You don't necessarily need to put in 3 corner cabinets. For the peninsula, I would consider putting a cabinet that is accessible from the back. Though, I have seen some cabinet manufacturers make a corner cabinet that is accessible from the backside as well. One of those other corner cabinets, you might want a Super Susan. Personally, I don't like the blind cabinets, due to accessibility issues.

You can use an OTR (over the range) microwave, have an upper cabinet with a microwave shelf or do a microwave drawer in a lower cabinet.

Here is a link that shows a bunch of different ideas for blind corners. You can use it for some food storage which may work for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: blind corner thread

Personally I would skip the side banquette and center the table. Might go for a slightly narrow table to ensure edge past space on the right.

Thanks

Gpaceman--i would like a hood because all cooking smells head straight up the back stairs to the bedrooms so need a different location for the microwave. Also don't like reaching up for hot things

Remodelfla--that thread is great...but there seems to be no consensus on what works best. Probably need to see the options in person. I never liked the lazy susan i had years ago but maybe they have improved.

Robotropolis--i agree that centering the table would look best. Can anyone comment if 3 feet is too narrow for comfort between table and wall or peninsula for chairs at the breakfast table?

How high will be your base cabinets? If you are nearly as tall as your husband, you may consider higher base cabinets to increase your storage space. I am 5'9", my base cabinets are 31.5" and with counter and toe kick reach 37". If you are taller you may go higher than that. Also. you may consider having toe kick drawers.

And here is a crazy layout for you with only one corner. You may have about 90" width for drawers and a better chance to center your table.

Here is a link that might be useful: Loves2cook46's drawer looks like quite functional

Sena01--thanks! great link and I will definitely ponder these ideas and see if they work better. If only the kitchen did not face north I would defnitely have this sort of plan because we already have a door right between the two counters on your plan (in fact to use it the counters would have to be shallow as you drew them) but sadly this door and its view are into both darkness and the 1960s house next door that is not very attractive.

Islandgarden, I can't comment on your space much but I was just reading one of Sarah Susanka Not So Big House books, I think Inside the Not so Big House. She discussed banquettes extensivly, what works and included diagrams with measurements. You might check it out.

Islandgarden, I can't comment on your space much but I was just reading one of Sarah Susanka Not So Big House books, I think Inside the Not so Big House. She discussed banquettes extensivly, what works and included diagrams with measurements. You might check it out.

Sorry, have to get back to work and didn't get to read the entire post...but if the fridge is going to stay in the pantry, is there room for a small under-counter fridge in the peninsula? That would allow you to grab needed items while you cook, without going to the pantry, but drinks and larger items would be in the main fridge.

lannegreene--brilliant suggestion! I read through those years ago but did not recall that this was in them. Just ordered about 5 of her books from the library and am searching this forum as well

lavendar_lass--my storage will be tight so I don't plan to add an undercounter fridge, but I am one of those people who is perfectly happy to take 2 more steps to get to the fridge since we have had it in this location for 11 years and I find it both convenient enough and out of the way. I can use all the steps I can get!

I wanted to comment on the skylight question. We recently installed skylights on south- and north-facing roof sections. The south one might as well be on the north because it is directly north of three very large cedar trees. In other words, it can't really ever get direct sunlight, and it's always in varying amounts of shade. Even that skylight, which is pretty much the worst-case scenario for light, makes a huge--HUGE--difference in how much light is in the house below it. The room beneath it went from quite dark and not very pleasant to a much brighter, more welcoming spot. Our north-facing skylight lets in even more light, so I suspect you'll be really happy with the increased light in your kitchen if you put a skylight where you're considering. The combination of that plus windows around the bump-out will probably make the banquette area a very pleasant place to sit.

WindyCityLindy--this is very encouraging. Would you put in 3 skylights in a row in the bumpout based on your experience and since it seems you may be from a cold climate too--have you noticed an issue with heat loss ? and if so is there any way to lessen that ? thanks!

We are in a wooded area and have two skylights in the living room and one in the kitchen and they give us a tremendous amount of light. I wish I didn't need them as I like a classic traditional look and would rather have an unbroken line of ceiling. To me skylights always read contemporary but I would install them again because of the brightness they add to my home.

