Our other concern is not having a desk/office area in or near the kitchen but the counter beside the fridge could be the pen, paper, phone, permanent laptop resting, semi-office area but I figure we'd would most likely end up using the laptop the most on the stools. Where could we put the power outlet so there isn't a cord dangling all over the counter? The appliance on the left of the stove is an extra fridge. Everyone I know runs out of room in their fridge so I figure it could be a cheap way to get some extra space for extra milk, juice, etc.. and could be substituted for a wine cooler later on. The area with the three stools is 6' long, is that enough space for three?

I've always had cramped kitchen so we made this one fairly roomy so two people could move about without constantly getting in each others way, each square in the plan is a square foot. Is the inner space too large? We're also left with a very long (12') counter facing the dining table. Because the counter is 36" deep along here, we would have 12" on the backside for fine dish storage, shelving, etc.. but 12' long seems like a lot of space to fill?

If you have any suggestions or see any other issues please let me know, any help would be greatly appreciated!

I ask because my Sister-in-law has a similar setup and while I found the long run of the cooktop counter, I did not like how I had to walk the whole way around to get to the dining room table. Due to my 2 young children, we'd eat at the table, and to get anything for them (the next course, or napkins (near the sink) or milk, I found it annoying to have to walk all the way around.
My sisterinlaw uses that huge span of countertop for buffet/party setup; just wonderful.

You may be on the other camp, but I really dislike having my range on the peninsula. I would really move the cooktop/hood.

Amanda

Another plan to try if you ain't scared of island cooktop is tall stuff on the bathroom wall - pantry, oven. Cleanup and ref on outside wall, cooktop on an 8' long double sided island - no seating.

Do you think it would be too cramped to keep the fridge where it was and fit the sink and stove on the same side?

You could incorporate a desk drawer into the island. Also, if you sink counter toward the breakfast nook, you probably could put your cooktop there. Mine will be like that. I'll have about 5 feet between my sink and cooktop. You could probably get 4 feet.

Well I toyed with the large island idea I don't know, it didn't quite look right. I do agree however that having two corners is not ideal and that having only one entry/exit and such a long walk to the kitchen table would likely not work. Here's another idea. I cut out part of the counter, so now there is easy access to the dinner table, more usable counter and storage space along the exterior wall and still a fair amount of roominess inside the kitchen for multiple people to move around freely. The island is 36" deep on both sides. I'm still not sure what problem people have with island stovetops? I did a search and found a few posts from people who seemed quite passionate about it but no one every really explained why :) Sinks in islands are very very common and to me they would be much dirtier/messier/cluttered than a stovetop? I could always move the sink to the left and squeeze in a slide in stove somewhere on the right?

Houseful, I'm not quite sure I understand, do you mean have a door into the "hallway" with the pantry shelves on the left and have another door to access the laundry area at the end of the room?

I don't think you want your cooktop that close to the edge.

The other plans, and maybe this one if the cooktop is moved over, seem workable and nice to me. The walk around the peninsula doesn't bother me, as most things will go over it. (And things like napkins could be stored in shallow cabinets facing the dining area.) You should have seen the walk around a peninsula in our last house to get to the dining room on the backside of the sink wall. It really wasn't a big deal. The dining room was an addition and I was just happy to have it. And the pass through we made of the window over the sink served us well, and your peninsula would work the same.

The idea that made me panic was the idea of keeping papers, phone, etc. right by the fridge and under the microwave. I think that would be a valuable piece of kitchen real estate and would hate to have paper mess mixed in.

Bmore's plan is fantastic. The island would be very cool looking and very useful. It think I prefer it, but would figure out which benefits you most in offering adequate storage where you need it most.

rhome410, Storage is not a concern for us, no matter we do there will more storage than we need. What is most important is functionality.

Thanks!

No one will be able to pass when the fridge is opened - a wider isle will help when there are multiple people around the kitchen. Will you be able to stand in the aisle and fully extend the freezer drawer. Can't tell it there is enough room.

Perhaps vary your cabinet heights. Perhaps do the corner by the door with some more decorative corner cabinetry. Consider more drawers than doors for the lower cabinets.

I, for one, have loved my past 20 years with island cooktops. Much more social for me than facing the wall. No problems with kids and the island cook-top in our experience. I appreciated being able to cook and not have my back to the action. This is definitely one of those preferences each person needs to choose.

The dishwasher might stop traffic, too, if the door is open. Not enough room to pass.

I don't think anyone will be able to pass when the fridge is open, but I don't see it as an issue. They can wait two seconds or go around :) Same with the dishwasher, it will only be open a few minutes a day but it definitely won't be a high traffic area.

We're definitely considering more drawers for the lower cabinets, they seem a lot more functional than doors. What would you recommend for the corner door cabinetry? Or varying cabinet heights?

Thanks!

The range is protected from casual traffic b/c people will most likely come from the "top", so no going through the kitchen to get to the refrigerator from the table area, etc.

Seating at the island is more conducive to conversation and visiting b/c people are not sitting like "ducks in a row".

The Prep & Cooking Zones are separated from the cleanup Zone.

Future children & current adults will not be at-risk from a cooktop with insufficient safety margins around it (24" sides and back).

Venting will be less expensive and the hood will not be a "commanding presence" in the kitchen and blocking the "view" b/w the kitchen & table area and kitchen & LR.

The hood, if it's at all noisy, will not be "in the ears" of those sitting at the island or those in the table area and, to a lesser extent, the LR.

Greater & more useful expanse of work space on the rectangular island than the "L" island.

I would also have at least a 15" overhang, which I think Bmorepanic has in that layout.

