I'm so happy that you created this post because about 20 years ago I installed an Asko in a kitchen remodel and absolutely LOVED it! I never knew anyone else that owned one and somehow Bosch has gotten a lot of press over these years. Now I'm in a new house and hate the Bosch that came with the house and am doing a kitchen upgrade and in my search can't find hardly anything on the Asko dishwashers. I went to an appliance store and they were promoting Kitchen Aid so I was kinda going to go that route. Now with the shortage, I decided to find out about the lead time for an Asko and call different high-end appliance stores. I found a place that said they are receiving a shipment in early January. This time the lady I spoke with said that they sell many Asko's and that since SubZero/Wolf took it over many customers buy because of that connection. I was reassured after speaking with her and also this thread gave me the confidence again that I once had in Asko. It's just so strange that you don't find any comparisons or information on Asko. It's as if they are a non-player in the indutry but sounds like they are with those in the higher end world. Seriously I can't tell you how much I loved my Asko. I never had to rinse my dishes and that always impressed my guests. I mean why else do I need a dishwasher if I'm going to rinse or wash before???!!! Yay. I'm getting my Asko once again and I can't wait!! I'll try and come back here and post my experience since I'll have a fresh comparison with my current Bosch.

Haven't posted any updates in a while, simply because the issues we have been dealing with have been at the same time far too stressful for us but probably boring as hell to everybody else. Our original schedule had us finished with the whole remodel 2 weeks ago - ha! Oh well...looks like we are back on track to finish up in a couple more weeks. General status: The tile backsplash was installed and looks beautiful. The paint was chosen (BM Aura "River Silt" for the main areas, and "14 Carrots" in the small office adjacent for a pop of color) and the base coats put up, and it looks great. The appliances are 90% here, and the last 2 (including the induction range, finally) are in a local warehouse and being delivered to our home tomorrow. Electrical is 99% done, just have to have a couple ceiling lights wired in and finish some trims. The biggest slowdown was our floor...I don't think I posted anything about this at the time, but the prefinished flooring we had originally picked out (Du Chateau "Rhine") was basically recalled between when we picked it and when we tried to actually get it delivered...apparently, they had a problem with delamination because of an incompatibility between the glue they are using and the finish on that particular product. So we had to pick a new option on pretty short notice....long story short, we ended up getting a great deal on some Hakwood engineered unfinished Walnut 7" planks, and decided to finish them with a combination of the Rubio Monocoat "fumed" pretreatment and Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C (the faster curing formulation) in "Charcoal." The floors were installed (with some contractor drama not worth going into), and then they applied the finish....and it was a disaster. I almost cried...no one is 100% sure what happened, still, but our best theory is that residue of some sort rubbed onto the floor from someone's shoes or the wheels on the buffer. It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but when the tinted oil went down the oil took everywhere but somehow the color didn't in a number of squiggly streaks all across the surface - it looked like the streaks shoes leave on gym floors, if that makes sense. It looked horrible. And because of how monocoat works, those streaks wouldn't absorb any more tint to fix them - the wood had been converted/sealed/whatever by the oil, but without the pigment bonding. We did also try some spot repair by sanding down just the affected areas and then retouching it, but it didn't blend in at all. After talking to Rubio our only option was to sand the whole floor down and try again. So, that's what we did this past Friday and Saturday, being extra careful at every step....thankfully, this time it came out perfect, so we can finally move on! Anyway, that drama is now over, and the cabinetry was delivered to our place yesterday afternoon. They are unpacking things as I type. Everybody please cross your fingers for the next phase!

I have a very similar space and tried and tried as you are to locate the sink and stove on the same run and it just couldn't happen without cramping and majorly sacrificing function. We ended up with our main and only sink in the island. I was hesitant I really was but it really has allowed effecient use of space and keeps the auxiliary traffic out. We have 2 boys and use our island all the time for all sorts of things - snacks, wrapping presents, homework. Having the sink in there has not impeded any of those things. I know you said you really didn't want to do that but to sacrifice functionality to avoid it you might want to really think hard on it before you get too far. On the other hand if you can squeeze more length in maybe you can do it - but then I'd want a prep sink on the island, a water source there somewhere even if it's a smaller one. Our island is 9' long and has room for 4 stools on the long end and one on the short side. It houses the sink, dw, trash and a 4 drawer stack. We have a decent over hang, about 16" which makes seating comfortable. I like green designs - our MW is right by the fridge and that works well and usually those 2 appliances are used right in succession - no crossing zones to get to them. Good luck! It is so tough to get everything just so! If only I'd have analyzed the rest of the house as much as the kitchen! ;O

I think that's a workable solution while still keeping the door you desperately want. Since they make exterior double-door sliders, it seems like one should be able to have a single exterior slider. Something to consider is your sink. I'm sure you are planning bigger than the 15" wide one you've pictured. Since you'll only have one sink, I suggest you get the biggest you can fit into that space so someone can do a bit of DW on one side while someone uses the other side to wash veggies and such for prepping. Yes, you can do all that in a single sink without a barrier in the middle. You'll find that most of us here at GW prefer single sinks. I think you should be able to fit a 30" one there. If possible, consider going for a 32". A couple of things I'm concerned about: Walkway into kitchen: 38" is narrow. I have roughly the same situation with walkway between a peninsula and a perimeter counter. I would actually like it to be a tad bigger. 42" is more than enough for one person at a time but tight for when one person is exiting while another is entering. Both have to turn a bit sideways. I'm toying with the idea of removing a 9" cabinet at the end of the peninsula for a wider opening but then I would lose my cabinet for storing cutting boards. It's a trade-off. However, if my opening was only 38", I would lose that extra cabinet in a heartbeat to gain a wider space into the kitchen. Peninsula seating: If someone is sitting at the stool at the end, it will really be crowded there. Anyone entering/exiting the kitchen will be blocked by the person seated there. I think the only way a seat there works if it's a space that is rarely sat at and if the stool used is backless so it can be slid all the way under the counter when not in use. Also with legs that go fairly straight down instead of widely-splayed so the legs don't cause a tripping hazard. You also only have a 12" overhang. Very frequently here at GW, people point out that 12" is very uncomfortable for most people as it really doesn't allow enough space for knees and feet to fit under the counter with the seat at a comfortable distance. Most people report that people need to slide the seat farther from the counter to make room for knees/feet which means they have to lean uncomfortably to reach the counter. 15" seems to be the minimum counter overhang that is comfortable. You don't have room for a 15" overhang on the walkway side. This would make a maximum 35" walkway. I think this would feel congested and make your kitchen look crowded. A more spacious opening there will make your entire kitchen feel more spacious. I think you need to either (1) reduce the cabinet to the right of the wine fridge to 12" which would allow you to add the 3" for better counter-depth for the seated person while still maintaining a decent width walkway, or (2) eliminate the seat at the end. I just think it's too much to try to have both. once you give the other three seats their 15" overhang, when seated they'll be in the doorway to the family room. Actually, they already will be even with the narrow 12" overhang. This would really bother me. I think you need to move that doorway down at least a foot although I think about 18" would be better. This would allow people to be seated there without feeling like they're blocking the doorway.