Well, it might not mean checking several items off the list, but we (Chris) did knock a pretty big one off the list! We said adios to the partition wall between the kitchen and dining room and it is amazing how much bigger the space feels now! It is also a lot brighter now that the big dining room window is a part of the new kitchen space. Since the kitchen is on the East side of the house, any additional natural light come the afternoon is much appreciated!