You can see the new part of the kitchen now. The micro cabinet backs up to an archway that led into the next room, 30 inches lower. Some giant had installed TWO steps down into this room that were 5 feet across. Yes, a five foot archway out of a 16 x 7.5 kitchen. There was absolutely no wallspace, no place for a table and chairs. And with 10 inch steps, my hips and knees were suffering to the point that my rule was, if Bill was home, HE had to let out the dogs. Funny how he decided we should remodel the kitchen after a few months of that rule! So my design idea was to make a platform, extending the kitchen out into the adjoining room (an almost unheated former porch). Here you see the first half of that extension, with my high counter workspace, tool drawers, and the start of 6 feet of pantry shelves.