Hi, I'm no expert but I think you could get away with extending it to the right without destroying the flow. Think about your family's habits. Personally, I would like having extra landing space behind the fridge to fill kid's cups and set out snacks so they can run in and grab them, or better yet, sit there and eat them instead of getting crumbs all over the house! Guests could sit there or lean on it and talk to you while you cook. I have to skirt around an island to get to my fridge, it doesn't bother me one bit. Good luck!

I feel the same- a large functional island would be awesome! But, I guess I am just afraid of it looking silly, "blocking the area, but there would only be half "blocked".... Hmmm!

What is to the right of the kitchen? Just the eating space or more of the house? Can you sketch a layout? It seems like there is enough room, but I can't be sure without seeing/knowing more.

Ditto what rookie 2010 said. I would extend the island in a heartbeat! I think you will like how the Island "in front of" the refrig., will help visually "push back" the refrig...Refrigerators are rarely pretty IMHO.

To my eye, enlarging the island/countertop to accommodate a
microwave and eating area will seriously impede the ingress and
egress of the room. Keep in mind that a 1/2 wall will take up more
floor space than the bannister. It may only be a few inches, but
when space is precious, it could matter a great deal. Circumventing
the counter could become a real hip-cruncher.

Also, you will eventually have a table in the breakfast nook, further
limiting the space on that side. Snaking your way around the
proposed island could become a real pain, especially with full hands.

rhome410- thanks for your interest. To the right is the front room and entry to the home. See pic and floorplan, which by the way, floor plan is swapped...

And the computer draft of it:

I feel like the half wall creates more "visual" space, so MAYBE I could get away with more island to the left (in that particular pic)?

darbuka- I agree with you 100%. That is kinda what I am trying to avoid, flow blockage :). I feel like I could go a little larger- inches maybe, just not half a foot or more like suggested. We will have a banquette, so we'll need less of that walkway then with a normal table. Also, the banister also sits on top of the existing half wall, so the half wall will just go up a little more than it currently does and will end a foot lower then the banister. Nonetheless, we actually aren't extending that side... I do agree about the walkway. But, from the view in the computer generated pic is the best I could describe as the "flow" to the dining nook and front of the house....

I know I don't have alot of room, but wondering now how much I can get away with. :)

My architect told me to maintain a minumum walkway space of 36", and if that was a work area (i.e. in front of a range) where 2 people might be working, 42".

My pet peeve with my existing kitchen was small walkways, so all of mine are now more than 36".

Don't forget to take into account the countertop overhang, too...

When you say the step up from the family room can't be changed, is that because it's already built, or that the builder is unwilling to consider it? If it really truly cannot be moved at this point, just ignore me, But if it's even a possibility: Have you thought about a step up at the other end of that space, by the pantry and the sliding door. The pathways from slider, sink wall, and FR to kit, would share precious space, and you could extend your island all the way down even with the fridge wall.

smiling, nope, they won't move it. :/ I agree, if it could be moved, either way, it would help. :)

kathy- the walk way on 3 of the 4 sides of the kitchen will have 38 inches walking space (sink side, banister side, range/fridge side).

The only area we're considering extending the island is the side that is opposite of sink. So, the walkways around the kitchen won't change....

I would do something like below. Also be careful of the backwards door swings with a pulled forward corner upper. Basically, the issue is that the doors have to open away from the cabinet with more depth. In this kitchen, the one between the corner and the range needs to open away from the range. I would get it made and installed as a normal depth and height cabinet to avoid the issue.

I moved the two stairs to the family room.

{{!gwi}}

I have some ideas but first a few questions:

1) What are the dimensions of the current island top?
2) Is that a cabinet underneath it that opens towards the sink?
3) Have the steps been built to the family room? If not, what reason is the builder giving you for not changing it?
4) How many people are you trying to seat at the island? Does the current plan seat people on the refrigerator side?

Bmore- I was working on a plan very similar to yours except I put all of the seating on one side to keep the pathway clear. I also like the position of the walkway/steps- much better than the builder's "vision".

Okay, one more thought. What if you change the orientation of the island, turning it 90 degrees and bumping up against the half wall. This means placing the walkway in bmorepanic's location. I think I'm having trouble with a builder who won't work with a client to give them a plan that works best for them.

I should have mentioned, the island now is just a drywalled island, not an actual cabinet. :) SO- we'll be responsible for doing build in shelves and whatnot.

