The living room is opposite sides of house from kitchen.

There were beds, clothes, the kitchen cabinets were full, toys,  It was as though they just walked out.The fun part came on Saturday though when I met the old owner.  

Connecting one to the other AND avoiding including a kitchen of any form is looked upon (by the city) as an expansion of the home.As Office Space, avoid any bedroom and it can easily qualify (IRS) as dedicated office space.

Kitchens should be done in line with the character of the house so your standard big box kitchen is out of character.  

You like the neighborhood, the building has decent curb appeal and the interior has nice kitchen/bathroom that will not drive people away, right?

Sanding is a must, kitchen cabinets tend to get a thin coating of film on them from cooking.

Those disgusting creatures are the German cockroaches which are common in dirty kitchens/bathrooms (anywhere indoors where moisture and a food source is available) and most common in apartments.

Bathrooms and kitchens, at least in SoCal, generally have about a 40-50% mark up for grey area and profit.

If they are angry or in dire straits, they can damage the home further, sometimes by selling everything from bathroom fixtures to ceiling fixtures to kitchen cabinets and appliances.

All bedrooms are accessed by walking through common areas (shared living, kitchen, laundry).