If you can post any type of layout you will be able to get a lot of great advice here.

Couple of things that people will ask you about is why is your cooktop on the island. So keep an open mind, a lot of people don't agree about that location.

As far as the prep sink on the 2nd island, I think it will be great for entertaining. I am getting a deep round sink on my island (am considering same sink for coffee /bar area too). I have visions of it being used at a party filled with ice and either bottles of beer/wine in it or a bowl of shrimp set in on the ice. (I'm not talking about a round sink that looks like a vessel sink, it's more of a cylinder where the bottom diameter is the same as the top).

Try to think of the kitchen as zones. The prep area, the cooking area, the cleanup area. Plan out how you will use it to the smallest detail, in various situations.

But really, do post a layout, even if it's hand drawn. You will be amazed at what kind of suggestions you will get. Oh and Welcome Aboard!

Bee

Thank you Bee! I really appreciate the advice and I will post a drawing as soon as I can figure out how! I do look forward to further helpful insights, even though I've thought at length about my needs -- always room for improvement!
Main reason for the cooktop in island is preference, not a fan of staring at a wall while cooking. Also, being petite, prefer having cooktop, sink and fridge nearby.
The secondary island will be used for breakfast/entertaining and will have a 15"x18" SS sink. The main sink is a SS 35" kohler apron front w/low divide, flexible for our large items and need for a double sink at times.

Without a layout, it sounds like a lot of show and no go. If you need a prep sink, the best location for it is an island where you will actually be prepping, not an adjacent eating area. And, if you want a cooktop in an island and want to prep on that island with a sink in it, then you need a darn big island both for safety and for the functionality.

70% of your time in a kitchen is spent on prepping and only 10% applying heat to food. Plus, island ventilation is less effective and MUCH more expensive than wall ventilation will be.

You can have a great island cooking area, but it needs more space and more actual thought (and money) put into it's layout than is usually given to it.

Hollysprings:
Thanks for your comments and insight. As mentioned will post a layout as soon as I can.

The prep sink has a purpose on the second island for the second dishwasher. That island is a casual breakfast area but mostly an entertaining island, not a main eating area, we have a separate dining area off the kitchen as well, in addition to a formal dining room.

The main island is rather large 3.5 x 10 and will be for prep/cooking. My cooking style is served better at the island, as I spend way more than 10% time at the cooktop controls, the main sink will be close enough behind me. I've used this layout before and it suits me well.
As for venting, I'm very happy with the KD and contractor solution for the island ventilation, which will be more than adequate and yes much more expensive, but willing to pay the price.

Hi Clarygrace,

I can't wait to see your layout as well. We are currently constructing an addition. Our kitchen has yet to be ordered but we have designed two islands as well. Our cooktop will also be located in the bigger of the two islands. If you want you can google search double islands and gardenweb and my layout should be retrievable. You can see some of the helpful comments I received from this forum as well.

Carol

Carol, Thank You, will do! I have a drawing I made up from the original, but don't know how to load here, can you help! I'd love to share the experience. I'm sure we'll have a lot to commiserate about (LOL) We'll start work on this renovation on March 1 and have been planning for over 6!

Hi, I have a similarly designed kitchen, and expect to start the demo within a month. We too are debating the second sink, and a single island with seats OR an island+low table [much preferred by DH]. I'd love to see your layout + cabinet plan to get ideas. My layout is at the link below, and I am still accepting comments :o

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Layout - 12.5 x 22.5

OK, I think I figured out how to post a drawing. Please check out this homemade version of the kitchen plan. Will post a professional one as soon as I can. Thanks everyone for your patience and help!

Here is a link that might be useful: clarygrace kitchen

A piece of advice: Posting an image in the message itself is better...you'll get more comments if people don't have to go looking for the layout elsewhere.

Here is a link that might be useful: Posting Pictures

Thanks Buehl, but not sure how to do that yet! What's the secret to posting a picture in the message? Thks!

