontractors or the trades. Where's a good place to add a mosaic in your home? Kitchens and bathrooms are the obvious choices but end tables and patios have become favorites too. Consider embellishing a coffee table purchased from an unfinished furniture store. This is a great little week-end project. All you have to do is add a coat of paint and then make a small mosaic on the tabletop using some different size tiles or even broken tile pieces. Next think about cabinets. Will you need to replace the ones you have or can you perhaps do a cabinet refacing? If you are happy with the way your current cabinets are situated, cabinet refacing can be a good budgetary alternative. Consider the issues of storage space. Is what you have adequate, or do you need to find ways to carve out more?