Where are you building? And what is your total house budget (excluding land - and other non-building related items - like impact fees)? About how many SQ are you looking to build. Under A/C/heat and not? Robyn

I just got a feeling of deja vu--the last post I looked at was one asking for layout help from CCinTX, and it seems you and she/he are designing the same kitchen. You may want to watch that thread and compare notes as the discussion develops.

Here is a link that might be useful: your kitchen's twin

With the disclaimer that I'm not as experienced at this as many others, here's my take on your layout:

Personally I find that I nearly always want to prep between the sink and range, regardless of where the longer stretch of countertop is, so as not to be carrying dripping chopped tomatoes or whatnot over the floor and around other people. If you put the D/W on the left of the sink, your clean-up zone (and dish storage, table-setting tasks, snack-making/drink-getting wanderers) could all be on the left half (from the sink around through refrigerator wall.) Then the meal prep and cooking could both happen on the right of the sink, with crossing only to get food from the refrigerator and pantry.

The problem, of course, is that with the sink on the right, there's little counter space left by the corner for working, and anyone standing at the sink will be crowding anyone standing at the range.

How important is the angle of the breakfast bar to you and to the rest of your floor plan? Instead of angling, could you bring that range wall down to a right-angled corner with a perpendicular peninsula? Then the range could slide down a few feet and give you some distance from the corner.

I meant to ask, even though it's too late to move any walls, could the range wall still be extended a bit, downward in your plan, if necessary?

Well, I'm hardly an expert, but what about centering the sink, under the window and putting the dishwasher on the fridge wall? If you could place it, so that you're still near the sink (but not bumping your leg) when loading/unloading, that would give you more space to unload dishes, while cooking, but still have a little more space between the sink and stove.

I've seen this on plans for narrow U-shape kitchens, when there's not enough room for the sink and dishwasher on the same wall, so I know it's possible. I just don't know if it's very practical...but it would fit in your space. It might also give you room for a pull-out trash, by the sink.

I like your raised peninsula and it looks like it will be a friendly kitchen, fun for entertaining. Good luck with your plan! :)

Thanks so much for the great suggestions, you all! Good food for thought .... The space between the sink and range is for sure where I'd rather prep, mnerg ... for just the reason you mentioned -- hate dripping chopped stuff all across the floor! The lack of both counter space there (with the DW on the left) and drawers for storage of prep utensils is what has got me all in a knot. I've looked at extending the stove wall, but really don't want to close off the kitchen from the great room -- it's to the left and forward from the kitchen (see plan below). And the angled bar is pretty necessary architecturally, IMO anyway. So that seems to leave me with no choice but to make the best of the limited space, or close off the kitchen more than I want to. I'm going to think about it some more and draw it a few different ways ... but at this point the openness to the great room vs. the functionality of the kitchen is a huge toss-up .... and I can't believe I'm actually saying that!!!! The range (and hood) just barely fit as they are currently drawn and there's room for a small cabinet on each side of the hood.

I'll play with the DW idea too. lavendar lass. It doesn't strike me as a favorable alternative at first thought ... but I might see it differently if I draw it. Thanks for the encouraging words re the penninsula ... although I'm thinking of making it all one level instead of raised in order to increase buffet and work space. What do you think?

One thing I've toyed with is moving the DW all the way down to the left, and changing to a 33" sink base to increase the counter/cabinet space to the right of the sink. Still not sure how that would give me drawers there or a trash pull out ... since it's a corner. And having the DW that close to the cabinets on the left could create other issues .... but I'm still toying with that idea. How bad would it be to have the trash in the end part of the penninsula? I might could prep there some ... but don't have room for a prep sink there ... plus not sure how one would look/work in a penninsula, anyway...

Keep those ideas coming! And I sure appreciate you all!
Lezli
{{gwi:1402284}}

I would consider straightening that angle out to create a straight forward U shape: the angle doesn't seem to be contributing anything.

