I like Option 3, no rhyme or reason, just what I like. Plus less space to have to keep pretty. I'm not partial to Option 2.
good luck!

1, 3, 4 - in that order.

I actually like the original idea with all glass doors, since the adjacent wall is so 'solid' with cabinet doors already. If you have stuff that you want to hide, then I like option 4, but I do think some glass doors will break things up a little bit (in a good way). I don't care for option #2 at all. My vote---5, 4, 6.

At first I really liked #5 because I tend to be symmetrical girl. Now I am leaning toward #1. I am biased toward glass so I don't like #6 very much. Any of them would be lovely and how lucky you are to have the space for such a wonderful hutch.

In order of preference, 1, 5, 6.

2 is top heavy on the sides and it looks like the sides are bullying the center. 3 is holding up her skirt like she's crossing muck. 4 isn't bad, just indecisive.

I like the variation in 1, which still retains some sleekness and symmetry. 5 & 6 are also sleek and symmetrical. While keeping 5 attractive might be a challenge, I like the way the glass opens up the kitchen. Actually, an advantage of 4 is that the lines break away from the lines of the lower unit (which is good), the way 1 does. But the differing crown and depth of 1 make sense of the changes, whereas 4 is just a bit out of balance because of the change.

I like #3 --

But is that 'working countertop'? Because if not, what I'd like best is for the uppers to extend down to the counters, with the glass center at 15" deep and the solid sidecars at 12"...

I prefer option #5 or #1. If you have pretty things and have the spare room to display, then go for your original idea - it's great. But you can have the best of both worlds with #1 - glass for display *and* covered storage space.

You are lucky have such a space - how wonderful for a party!

#5....just like "tanders" said :)

I like that idea Sweeby, but I need something other than the island for counter space.

Pillog, you're hilarious!

Thanks everybody.

If your house is new construction, my vote is for #3. If it's a vintage home, I vote for #5. :o)

1, 5, 6 in that order too.

I especially don't like 2 and 3.
2 is just confusing with upper sight-lines skating about for no good reason.
3 is the anti-hutch. People try hard to make their kitchen cabinetry look like furniture. 3 is working hard to make the hutch (furniture) look like the most plebian part of the kitchen - the sink-area.
4 is like 1 but with less panache.

6 is a bit more plain than 5. But if plain is practical, there's not a thing wrong with it.

I like #1. My hutch will be recessed in the middle like #1 so I guess it's logical I'd like that one best. I just like the look.

I agree with plllog and mindstorm - cross out #2 and #3; and no to #6 with all solid doors.

BUT...

it's hard to comment on which is best for you since I'm unclear on what you plan to keep inside. In other words, it's hard to comment on the form without knowing how you want it to function. You wrote - "but then a friend suggested that if you cannot keep them beautifully displayed then stick with solid door" - does this mean you aren't planning on displaying china, antique glassware, etc. in those upper cabinets? Do you have sufficient storage in the rest of the kitchen that this space would be used for display? Do you need two of the cabinets to be solid doors for storage of things that wouldn't look the best behind glass doors?
To me, when I hear the word hutch, I picture beautiful antique dishes and glassware, but that's because that is what my mother, aunts and grandmother put in their hutches.

so....What is it you want to put in the hutch?

I personally like # 1, but with ALL glass doors-but I happen to be a dish addict!. #2 looks like it would be a pain to keep dusted on top

They all look a bit top-heavy to me. I would be tempted to invert the depths on the ones with changing depths. So the center was forward of the two ends and then bring the two ends down to the counter.

One practical reason - the doors on the center cabinet could open all the way instead of banging against the deeper outside cabinets. One design reason - tie the uppers and lowers into a cohesive unit.

The same thing might be accomplished by running simple panels down both outside edges. or by putting a "bottom" on the cabinets with some sort of simple corbel underneath.

Another thing I would try is dividing the total length by 5 and have each other flanking unit be 1/5 of the total and the center be 3/5. It's just more interesting proportions, generally speaking.

OPTION 7

THe center should be deeper than the two ends. Use a 36" tall x 36" high x 15" deep with glass for this one. For the ends, use the smaller cabinets at 30" tall x 12" deep and drop them down the 6" to give the crown a place to die. I'd put small cubby or spice cabinets under the ends to the counter, or brackets, or "end panels" to reinforce the hutch idea and I'd use a separate counter material as well. I'd also go smaller in size overall so that you weren't crowding the doorway moldings so much. It'll look MUCH better. For your base cabinets, depending on what you want to store there, I'd put two 4 drawer bases flanking a central drawer/door cabinet. 4 drawer bases store silverware and lines better and give you a lot more room than what you show..

