Re: toilet placement, I had considered that it's less than ideal to have the toilet the first thing in view, but it's a priority for my mom to have a straight shot to the toilet. However, since much of the foundation/joist/framing is now being rebuilt from scratch due to termite damage and some structural work, I will ask the GC about moving the entry door to the left a few feet, so that it would be a shorter walk to toilet in left corner (must be next to wall for grab bar). Then the tall storage unit would go to the right of the entry. I just need to re-check the plan relative to the adjacent rooms (must avoid HVAC, e.g.), but by golly, I think this could work! Pardon my quickly scratched out drawing below:

I am also concerned about your cramped range and prep area. The fridge opens directly behind the main prep space so anyone opening the fridge would bump into the cook, and you have very limited landing space on that side of the range. I would consider reducing the pantry to 15" wide and scooting the Fridge to the left. You then have more counter space to the right, and can put the MW in an upper shelf above the counter, or a drawer MW below the counter. If you need more pantry space, I would look at converting the desk or part of the bar to tall pantry space. Most people who remodel are ripping out kitchen desks because they don't use them. My in-progress, functional kitchen is set up very like your proposed layout (minus desk and bar). Although we have plumbed for a prep sink, we haven't installed it yet. So, I don't find the lack of a prep sink to be a problem in your kitchen because the island is not a barrier. Just don't move the current sink "south" on it's wall so you can keep it that way. Don't move the DW to the other side of the sink, either, because that would be in the way. My sink and faucet are also slightly off-center between two windows and the sink doesn't bother me, but the faucet does when I notice it. That's not often, but I will have it fixed. So, center the faucet. Here's a pic of circuspeanut's apront front sink - you'd think an apron front sink would have to be centered, but it looks great. edit: added some missing words This post was edited by tracie.erin on Fri, Nov 30, 12 at 17:14

Why doesn't she 'balance' the cabinets on either side of the stove, so they're the same size? Isn't that part of design? Where does the wall end to the left of the stove? Does it go all the way to the back side of the sink run? If so, I think I'd add cabinets there to balance the entire wall. But I don't see a reason to have the cabinets flanking the hood and stove to be different sizes. I agree that the hutch design isn't good. I wouldn't do the thin cabinets on either side of center on the top or the bottom. Was this design your instruction to her? I think the problem with the fridge wall is the drop of the upper over the cabinet. I don't think it's necessary, and all should be level, and the doors designed to look nice together. I agree that 36" would be narrow for baking, but for using the mixer in order to use the island across as main baking workspace, it serves an important purpose. There is no reason those cabinets facing the stove can't be 24" deep so that your sink is in the right spot. Your work triangle would be GREAT if the sink was put where you asked. Maybe the other cabinet sizes need to be adjusted. She has now insisted on charging you by the hour, instead of the original agreed fee, right? And has given you plans that need revision and more time... You've reported that she has given you argument and attitude previously, and I think she still might be...

Oh, I agree with the baking center and/or some dish storage on the left side of the U. I wouldn't want to give up that secondary prep space for the world. I love counters, lol. I'd consider some dish storage on the end of the U, closest to the island seating, and a "baking center" area closer to the corner. You could put a coffee/breakfast snack area there at the end of the counter run, which would be convenient for access from the island seating. In fact, I'd consider putting your MW drawer on that end of that little run. That'd get it away from the sink zone, and would make that spot into a nice little "snack zone". You've got space for both on that U, especially if you keep your dish storage in regular cabinets (not a hutch that goes all the way to the counter.) You could even do some glass uppers there towards the end if you have need of "nice dish" storage and/or stemware. I think your new layout looks great. I'd just suggest that you'll only want four seats at the island, most comfortably one on the short end and two on the long side. (The two corner seats share knee space, which won't work.)