Here it is!

I went to the Home Galleries (I got there using the menu bar...Photo Galleries -- > Home Galleries)

Then, since you said you just posted it, I clicked on the "Most Recent Photos" button. It displayed thumbnails (small pictures) of the most recent photos added to the Home Galleries.

I saw a layout in the first row, clicked on it and it turned out it was indeed yours...

Then, I filled in the link boxes below where you type your message/post ("Optional Link URL" and "Name of the Link")

That's it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Proposed Kitchen Layout

Hapikat...welcome to the site! (I meant to welcome you on my previous post!) First off, I recommend taking a step back and reading the following information/questions. Meanwhile we can help you with your design, but the information below would be very helpful. Yes, I know you're in a hurry, but time spent upfront will save much more time down the road in mistakes and disappointments (bad design/bad work flow/overall look/etc). Not a guarantee...but less likely.

One comment so far, your appliances seem crammed into a small place, I suggest spreading them out somewhat. I think you need not only elbow room, but also counter workspace, of which you very little of right now.

First step: Take the "Sweeby Test" It will help you define what it is you want out of your remodel (besides new "things").

Next, evaluate your current kitchen...what works, what doesn't AND what do you like, what don't you like (not always the same thing!) How many people will be working in the kitchen? Do you have children? If so, what age range (infants/toddlers, young, preteen, adolescent, grown)? These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself. See Beginning a Kitchen Plan

While doing the above... Think about and set your budget. Keep 10% to 15% in reserve for emergencies...those unexpected surprises like insect damage, unsafe floors, etc. When walls are opened up or floors pulled up, you sometimes find unexpected situations...sometimes good, but probably not so good!

Design

Layout: Once you've figured out what it is you want from your new kitchen, it's time to start thinking about the layout itself.

* The best place to start is to draw up your kitchen (to scale, if possible) without cabinets & appliances. This means measuring everything...walls, ceiling height, widths of doors & windows, distances between windows, walls, doorways, etc.

* If you cannot move plumbing or gas, mark them on your drawing as well.

* Mark all doorways & windows (w/dimensions) and label them as to where they lead. If they're actual doors, mark how they swing.

* It also would be helpful to see the connecting rooms, even layouts so you see how they interact with the kitchen and/or extend the kitchen feel and flow.

* Make note of traffic flows in and out of the kitchen

Make a list of things like:

* What are your goals? E.g., more counter space, more storage, seating in the kitchen (island? peninsula? table?), etc.

* Do you plan to merge two rooms/areas (e.g., Nook and Kitchen into a Kitchen only)

* Where are you flexible?
.....Can windows or doorways change size?
.....Can they be moved?
.....Can windows be raised/lowered?
.....Can any walls come down?
.....Does the sink have to be centered under a window?
.....Does it have to be under a window at all?

* Do you bake? Do you want a coffee/tea/beverage center?

* What appliances do you plan on having (helps to figure out work flow, work zones, and types of cabinets...upper/lower vs full height, etc.)
.....Range or Cooktop?
.....Single or Double or no Wall Oven?
.....Warming Drawer?
.....MW? (Advantium, drawer, OTR, countertop, built-in, shelf?)
.....DW? Standard or drawers? If drawers, 1 or 2?
.....Refrigerator CD or standard depth?
.....Vent Hood?
.....Other?
Sizes of desired appliances (e.g., 30" or 36" or 48" cooktop; 36" or 42" or 48" wide or other Refrigerator? Counter depth or standard depth refrigerator, etc.)

* Pantry: Walk-in or cabinets?

***** Very Important *****

Is there anything you:
* Can't live without?
* Definitely don't want?
* Would like if you can find a way?

This information will be valuable to not only you, but also any Kitchen Designers you may hire or talk to. Additionally, if you've been haunting the site, you'll notice that we also help with almost all aspects of the remodel, including layout help.

