I vote for the hutch cabinet. If you go with no cabinet,(looks like something is missing) to me that wall isn't really tied into the rest of the kitchen. The reg. wall cab is ok but it's just kind of hanging out by it's self as opposed to having a bank. For me the glass hutch. It ties in enough with the rest of the kitchen but makes more of a statement since it stands on it's own.

Just my thoughts. Others may disagree. Hope that helps and good luck! It looks lovely.

Bridge

I like the hutch, also. I think it gives the kitchen an "end".

I'm also a fan of the dark island, white perimeters. Of course, I'm biased since that's what I have. I do think it adds a bit of warmth to the kitchen. In addition, the dark won't show little footprints where the stools are!

Be ready for decision #10,000, 10,001, and 10002 by teh time you are finished with your entire remodel!

Vote #3 for the hutch, for reasons posted above, plus additional storage if you need it. I'm loving all those windows! re: island color, I'm no help: I like all white AND white with a dark island. You'll have plenty of light so can go either way.

I don't like the traditional upper, though I can't say why.

If you go with the hutch to the counter you could use it for dishware and unload the dishwasher easily. Flatware could go in the shallow drawers of the hutch, and get it up higher than the counter to avoid the problem with crumbs among the cutlery that fori was bemoaning recently.

The hutch makes a nice bookend for the kitchen, too, and gives you better definition of spaces while still maintaining the openness. And it takes away the need for that lonely bit of backsplash to the right of the sink window.

My layout is very similar to option 1 - I went for fewer uppers in favor of larger windows over my sink. I had considered the hutch cabinet option as well - which I think looks really nice and is a good way to end a cabinet run... but in the end I went with nothing. I really liked having that wall be all windows and doors... but that was just me. Good luck!

(Also, I just saw your post about my countertops but it looks like you have found your tops as well! congrats! I think your slabs look amazing and I love that they are 4cm!)

I know how hard this is because I am going through the same process. I have a very similar sink wall planned and I decided to just leave it empty. I don't want to feel hemmed in. As much as I love hutches, I love open counter top space even more. If the wall seems empty you could always put something on the wall later.

Best of luck.

I like the hutch, and the dark island.

Unless you really need the upper cab space, I vote for the cabinet-less version. I suspect you would prefer the door in that position--gives more space to right of door for fam room. In my experience, toting stuff to and from deck requires plunk space and this version opens up the relationship between deck and kitchen the best. No cab overhanging and crowding your right arm as you enter from deck and offers the most space for laying out stuff to go to and fro. Also does not obstruct view from sink to deck.

You previously indicated a need for dish/glassware storage, so I like the hutch. Surprise, surprise, I have one like it...with silverware in the drawers, like Mnerg mentioned...and I really love it. When it was going in, several months (OK, a couple years) after we'd been using the kitchen, I thought maybe I should have gone with the open ended look, but I don't regret having it at all. I so love having the storage and I like the look of the hutch, too. It adds a homey-ness somehow. We don't have glass yet, and I think I've decided not to do glass...since my kitchen is a different style than you're after... and will instead do a metal mesh.

You have so much window all the way across, and with the room being so open, I don't think the hutch will close in your space at all.

I like kitchens like Michiganrachel's with the dark island and appreciate the warmth it adds, but you'll have wood floors and the table, and I like the lighter more open feel the white has...and it's more classic...less apt to become dated at all. Maybe I prefer it because of the look you've been striving for all along, and I'm afraid it might be one of those last minute whims that you'll wonder where it came from later. Bad wording, but you know what I mean. ;-)

Option 3...it looks beautiful! Nice software :)

Option 1 for the win! This feels the most natural to me and will keep the openness around that window. Also both the cabinet and hutch feel like they are trying hard to be part of the space. And I really like the way the window and door pull together and open the space to the outside.

But I could be convinced to go with Option 3 if you really needed the extra storage. I would probably recommend keeping the glass doors on the hutch just to keep it lighter feeling.

Either way, you're going to have a beautiful kitchen. I love the windows on either side of the hood. Glad to see you're going for it!

Number 1 unless you really need the storage.

I like the hutch cabinet sitting on the counter a lot. You could even make the whole floor-to-ceiling section look like a separate furniture piece if you wanted.

Bh401, Rachel, raenjapan, chicagoans--I like the hutch there for the same reasons you do.

Mnerg, aokay, odiegirl--I like the cabless look there for the same reasons.

I like it both ways!!

Florantha--I hadn't thought about the landing space to/from the deck. I live where we only can use the deck a few months a year, but that is an issue to consider nevertheless.

Rachel and raenjapan--thanks for the color vote. Like chicagoans, I seem to like both looks. I see the benefit of having it dark for the kid issues.

I like without, because it seems that in the views from the family room a cabinet takes away from the open feel you seem to be going for. I am going to be the minority and say that if you DO go with the hutch, I wouldn't do glass. It just looks weird to have that one glass front cabinet - out of place, so to speak. If you had glass on the pantry door, or the other small section of uppers, I think I'd feel better about it.

It took me so long to write my last post that many of you commented in the meantime.

Rhome--yes, I need storage for glasses. That's why I asked you to re-draw these for me with options above the DW. (Another big thank you!) I thought I could store dishes over on the other side of the sink, but wouldn't have room for glasses. If I do the hutch, I'll store them together. I agree about the added homeyness.

I've read a few blogs this week about how the darker wood island with white perimeter is going out of fashion. I want this kitchen to be timeless, but also warm. The word classic comes to mind in just about every style choice I've made in m life. I've read you warn people before about how those last minute changes can be regretable. Maybe a wood counter for the island instead?? ;)

LL--Thanks. Pictures are all Rhome's doing!