Regarding the hood being an eyesore, I find them to be quite nice visually, I think it adds a nice touch to a kitchen but I guess not everyone feels that way. I was thinking that because the space is so open, it and the drop lights would help create a sense of perimeter around the kitchen. I'd also like to be able to put tile in the kitchen so there's differentiation between when you're in the kitchen and when you're not but with bmore's plan I don't see how that would be possible without it looking bizarre? It's a very open kitchen design in a very open layout, I think when you have an open layout it's nice to have a kind of boxed in feel to your kitchen, so that you feel like you're in a seperate room even though you aren't. Does that make sense? :) We just don't want to take the open thing too far.

I'm not perfectly happy with any of these plans, they all have issues, I think it's back to the drawing board! Might have to change the house layout, the kitchen is too important. I'll be back :) We aren't building for a while so there's time to iron things out.

15" overhang noted! I wasn't sure what the standard was.
Thanks!

The kitchen plan you originally provided seems to fit your needs and likes pretty well. The fridge is accessible by those in other areas in the house or at the counter, there is good prep space and clean up space. I

My main concern in your house plan is flow. From where are you coming in to plop down groceries? I would like a nice flat counter there. If it's from the front door, then your seating area might be in the way of that. Also, squeezing through two points to get to the laundry room might become tiresome. If you remove the shower in the bath (do you need it on the first floor?) and move it down, you can open into the laundry from that main hall and be more convenient to the stairs without bumping elbows on cabinets and appliances.

PS. What is the standard overhang for a kitchen counter bench to comfortable accomodate seating?

I lived with a peninsula counter for many years; it was between the refrigerator/sink wall and the kitchen table. I did get tired of walking around the peninsula every time someone wanted more milk, etc. And at a party a guest told me she felt "stuck" on the sink side of the peninsula.

Also, is that little area in the garage near the door in your plan for cubbies (coats, boots, etc)? That would be clever and a nice way to keep the clutter out of the house. Especially if it weren't too cold. (I say this on a snowy day... no one wants to put on cold boots before going outside!) It looks like you have a ton of space in your garage. If it were me, I would make that little space much bigger and wall it off into a mudroom... more a part of being "inside" than out in the garage. I'd want access from the back yard directly into the mudroom and I'd put the sink in there too. We only have 2 kids and 1 dog, but believe me after the kitchen, the mudroom is the busiest part of our house! Some day you'll have not just shoes and jackets, but sports equipment, toys, etc.

Sorry, I know you're focused on your kitchen plans right now... but I would gladly double the size of my own mudroom if I could!

Regarding the peninsula, it's a tough choice. We played around with different island configurations and with the whole living area being so open, it just didn't seem like the kitchen had it's own defined space. Does that make sense? We toyed with putting the fridge closer to the garage door area as some suggested but I like where it is, it's literally in the center of the house and easily accessible from all directions. Having it by the garage door also requires an island configuration. My main concern is losing the window in the kitchen, I don't know that it's worth it? I'm definitely aware of the walking around the peninsula issue with regards to fridge access, setting the table, etc.. but I also really like the idea of having such a long continuous counter. It's hard to know what to sacrfice because it's becoming clear that you can't have it all :)

For some reason the photo I uploaded in the previous post isn't working so here it is again, this is with the pantry shelves on the other side of the door in the laundry room instead of in the kitchen.

And here is kind of the idea we'd be going for i guess, though not with such a deep counter :)

I can completely understand wanting the kitchen to feel like a separate space, and the peninsula counter and lighting will define it nicely. I also understand not wanting to lose a window. But if I'm reading your plans right, that window would have looked into the garage? Or was the garage moved in the later floor plan? You'll have lots of light from the other sides of the space, so that's great.

I do like your layouts with the sink on the peninsula, esp. the one with the tall pantry in the back corner. I like that it's a short walk from table to sink for clearing dishes. I also prefer the cooktop against the wall (just ask your builder about ventilation for the hood and where it will go. Maybe through the garage roof if there is not a 2nd storey above the garage.)

About using the floor to define space... Some people love their tile or stone floors. Others find them to be cold and hard on the feet and back. Wood is more forgiving and thus more comfortable. Plus, if you drop a glass or a jar, it could survive the landing on a wood floor but will shatter on a tile or stone floor. (I'm speaking as someone who just dropped a full jar of salsa on the wood floor last night. It survived.) I think it would be pretty to keep the wood floors in the kitchen, and if you want to define the space further use an inlaid border in a contrasting wood.

The sink run of cabinets needs to have a healthy chuck of filler at the corner (if not using a cab designed for a corner) so the the doors and drawers of the sink run can be fully extended and not hit the range. As an alternate to the oversized chunk of filler, consider making the cabinet to the left of the range at least two feet wide.

About the garage-mudroom, with all respect, kids will take the shortest distance! You can plan on them running back and forth out the french doors.

The other plan you might try is putting the garage back where it was and exchange the kitchen and living room.

If you switch one of the two end cabinets into the corner - that would be enough to get around 3 feet of counter before the corner. There's a theory floating around that you can't actually use the counters in a corner for prep. I mostly agree with that - the times I've had corners, it's felt too uncomfortable, I couldn't quite get my arms in the right place or something.

Regarding kids, I don't think we'll have six :) They won't have a choice to get dressed off the garage door in the winter because thats where all their clothing and boots will be. I could wall in a small 8x6 room with a closet and bench/shoerack with an electric baseboard. I live in Quebec, we pay very little for electricity, around 5.5-7c/kwh.

It will change the seating dynamic a bit (nobody wants to be behind sink). I might take the opportunity for one or two full depth cabinets for the dining room side - possibly one for kid stuff and one for linens, service pieces or china. Or some such things.