If you took the top off and looked at it it would be a U shape with the opening on the range/fridge side.

Yes, there is seating on the fridge side- which I don't mind losing at all to have the opening on that side.

The half wall isn't a true "half wall. :) It's simply 24" high. So, that isn't tall enough, plus the "view" down into the family is nice.

You guys are great. Thanks!

corgimum, we're trying to accomplish it with as little effort as possible. They actually reconfigured the entire top floor for us, finished a basement they weren't "supposed" to, ect. They've been wonderful. I was hoping it was a quick and easy "little" change.

Really, ALL this is about is I don't want to a over the range microwave. If they "cut" out the existing box base for the island, it should be just enough for me to build/frame in a shelf to put my micro on. Maybe under will be the cats bowl or a shelf for cookbooks. I need just a couple more inches on that one side.

I thought it was simple.

I too like the steps over to that side.

Here is what they proposed, which extends the island too much on the bottom side into that walk way.

I submitted bmorepanic's "plan" about the stairs, our sales gal is submitting them to architecture! We remembered when we were walking it at frame and it's just a on site frame of ONE stair, so not structural, additional materials not needed. SO- keeping our fingers crossed! This would allow for an island with a 52" opening that is about 30" deep- that will allow for bev fridge AND microwave. The island would end up being a nice size at 5'2" x 3'10" - which may not be huge, but this is NOT a large house. That would give us 3'7" of walking space on the 3 sides (fridge side, range side and half wall side" and an overhang on two sides of 13"- which for me is MINIMUM overhang- I'd prefer more, but I like our walking space.

All this without obstructing flow. Just a SIMPLE move of stairs... EASY right?!?!?

What is your bet on whether the builder approves it or not. It's ONE stair!!! Keeping fingers crossed!

THANKS to all for talking through this all to make the most sense of it!

Fingers crossed for you- your plan will work out great if they move the stairs!

Maybe you could point out that seating at that island with a step dropping off right behind the stools is a really, really, REALLY bad idea.

Sounds like you are moving along, but two things:
1) If he won't move the stairs, would you consider clipping the corner of the island? (i.e. angling the one corner that would be in the traffic pattern)
2) Does that 24" height for your wall meet code? Seems like an easy thing for kids to climb over/hang on and flip over to the other side.
Good luck with everything!

belle, it does meet code. That was my first question and I still had to verify it myself. But until I saw it, built, I didn't believe it. :)

I thought about an angle, however, I didn't want it to come to a point of sorts else where. I think if they won't move the stair (that's it ONE stair).... then I'll end up with an over the range microwave and the included 3x4 island. My husband is reminding me this is all over trying to avoid a microwave over the range. Which, really, isn't that big of a deal. :)

We'll know more today!

Be firm with the builder! This is your house and your money! And you will be living with the layout for a long time. It might not seem like a big deal to have the MW over the range, but you shouldn't be forced into that decision (plus range hoods are more attractive IMO.)

The way the stairs are placed now creates wasted space to the left of the stairs (as you're going up.) I don't see a good reason for that design in the first place, unless I'm missing something. Even if he charges you a bit more to move the stairs, I think it's worth it in the long run.

It's also worth seeing what the cost would be to change that to a cabinetry island. It would be great to have a trash pullout on the sink end, and a drawer above it (for foil, etc.) Then the MW spot can be facing the fridge wall and you'd have room for drawer storage below. Or if that places the MW too much in front of the fridge, you could have the MW at the other end of the island (still facing the fridge wall) and pull out drawers coming out toward the dining area. We have drawers toward the dining area and they are handy for utensils, placemats, napkins etc. that you use at the table.

Personally I like having all the seating along the FR side of the island. I picture folks sitting up there and spinning around to watch TV.

{{!gwi}}

On the potential cost of moving the stairs:

If he is building other houses with this same layout (wasted space due to stair placement), I think your house will stand out due to a better design that gives you room for a bigger island. Having a more functional kitchen can add value.

One of the major reasons for building new is that you get to plan the space to suit your needs. He'd better have a really good reason for that design if he argues with you about moving the stairs!

I agree with everything chicagoans said. Especially the part about getting it done the way you want it. It is worth the extra effort to have it done the way you want it. It's way cheaper to do it now than to have to re-do it later.