Zacsdaddy--Storage is an issue. I like the glass doors on it too. Time to get some plates that aren't drabby. Thanks for the window encouragement. It took a while to come around to that one.

Fori--Ditto on storage being an issue.

Worldmom--The hutch has charm, doesn't it?? If I have half the charm your pantry does I'll be happy.

Control--I'm not going for the completely open feel. I still like my rooms to be closed off from each other a bit, except to the family room. Thanks for the vote.

I say no cabinet, and take your tile all the way to the doorway and along side the cabinet to the floor. That would be a nice spot for a pretty clock or something.

I like #1 best...but w/o the backsplash (BS) tile on the right (i.e., no tiled BS to the right of the window)

Then #3 with glass doors.

It sounds like you really need the storage, so I think #3 is best for your situation.

I don't like #2 at all...that cab looks "orphaned" or "homeless"!

On the plus side for #3...the hutch does echo the full-height cabinetry on the opposite wall. Hmmm...I think I just talked myself into preferring #3...LOL!

I like the look of the hutch with the glass. The glass ties it into the windowed wall. Just so you know, you're not alone in your decision prison! Your comment made me feel so much better!

I vote for the hutch. It grounds the space and as buehl said it echos the cabinetry on the other side. I am in fact doing the same thing although i will have open shelves on either side of the window as well. The hutch will be against the wall. I love the look when the cabinetry sits on the counter. We seem to be at the same stage in our planning. First the hood (we have decided to go for a built in) and then the counters (still back and forth between marble and wood) I keep going around in circles. Just when I think I've decide once and for all I see another kitchen that I love and second guess myself once again. Stressful to say the least. Your space looks wonderful so far so you're definately on the right track.

Hutch with glass because to my eye it bookends the space along with your tall cab on the other side, and especially since you need the storage. If you didn't want to do #1 for whatever reason, I could easily be persuaded for no cab at all. Definitely not #2--it just looks sad and lonely hanging there. I like the dark island/white perimeter, but a white island with warm stained wood top would also add warmth.

I love your layout, BTW. It's so nice and spacious and light!

Another vote for #3 (the hutch), and with glass. As others have said, it makes a nice anchor to that side (and you do have a lot of counter space elsewhere!)

No strong opinion on the island color, but dark might make sense, since the island's got seating (dark would help hide any shoe scuff marks).

Looks like it's all coming together nicely!

Joy--the tile like that in the "no cab" option was just a software issue. I wouldn't do that, but doing something that looked right would take some thought. Your idea is interesting.

Buehl--yeah, #2 just looks lonely, huh? You made me LOL too!

Brianandarnell--I've been starting to feel weighed down by the decisions. Someone else used the term "decision prison" recently (Fori maybe? Marcolo?) and I yelled "that's me!" when I read it. Very good description.

Oldhouse--I've always liked the look of a cab sitting on the counter too. I struggled with finding the right granite (loved Bianco Antico), but have settled on some 4cm Carrara for at least part of the counters. I'm back and forth for exactly what to do. Today I'm leaning towards a wood island counter with Carrara perimeters/peninsula. I've decided to focus on one issue at a time instead of getting jumbled up in so many things that need to be decided. Thanks for the encouragement.

Flwrs--I like the hutch for those reasons too. Thanks for the vote on the finishes.

Isle2isle--I do have a lot of counterspace there, huh? I'm SOOOOO excited! A dark island does make sense, but am wondering about it being trendy. Oh well, you can't NOT be trendy somehow or another.

I'm planning on doing my final storage inventory this weekend now that I've decided on the two windows and less uppers on that wall. If I don't have enough storage for dishes and glasses (which I don't think I do), I'll go for the glass front hutch to the counter.

Ohhuuuhhh....just thought of another decision. One door on that hutch or two???? Prison bars closing in.... ;)

I don't think you can go wrong. Can I suggest option 4 (sorry). Have you considered making the corner cabinet a hutch? I think that's the microwave/toaster oven in the corner, would you be able to find a different spot for it? Maybe you could do option 2 and put it under those cabs? I think the hutch in the corner will look good/kinda symmetrical with the double oven. Sorry, just a thought.

I think you should take florantha's point about landing space seriously. I too always find myself at the door with a full tray and no hands to open the door and nowhere to put the tray: it's a horrible feeling. Enough, in fact, to with time keep me from carting stuff outdoors.

You might consider a (horizontal) pullout cutting-board type shelf just underneath the countertop if you go with the hutch but want to increase landing space. I think those pullout cutting boards don't work as cutting boards but they might be just the add-on you need to assist with the indoor-outdoor flow problem. On days you're going in and out just leave the thing pulled out because by definition, when you get to the door with that full tray it's too late to pull it out at that point! Though you'd have the edge of the countertop to balance on while you free a hand to yank it out.

Roms--the appliance you see pictured is actually a Gaggia espresso machine. The software wasn't able to picture it. I did think about a hutch cab there, but I think the Gaggia works better in that spot. With the hutch near the DW, I can unload the plates/glasses right into the cab. Good thought!

Aliris--I live in rainy Washington (unlike you who lives in beautiful Cali!) so my carting food outdoors days are limited, but we do use the deck. We should be using it more now that the kitchen will be so much closer. Florantha did have a good point, but I think the need for storage there outweighs that. I will have some landing space in front of the hutch and then the island is across the aisle. I do like your idea of a pull-out shelf and will give it some thought. I also don't like to cut on them, but found my one old handy for landing space in its location. Oh, and another point in my favor is that the deck door will be outswinging so I'm not having to balance a tray and pull a door IN at me. Thanks for replying!