Nothing like getting construction estimates to clarify the thinking. I'm in New England so the prices are high. So back to the drawing board. We are now trying to see if we can get much of what we want with the current space we have. So if you look at the architectural drawings, there will be no bumpout of the eating area and the door will not move.

We would like:

1) amazing light (hence all the windows)--they are the main driver of the renovation

2) workable nice kitchen for people who cook

3) defined eating area.

We are down to 2-3 ideas and I would love your thoughts and input. As mentioned before the footprint of the kitchen is 11'10" x 18". There is also a separate butler's pantry which stays in place and will continue to house: the refrigerator, the dishwasher, a full sized sink and the dishes, glasses, cutlery as this space works perfectly for us.

The main kitchen is meant to be a light space with a full sized sink, range, good counter space and reasonable storage.

Eating area will contain a banquette. We played around with a 3 sided banquette but I think it will be too claustrophobic with our current space so we have 2 remaining options which I sketched out in the attached drawings.

OPTION 1: we turn a current window into a door in the middle of the kitchen to separate the cooking half of the kitchen from the eating half of the kitchen and (Bonus!) I get direct access to the garden, which I would love. Cons: we lose a bit of counter space and/or a bit of banquette length. In this version the kitchen run containing the range is about 7.5' long and the run of banquette along the back wall is 7'.

OPTION 2: the door does not exist and the room is split into kitchen/eating areas that abut each other. This allows the kitchen counter to be a bit longer and the banquette to be longer, ie each could be 9' or any reasonable division of 18' into two parts. My concerns with this plan is that it runs together and of course, I don't get the garden access. Husband likes this one as he does not understand for garden access.

aargh-photo uploader not working for me

I've been researching a lot of older kitchens....and I LIKE your original design. I think it will be nice to keep within that footprint and play up the character of the house.

A banquette would be wonderful :)

I would eliminate the peninsula and make the kitchen space much roomier. If you want/need the extra prep space...maybe a rolling cart with a butcher block top? That could be moved around as you need it, or moved out entirely if not needed.

Oh, the blue are lighting suggestions....along with some under cabinet lighting.

lavender_lass,

Thanks for taking a look. At the suggestion of a different commenter I started a new thread since it was confusing for someone to go through all the iterations. Basically the plan above was the fancy plan involving bumping out an eating area and incorporation some of the porch area to expand the entry and thus involved moving the door. Alas, these are being sacrificed to the budget and we are now looking at staying within our footprint. Would you be so kind as to look at the two options that we are considering and give me your thoughts? It is great when someone appreciates trying to work within the footprint and keep the house more original rather than building on.

Here is the link to the new posting and my (not very good) sketches. But the dimensions for what is staying the same are correct in the architects drawing.

link here:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/plans-revised-1880s-shingle-style-banquette-dsvw-vd~2958369

Here's what I posted...

Maybe something like this? With more of an 1880's (or even 1920s) vibe...but still use the rounded corners?

You would lose the door to the garden...but it looks like the other door is just a few feet away. And you did say you like the extra
steps (when asked about fridge in pantry). Just a few ideas :)

Oh, blue are light fixtures overhead...purple are task lighting under upper cabinets.

Great picture! that was Option 3, which I also sketched out but did not include. The concerns I had were that the space in front of the stove becomes a one person space per a few kitchen/interior designers. When I dragged various bits of furniture and tables around to simulate it, the space felt a bit like a tunnel as it looks more spacious than it is in reality (unless the eating table is quite short and one has no free standing chairs at the table but goes with the restaurant booth option. Husband does not like the restaurant booth look and he wants to sit on a chair rather than the banquette.

Door to garden--that is just what my husband says although the reality is that one has to get food/drinks from the butler's pantry, go across the whole kitchen to the back hallway, down the length of the porch and down...which is painful enough that we rarely eat outside in the back garden. So a direct shot would be great as eating out involves hauling a lot out and a lot back in...so nice to have even if not a total dealbreaker... though I really want it!

p.s. two people cook at the same time...or at least work on aspects of meal prep