Lezli- I really like the angle, since it gives you more seating, and mimics your corner fireplace. I think you're right...all one level will be easier to prep, clean and find countertops to fit :)

Here's a link to a recent post, with pros and cons of dishwasher placed perpendicular to the sink (in this case on the peninsula). It's a good post, with lots of specific info...and with proper placement, I think it might work out for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Recent post about dishwasher placement

I don't like that "plop" feel - walk in the front door and there's the living room and dining room. The porch seems almost like an afterthought - since you can't get to it from the kitchen or the master bedroom. The 14' ceiling (if I'm reading the plans right) in the main living area is really high IMO. Have you started building already - or can you modify these plans? Robyn

I agree with pal: straightening out the angle on the kitchen will make it more roomy and do away with the cramped aisle between ref and counter. Maybe do a small L at the bottom to give you some landing space across from the pantry; that would also help shield the DR from having a straight view into the kitchen.

You could also rearrange it to create a "G" kitchen

Take off the angled peninsula altogether,

Put the fridge at the new end of that run, slightly south of the current range.

Put the range north of the current fridge, and extend that counter out where the current pantry is. It would block the view from the dining room into the kitchen. You would have to finesse the dimensions a bit or you would end up with a tight entry to the kitchen similar to what you have now.

Thanks, palimpset .. I was hoping you would chime in. I'll draw it up and see what I think about the overall effect .. and yes chicagoans, thank you. I agree some kind of landing across from the pantry and sheilding the DR from straight view of the kitchen would also be good. I really want some kind of penninsula or island seating, too. So there may be something there .... And lavendar lass, you're seeing what I'm seeing in that angled bar .. it's a feature I like to look at .. it makes me smile the way it angles toward the great room. :) I'll check out the link you so thoughtfully provided .. and thank you!!!!

And shortyrobyn, the plan is set as it is. We deliberately had it drawn to accomplish what you're calling the "plop" feel = under a high ceiling = and after great helpful feedback from the homebuilding forum to fine-tune it, are quite satisfied with the result. I provided the whole drawing to the kitchen forum simply to give perspective to the kitchen layout. My current struggle with "where to place what" within the kitchen is the issue that I was hoping this forum could address.

I appreciate the several helpful ideas re: the kitchen, you all and will most certainly be spending some time with my pencil and graph paper over the next few days! Thank you ... as always! ... so very much!
Lezli

'Must have cross-posted with you, palimpsest! And yet another great thought you've had! Thank-you!!! I'm off to find the graph paper!! :)

Lezli

Lezli,

My tentative kitchen, and my living room plans are similar to yours. I'm curious how you will arrange your furniture in your living room? I'm still undecided on my living room design due to ways to arrange furniture. I like your plan. It would fit well on my property.

Carol

Where does the TV go in the living room? On the recessed wall north of the angled fireplace? By default, I think your sofa will have to parallel the window wall of the covered porch creating a walkway behind it to the MBR.

I do agree it might be nice to have a door from the MBR to the porch. It could be in the lower left corner near the entry door to the bedroom

I've looked at a lot of retirement homes (with my grandmother and her friends)...and I think your plan is wonderful! The living room and dining room flow well and it's easy to converse with everyone, from the kitchen. This will be great for entertaining...or every day living, with just the two of you :)

When you're sitting in the dining room....your view will be out the kitchen window...very nice. If you install dimmers on your kitchen lights, that provides excellent 'mood lighting' while you're eating or watching TV.

Your living room fireplace is going to be such a great focal point...and I don't think you need a door to the covered patio, from the master bedroom. The wall space will be better used, for furniture/storage.

Retirement homes are so different from larger homes. Not only are you downsizing...but you are simplifying, too. And, you have to keep in mind that less living area means less cleaning and overall easier upkeep!

