I love it. What's the thing on the left side of the island (kind of curved)? Microwave? Your layout is similar to the one I'm considering, and my only concern with mine is that I want the glasses in a cabinet by the fridge, but that might be a few steps from the dishwasher. Overall I think it looks great.

What program did you use to get your 3-D drawing?

Hi raenjapan,
Thanks! Yes, the microwave is on the left; we're planning on microwave/convection. I used Better Homes & Gardens Interior Designer 7 for everything. I like the program in general but it's frustrating figuring it out; the manual and on-screen help text has been useless. It helps to have an engineer in the house (dh) especially for figuring out the roof/ceiling.

Is your microwave really shallow enough to fit in an 18" deep cabinet?

The pantry: I am torn. I LOVE how it looks, but wonder if it will limit what you're able to put in it too much, and how you have to organize things. You might always have to look in both to find what you're looking for. Have you tried a rendering of it as one larger cabinet? I think if you have a hefty end panel on the end of your fridge, it might still work visually.

This is a great looking plan, in work layout and appearance.

Well, FWIW, I love it! I think the only issue I would have with it (and this is only because I'm lazy), is the fact that the eating part of the island is far away. I would have to walk around the island to set plates/food up on it, and, again, I'm lazy.

What are you planning on putting in those upper cupboards to the right of the dishwasher? That looks sweet - I may have to copy that.

Love your island, birdly.

I agree with rhome410 on the fridge & pantry; love the look but it may be better to move fridge to end. It also keeps it a little more out of the work zone. I have a pretty good size run of "pantry" btwn the fridge and the oven and it looks ok, imho.
I'll try to post a pic for you.

I'm wondering about the counterspace by your range; do you think it's enough? With the pantry cupboard being deep and the corner appliance garage also consuming counterspace, it seems a little cramped to me, especially since it isn't a small kitchen. It seems as if you might feel hemmed in when you have a large, heavy pan coming out of the oven. Just something to consider.

Good eye, Patti Bee...That is tighter than I'd like around the range, too.

I like the way the pantry frames the refrigerator, looks-wise. Although, I would suggest make a list of items you want to store there and check if anything needs oversized compartments, because your pantry is quite narrow as a result of the spread out design.

My concern also is, that prep sink and sink are just opposite to each other; thus someone trying to use prep sink while cooking is gonna bump into someone trying to load the DW. (Not sure if this is how tasks work in your kitchen though). I would move the prep sink to the end of the island perhaps and swap DW and sink (so as to distribute access to the sink/faucet evenly in the kitchen).

Also, like others suggested, the space between pantry and range is pretty much wasted since you cannot keep anything there.

I do not believe, though, that the pantry has to be one single compartment. I have my spices, tins, grains all distributed currently (my current kitchen is why I am on this forum -- so it is no model kitchen) -- and I can remember what is where :-) I think if you cook regularly, then you would. My DH wants to keep an index like a library though....

Overall, island looks fantastic and seating is great. A great kitchen!

Hi there,

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I need it. :0)

Addressing your points:
Microwave: I made the cabinet 18" deep based on the measurements of a GE Advantium micro/convection but maybe the cabinet needs to be several inches deeper than the actual microwave. The KD allowed for 2 ft 3 inches width and 2 ft depth but my island had to take up more floor space, hence no 48 inch aisles or less leg room for diners. If I can get away with a shallower cabinet, I will. I'll make sure though. I struggled with where to put the micro/con; I'd like it to be part of a second work triangle. Moving it to the other side of the kitchen took it too far from the fridge.

Pantry: The bane of this kitchen. grrrr. I can make it a smaller 18" full height pantry cabinet and store food in other places too.

Space to the right of DW--hutchy thing: We're planning on putting dishes, tableware, placemats, linens and maybe some bigger pantry items there. It was originally meant to be a pantry, but it works so well as a place near the table for dishes and it allows us to put the dw on the right of the sink, outside the main work triangle. The itty bitty cabinet to the right of the sink is meant for mugs and the coffee pot will be on that counter. I agree that I don't necessarily need one place for food--it would be good to have space for everything where it is actually used--baking supplies in island, spices and garlic and onions near range, cereal near fridge/milk.

Space around range: I really want more there as well. I like prepping right next to the cktop now but thought with the island I would prep there and could lose space near the cktop. If I adjust the plan to have a smaller range (wah) and then I can have more countertop. We probably don't need the bigger range/cktop anyway. I don't actually like tons of countertop in general because it ends up with stuff all over it .

Prep sink: I want it to be part of the microwave/fridge second work triangle. I can't move it to the other end. With 48" aisle, I thought we both could work bottom to bottom. I could move the micro/con to next to the fridge in a full height cabinet and keep food above and below it and then move the prep sink to across from the fridge and change the shape of the 42" section of the island.

I have a little bit of time before I meet with the KD this morning so I'll try to work on some new plans.

Thanks for your help!

The advantium goes in a 24 inch deep cabinet. The unit itself is 21.5 deep. Were you reading the OTR specs?

Have you thought about maybe an 18" deep, full two feet wide pantry that opens into the hallway instead of a pull out?

Birdly, when I suggested that you move the prep sink, I meant "move it closer to the refrigerator", sorry, I should have specified the direction. Also, swapping DW and main sink would not really force you to change the hutch -- unless I missed something.

I like your hutch btw. You could even do upper cabs with glass to give it more "hutchy" look.

I see another potential problem with your island, on second look: Your island has a prep area (facing the other counters), eating area (round area near the chairs), and third elevated Z-shaped area that acts as a partition between these.

I am curious what purpose the middle raised portion serves. This area is too far from the people sitting at the eating area, to extend their arms to fetch things (like condiments etc) plus eating area is large enough for that.

Therefore, I think this middle raised area might just act as a barrier between prep and eating. If that is the intent, I think you should put a vertical slab type of partition which is thin enough. The saved portion then can become a part of your prep zone and can be used to lay out long sheets etc. for baking.

Just an idea; if using space is important. Lookswise, it looks fabulous!