If you want it to really look like a hutch, then I agree with Bmore and LWO that you need at least end panels. They don't have to be very deep so you won't lose counter space if that's important. Ours has a matching backsplash and different counter material as well. I vote for option 7.

I like your original idea of all glass doors. Really opens up the space.

I like 1,3,4, and 5.

I agree it totally depends on what you need to store there.. the function. I like some flare and all those have something a little interesting to look at.

It's true that if you have a middle cabinet sunk in a bit you need to contend with door opening into side cabinets. I don't use my hutch often enough for that to bother me. I put little rubber bumbers on..so no bang! I used the center to store alcohol and put glasses in glass display. I could display more vibrant things making the display look evan nicer, but I need the space for glasses and I wanted some glass there. I LOVE my buffet area and the drawers are great.

Good luck!! I'm sure you'll make a choice that suits your needs!
Janice

P.s. In the first picture...the base of the hutch wasn't fininshed...it's finished now. Also I have little kids, and so I've the used the hutch in all sorts of ways. I put games in one side...cereal close to the table on the other side...and in the deep drawers my serving trays and misc. for entertaining. Kinda of weird mixture. But it works for me. I do plan on putting up beadboard or doing something to make the ugly outlets less obvious.

The base cabinets are 21" depth and the top are 15" deep and 12" deep

I like option 1 and 3.

Before we all commented which one were you leaning towards? Has that changed since seeing everyone's opinions?

Thanks everybody. There are so many talented people out there.

Bmore, that's a very good point about the center doors not opening as far in option 1. We had not considered that. Originally, we did have something akin to a corbel. I worried about it getting too cute. DH will post that later.

Country smile, my main reasons for this "hutch" are for a large expanse of counter space plus additional storage. The need for counter space is one reason I do not want to bring any part of it to the lower cabinetry, as several people have suggested, though I agree it would look attractive. DH and I refer to this section of the kitchen as a hutch, as a way to differentiate it from the other sections. But it does not have to be furniture like, just attractive, proportional, and functional.

I agree with others here that the all glass option opens up the space, and is a good contrast to the large floor to ceiling wall pantry, which will hold a small microwave, food, etc. Though this kitchen will have far more storage than my current kitchen, it is not huge. I am just not certain if I can afford to give up this space that I might need for practical items and don't want to end up adding fabric down the road. I too am a dish freak, though they don't all go together. So, I want practical and at the same time pretty, hence, trying to combine the glass and closed doors.

LWO, a good point about not making the whole thing so wide. The architect suggested we could do that and I also felt it was crowded.

DH is working on getting the final plans drawn up for the cabinet maker, but will play will all of your ideas later.

Many many thanks to all of you. GW is becoming our KD.

Janicecarolyn, that looks great and is similar to our 1st option.

Megpie, I still like my original idea best, #5, but that is the one I nixed due to impracticality.

I'm thinking #4 or #1. I think I am having a problem with the top molding looking too heavy. It seems less of a problem in options 4,5 and 6. DH has to work on this before submitting it

I like the look of glass doors on all the uppers. Even if the cabinets are just storing canned soup.

I don't like the center cabinet height to be different from the ones on either side of it, either from the bottom or the top. It creates dead space on top and a "something's missing" look below.

With the doorways nearby, it might be better to have the side cabinets less deep than the middle one, if you're going to vary depth.

I agree with those who have suggested bumping out the center cab and recessing the "sidecars", because I think it will look most proportional on that wall by the door. I'd also vote for all glass door uppers, but consider getting a glass that obscures the contents to whatever degree you need. You don't have to just go with clear glass. If you bump out the top center, you might consider whether you have aisle room to bump out the center bottom to match. That bit of interest might look nice if your DH had time to try a sketch.

Riverspots, I do like your idea of anything goes in the all glass option. I've seen a couple of kitchens with floor to ceiling glass cupboards with foodstuffs, etc. I'm just a little worried because I don't want any extra work keeping things neat.

Will try the other option smiling. Thanks.