If you use photobucket then you just have to copy paste where it says HTML code on the right of your uploaded picture. Paste the HTML code into the message and then the photo will appear when you preview your post.

Buehl already linked the instructions for you.

Hi Clarygrace,

I am sorry you are not getting too many responses. My double island kitchen has been designed very similar to yours (mine is not built yet just designed). If you google search double island bad shape and gardenweb you should find it right away (perhaps you have already done that). I think some of the comments I received might apply to you. I too debated the location of the prep sink and there was back and forth commentary on the best location from this forum.

Here's hoping the experts on this forum will give you some useful tips.

Carol

Your layout is pretty much unreadable. Do you have anything on graph paper even? Generalities are all well and good, but we need to see your specific layout in order to give helpful feedback.

Agree with above.

I think many people would love to help you, but the diagram is unintelligible. E.g., which side of the island is the cooktop on? You show it in the middle of the island with storage on all sides of it, which can't be right. Is your prep sink bumped out such that it's opposite a narrow choke point from the micro drawer? Is the fridge really between two dishwashers with no counter space in between? I'm thinking the answer is probably no, but there's no way to tell from the picture you posted.

If you could draw out your diagram on a piece of graph paper, to scale, I'm sure you'll get some better comments.

It's easier for people to respond when the layout is in the post, so here you go.

I think the cooktop is on the bottom side of the island, because of the earlier commentary about having the sink behind her.

To be honest, I don't like this layout at all, unless you are the only person who ever works in your kitchen and you have no plans on ever having your husband/kids/grandkids ever helping in the kitchen. In my opinion, a 13'x22' kitchen should plenty spacious enough to be able to accomodate multiple zones for multiple workers with minimal crossing points. Your KD's layout creates a jumbled mess of zone crossing, with pretty much all of the action in the one aisle. The secondary sink on the secondary island only helps with guests who are only getting pantry items. Those grabbing fridge/freezer items will naturally head to the closer sink, and over to the dishes by squeezing/bumping past the cook.

OK, now that's it's posted in the thread, it somehow is a bit more readable, but there is still critical information that is missing.

However, from what I see, it's a functional nightmare. There isn't much to like at all here. Adding the second sink adds zero to daily working in this kitchen. The island with cooktop doesn't add anything to the party either. There is no connection with visitors to the space, and it doesn't face any spectacular views, and thus there is no real reason to have the cooktop on the island. It feels as though this "designer" has merely scattered the working stations throughout the room randomly with no though as to how someone would work in this kitchen. The cooktop ended up on the island with a roll of the dice.

Time to 100% jettison this and start over completely. Can you better indicate where any windows and doors are to adjacent rooms? What's movable and what's not?

Using the measurements you gave plus standard cabinet depths, your room is about 2 feet wider than you stated and 2 feet longer. I only set the cooktop, main sink and ref because I'm sure the room is drawn wrong.

The dark gray blotches in front of the dishwashers and the ref are with the appliance door open.

You don't have any windows?

Thank you all for your assistance in posting the drawing as visible to viewers, I'm very much a newbie at this...and you are all pros at design!
To be truthful, I am the prime driver, I have worked with an island cooktop and sink behind me layout before and it works for me. I know many folks here are against this layout, and I understand their reasons. Being the primary cook I really don't want anyone in my way while I'm at it. Contrary to what many believe, I spend just about 50/50 time between prep and cook time (I'm Italian!!! Lol!). The secondary island was designed as a way to keep my beloved guests visible and entertained, but away while I'm cooking. We have both formal and informal dining in this house and use both pretty often. The china cabinets will house most of the formal/semi-formal entertaining items, the linen cabinet serves the same purpose. The informal dining area is behind the sink wall and we will have a second casual china/cutlery cabinet/drawer combo in proximity. The second dishwasher will be for overflow at entertaining. There is a window at the main sink area, and note all of the doorways in this layout, five in total, which contributed to the layout issues.
I will try to get a better detailed drawing out here as soon as I can. I really appreciate your thoughts and insight! Grazie!