Are you going to be using the BBQ on the covered porch? If not, my only suggestion (depending on where you live) is to think about screening the covered porch. It's so nice to be able to sit out in the evening...without fighting the bugs :)

Carol, I too struggled with furniture placement. A recent thread helped me figure out how to address it by moving the fireplace to the corner ( Fireplace Location Thread ). Then, I got on the Bassett website (something I just stumbled across) and came up with this arrangement for the furniture ... which I think is close. However, I think in reality, I can pull the loveseat a little left and forward to allow more walking space to the MBR as you are suggesting, palimpsest *ignore the extra pieces of furniture I scooted over to the side while I was fooling around with this ... :). {{!gwi}}

As for the door from the MBR to the porch ... yes, we have been discussing it from the beginning. As you suggested lavender lass .. the furniture placement is one consideration; our bedroom furniture is pretty massive. In addition, although the initial plan is to screen that porch (we're on the same page again, lavender lass!), we're also considering some day turning it into a sun room. So we question if we will want the door there in that case ... ??? Still being discussed ...

I appreciate all the comments and encouragement. The house has totally been designed with ease of movement and retirement living in mind. We want to be able to entertain, and also keep an eye on each other fairly easily ... ;) I think once I've got this kitchen figured out, we'll have knocked out all the questions I still had floating around in my head in regard to the design. And I have all you and many other wonderful, creative, generous GW'ers to thank!!!
Lezli

Here is my attempt at rearranging the kitchen per palimpsest's most recent suggestion. Now that I see it on paper, I'm a little ambivalent .... It does separate the prep and cooking zones from the cleanup and clean dish storage zones, and I like that very much. On the other hand, I do believe I lost drawers this way. The new penninsula will have a third lazy susan (I'd much rather have drawers!), and just barely room for a 36" drawer stack for pots and pans. The corner by the refrigerator will be only a lazy susan ... no flatware drawer? And now the microwave will need to go in a cabinet somewhere near the stove instead of near the refrigerator ... which I'm not crazy about. In addition, I had to extend the shorter wall out some in order to still get a 30" pantry, and I'm thinking that it looks rather odd? In addition, the walking space between the end of the bar diagonally to the corner of the pantry is more narrow now than in the first plan ... down to 36" which seems pretty tight. So ... not sure the overall balance of pros and cons is worth the change. But I'm trying to remain open-minded and hoping that others will have ideas.

I also toyed with putting the DW on the refrig wall ... but hesitate to do that because of dripping water on the floor while loading the DW. I haven't worked with straightening out the angled bar yet, but definitely want some kind of penninsula. I'll try the idea of a perpendicular penninsula off a right-angled corner on the right side next. Thanks, again.
Lezli
{{!gwi}}

That actually looks a bit tight to me, I don't think it works too well--the proximity of the fridge and the DW are not good, and it creates a bit of a cave to the right of the sink area.

Here's the other way. What do you think? Beware: Really rough drawing ... :)

{{!gwi}}

Also awkward. Let me think about this...

I like your original plan much better. The angled peninsula works so well, in your space.

Whatever you decide to do about the dishwasher, I think you'll have plenty of prep space by the range. There's so much on the right side...and the peninsula being all one height will give you even more room.

Good idea about a sunroom, but even so, a screened porch is so inviting. Maybe a sunroom with screened windows? :)

I think if you want the view to be blocked into the dining room the original layout works best although I would slide the range down and make the end of the peninsula and the pantry line up to give you more room north of the range. And at the same time I would switch the sink and DW.

palimpsest - I agree. After messing with it all day, the balance of pros/cons stills favors the original plan. I do like the idea of extending the space a bit, though .. and definitely believe the sink and DW need to be reversed. I believe I can still do some wet prep left of the sink, and pull the messy stuff over the sink and around to the stove .. may even use a sink-top cutting board? Dry prep can be done on the penninsula. The downside will only be those few occasions when I've got help with dishes while I'm cooking ... that can be managed, though and I really don't see it being an issue too often. thank you for all your efforts and for helping me explore the options.

Lavender Lass,I like this original layout, too. As I said, it makes me "smile". I just had to be sure I wasn't sacrificing too much function in the kitchen in order to get it. And I LOVE the idea of screened windows on the porch .... I'm such a sucker for a screened porch .... :)