If you do ask for help, then all of the above information will help us help you. Sometimes we stray from what you think you want to give you some ideas that you might not have thought of, but it's your kitchen and you can veto anything...we may argue for something (we're good at that!), but in the end it's what you want. And remember, we are just giving you ideas and possible layouts, in the end when you finalize your design it's whatever you want and decide on! After all, this is your kitchen! [Keep this in mind if/when you use a Kitchen Designer--it's your kitchen, not his or hers...don't let them talk you into anything unless you're sure it's what you want!]

Good luck and welcome to the Kitchens Forum!

Links that might be helpful:

Sweeby Test

Kitchen Forum FAQ

Kitchen Forum Acronyms

Beginning a Kitchen Plan

Finished Kitchens Blog

Appliances Forum

Kitchen Forum threads that might be helpful:

Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens! (Help keep on Page 1)

Best advice from this forum

Care to share your best kitchen storage ideas?

Now that I have [X], I think I could have lived without it

tray cabinets - top 1/2 wasted space

What do you wish you had done differently?

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

Buehl, you are awesome.....I thought I had done alot of that work..but, I can see not nearly enough! I have been working with a KD from Home Depot and this was what we came up with on our last meeting. My kitchen is very small, not much counter space that is why I moved the appliances where they are in latest layout, Home Depot is supposed to be sending someone over to measure kitchen for me...but they have not come yet.

If you can picture it, my fridge currently is where we have put the little bottom cabinet at the beginning of the shorter wall, as of now, when you walk in the front door that is the first thing you see-- the fridge. I was trying to create more of an open view to the window and get more of an open feel to the kitchen. In latest layout, I moved the fridge to the opposite wall, where I used to have a wall oven yrs ago. The dishwasher is presently, on the short wall where I have put drawers(in the new layout). My idea was to move dishwasher to right of sink and be able to have more counterspace that way. My range/oven unit is now a little bit further down from where I have placed the dishwasher(on the new layout). (Does this make any sense) I am trying to give you a little history as to why I want to move appliances to where they are in the layout. This kitchen has been an ongoing mess for several years...we knocked down the wall to the right of the long wall that separated kit & DR...so now it is open... now it will be just a big eat in kitchen with no DR per se

The actual kitchen is 11X11 ? (will get exact) the window stays, can't afford to move that and I really do want sink under window...we tried a corner sink layout but, I lost alot of bottom cabinet space.

I will definitely follow your advise and read up on all links and do the measuring...

My Goal:
Open up top portion of kitchen, (I am not crazy about we have come up with so far with top cabinets) move appliances for better usage (DW right of sink makes more sense to me) Normally one or two people (usually just me)cooking at one time no little ones anymore (that's why I moved MW) to create a separate little work area there...I don't care for it over stove for some reason. I have moved the fridge all around and it just sticks out like sore thumb on opposite wall between LR and kitchen so I tucked it in where it shows on new layout.

Sorry for all this rambling, I am just so excited someone has given me some directions...Thank you soooo much and guess I will get busy on all those links etc. :)

Buehl, your responses above are a shining example of how wonderful people on this forum are. You gave a thoughtful and thorough reply to someone who very much needed help. In fact, it's a great post for anyone new to Adventures in Kitchen Remodeling.

The first thing I'd do is eliminate the wine storage over the refrigerator - its a poor place to store wine (too warm).
Then I'd pull the cabinet forward to give it a more built-in look.

If you're using a standard depth fridge (vs. counter depth) you could recess it into the back wall by opening it up and putting in a header. We did that on a garage wall it worked out well.

Thanks everyone! Hapikat, I can't take credit for the picture, I thought it was the one you were trying to post...maybe it's an earlier one of yours?

