I think I would prefer it where it is in the floor plan. Why? (1) It pulls the refrigerator away from the ovens so there's no problem with open refrigerator + open oven + someone in the trying to get by ... although that probably won't happen often (2) I like the bigger pantry space (3) It's still a straight shot to the refrigerator from the sink and to the range (although the island is a barrier if you plan on working on the sink side of the island - but that will be the case regardless) A couple of other things... The corner...I would make it a 90-degree cut corner cabinet, not a diagonal. It frees up floor space near the range as well as gives you more space to work. I realize it's an unusual corner b/c of the angled wall, but I still think it would be more useful overall if you put in an easy-reach cabinet in the corner of whatever dimensions will fit and have a 90-degree door. The cooktop or range(?) and adjacent cabinets...consider making the cabinet to the left of the range 18" wide and the one to the right 10" wide (or whatever will fit). It would give you more workspace as well as emergency landing space on the left and with the 90-degree cut corner cabinet, you will have 10" + 12" of space to the right b/f the corner. Trash...if possible, I would move the trash pullout to the left of the sink so it's easily accessible from the Prep & Cooking Zones - and where it is need far more! With the current location, you have to cross the Cleanup Zone to get to it and you have a long reach to the DW from the sink. Are you modifying the window? If so, just shift the window. If not, with the corner modification I think you will gain space to the left of the sink. If it's not quite 18" (I can't tell for certain), consider aligning the sink with the right edge of the window (so it looks planned/deliberate) to make room for the trash pullout. Undercounter oven (under cooktop)...First, do you really need it? Second, unless your entire family is short, I think you will find that it's not as easy to use as the oven in a range...it's much closer to the ground than an oven in a range. Installing it under a cooktop will make it even lower! Instead, consider double ovens in the tall cabinet and a MW drawer elsewhere (in the island, perhaps). You will only need a 24" wide cabinet. If you stick with it, check to be sure your chosen oven and cooktop can be installed together like that...not all can safely be installed this way and/or cannot be installed this way without voiding warranties.

You'd really need dimensions... On the one hand, one nice long countertop between sink and range is the absolute ideal place to prep, and having a sink, prep zone and range all in one long island overlooking a nice open space is a cook's dream. (Assuming adequate ventilation and protection from 'right-behind-you' foot traffic.) But if you don't have enough room to do it reasonably well, you're quite simply sunk. To do it well, I'd want (from one side to the other) 24" for DW, 36" for sink, 36" prep counter, 36" range, then 24" countertop -- so a total of 13 linear feet on the island. If you have enough depth in your kitchen, you could do an L-shaped island, which could shorten the overall length. Or have an 18" - 24" prep sink on the island instead of 36" sink + 24" DW, which would clearly put the prep zone on the island, easing "congestion" on the other side, if not "cramping". Same space - less to do in it...

It's nice seeing these alternate layout ideas. Thanks! It gets my mind thinking in a different way. To answer some of buehl's questions: - Appliance sizes will be 36" wide fridge and 24" wide dishwasher (changed since my picture, both very recent and will be staying) - The heat register by peninsula can be moved. No problem there. - The way family and friends come in is through mudroom. Mudroom has an entrance from exterior and from the garage also, so the groceries come in through here and are put on the table. It's very handy because it's close to the built-in pantry, upright freezer, and the fridge while I'm putting things away. We will be tearing out the ceiling (office tile ceiling in two areas, damaged sheetrock ceiling in another) so when that is torn apart the thing we would be willing to change is to put a partial wall of some sort over in that stair area if it made something more functional, but not completely block any stairs. Although the room upstairs is currently used as a bedroom, in a few years when my daughter is done with college and moves out, it will be back to a living room which will be nice to have easy access from the kitchen. It's a long way around going another way (the house is big). It's also the shortest route to the 2nd bathroom from the kitchen. - Window over the sink is 39" off ground and the other two are 23-1/2" - I will have DH make a sketch of main floor layout so it's somewhat in the right proportions compared to what I would come up with.

Regarding your comment, "We have lived with the current layout for 30 years and it's very functional..." Honestly? That's because you've adapted to it. But then you added, "albeit awkward with the range" -- so deep down, you realize it's not a good layout. Two things I remind people about us human beings... (1) We can adapt to anything -- good or bad (especially after 30 years!) We adapt so well that we tell ourselves it's fine the way it is. But, what if it could be better? If you ask just about anyone here who took our advice and changed their layout to make it better, they will tell you they never realized it could be so much better and wondered how they had lived with the issues for so long! (The answer is back to the adaptability of human beings!) (2) We're resistant to change -- even good change Even when something can be made better, we resist change. We like what we know and we have a hard time seeing other ways to do things - even if they could be so much better! And, as I mentioned before, we've adapted to what we have - both the good and the bad. Usually, the "way we work" is the result of adapting to what we have, not what might be better. We say "it's OK", "I don't mind", or other, similar comments because, subconsciously, we're resisting any change from what we know. If you're going to spend the $$$ to renovate, don't create a "make do" Kitchen or simply repeat the issues/inefficiencies of your existing Kitchen - make it better!