my wife and i built our house. or maybe i should say 'are building' because i think it's been 5 years and there are still lots of little things left to be done. (never ask the owner/builder "is it done yet?" the proper question is "how is it going?") since we prepare and eat most meals at home the kitchen was the main design issue. the architect favored a smaller pantry and a greater great room. she was the napa valley transplant architect who kept confusing her vision of a wine country farm house with our more rural aesthetic. we eventually parted ways and my wife and i moved walls around until settling on a 8' x 12' pantry (and a smaller great room). it paid off big time...