OK...here's a layout to consider. Notes on the layout:

* I moved the refrigerator to the wall next to the stairs and put in a 24" to 30" deep cabinet above it.
....-- It allows you to put in a standard depth refrigerator w/o it sticking out into the kitchen and being obvious about it
....-- It allows access to the refrigerator from the kitchen as well as from wherever that doorway on the bottom leads to and the DR--all without interfering with the major work area of the kitchen.
....-- The deeper cabinet above it not only will look better with the refrigerator, but also allow you easier access to the cabinet above the refrigerator. 12" deep cabinets are pretty useless above a refrigerator b/c it's too hard to reach over the refrigerator and into the cabinet and it also allows the top of the refrigerator to become a junk and dust collector...also getting in the way of that shallow cabinet! Ask me how I know! :-D

* The sink (33" sink base) is under the window as you want. However, b/c the window is so close to the left wall and forces your sink to jut up to the adjacent cabinet run, you cannot have a lazy susan in that corner (you need a minimum of 24" + 9" on that run to have a lazy susan.) So, instead, I suggest a blind corner unit similar to one of these (Hele LeMans Blind Corner or Rev-A-Shelf Blind Corner Units...check various online stores or eBay for better prices!) Note that you also get 30+ inches of refrigerator landing space, prep space, or cleanup space (the deep corner is especially good for the cleanup space!)

* To the right of the sink is the DW and then the range. There are 39" of prep space and/or cooking space b/w the sink and range and another 42+ inches of workspace to the right of the range.

* The range is a 30" range with a 36" hood above. If at all possible, I recommend a regular vent hood vented to the outside (6" wider than the range) rather than a microhood. Microhoods do not work very well as vent hoods and the MWs are smaller than usual as well as mounted higher than is usually preferred--that's probably why you don't like them. Check the Appliances forum for some reasonably priced hoods that are also effective.

* Peninsula...I added a peninsula with base cabinets only (no uppers!) to help isolate the main working area of the kitchen somewhat. It helps direct traffic away from the prep spaces, sink, and range. It also gives you additional counter space and base cabinets.
....-- By not putting in upper cabinets, it keeps the open feel but gives you a nice, safe kitchen work area.
....-- If you wanted, you could add a 12" to 15" overhang (15" is better) and put 3 or 4 seats on the DR side of the peninsula. That would also provide you with a deeper counter for big projects, baking, etc. (24" or so + 15" = ~39")
....-- Even without the seating, it also provides a great place for staging food for the DR.
....-- Note that rather than have another corner to deal with, I put in a 24"W x 27"D base cabinet turned around so it opens in the DR...giving you not only better cabinet space (drawers or shelves), but also added storage in the DR.

* Bottom/short wall. This wall of cabinets is flanked by two 24" tall cabinets. These can make great pantries and/or utility cabinets if you get a good configuration...like pullout shelves or drawers on the bottom and adjustable shelves on the top... Some people don't like them, others swear by them! Personal preference. But, you need food storage space!

Between the tall cabinets, I put in a 36" counter with a MW mounted above it on a 15" or 18" (or more) shelf, whatever is needed for your MW. This shelf could also be mounted lower than normal if desired. This is also a great place for the MW for the same reasons as the refrigerator location...it's accessible from the kitchen as well as accessible to everyone else for popcorn or other snacks without interfering with the major kitchen work area.

* Note that I Put in 15" deep open shelves to the left of the sink in the corner. It may be too difficult to access items in a cabinet that far into the corner, and I thought open cabinets might (1) be easier to access and (2) give that corner a little more of an open feel...if nothing else, you could put plants there!

Overall work flow: Refrigerator/Food pantries...to...sink for prep...to...range for cooking/baking...to...DR for eating...to...sink for cleanup.

I think you'll find that this layout gives you not only a lot more counter space, but a lot of cabinet space...both upper and lower.

I hope you like it! If you have any questions, let me know. Good luck.

(If you don't like it...that's OK too...it's your kitchen!)

Thank you buehl for taking such an interest in my project. I have gotten bogged down with other mundane things and have not been at the site lately. My kitchen is somewhat like you have suggested now. Maybe I just need to stick with that layout (the fridge & stove) and just relocate the DW and such.
i will play around with your suggestions which I like alot...my DR is so small, I am just getting frustrated with the whole thing. Today I am going to spend some time on the layout...thanks for your suggestions... Will get back with you soon.