Judy, How much are you willing to change your kitchen around? No, I don't have something in mind right this minute, but I'd like to look at it on and off today (when I need a break from all this documentation!) and this evening.

FYI...I did look at a few single wall ovens and they all need more than 24" in height for installation...even the 24" ones.

Any chance you could post a layout of the current kitchen?

I don't see how you'd prep and face the family room? It wouldn't be convenient to stand at the end of the island to do that.

The sink area seems tight...The aisle from the dining room is only about 30", and if the dw is open, it blocks the cook's access to the fridge.

I missed any other posts, so don't know how many cooks or what size family this kitchen serves.

Buehl: thanks, we are planning to gut the whole thing and take out that waall. and I am willing to look at all suggestions. Are you saying that we could not put a wall oven in a bottom cupboard? or are you speaking o the one in the closet wall- we can be flexible to place that one where it fits in the closet and work the pantry around it.

Rhome410: I will try to post a layout in a few hours. I think the aisle at the point where the dishwasher is located is 42 in wide from the island. At the entrance from the dining room, it is 36in. Those lines in the KD plan indicate number of drawers, but sort of obscure the 6 inch mark.
We have finally found a reasonable quote for the construction from someone who has worked for us before, so now we are really anxious to get things settled.
Thanks,
Judy

We are now 2 people but my kids like to cook so when they are home we are 2 perhaps 3, but that doesn't happen much. I would put the prep sink in the middle of the island opposite the stove, and can still look out towards the garden.

No...I was just mentioning that the oven would not fit in a 24" high space, that's all. You'll have to go far enough over to fit somewhere in the vicinity of 30"...I think. I'm not sure, so don't quote me on it! I don't know the slope of the steps for certain so I don't know how far over you would have to go. If it's too far, you may not have enough room to put in a wide enough pantry. Just some things to think about it, that's all. (BTW...what's next to the ovens...to the left? The item w/an "X")

Oh, does your proposed island go right up to the step down to the FR?

When you post your layout, please also let us know the height at each end of the area under the stairs and the width that's available to use.

Here is the current layout showing the west wall on the left. on the far right of the page is the step down to our family room. The bottom is the south wall with the door to the dining room. At the top is the door to the hallway.
We will take out the wall with the angled pantry and reveal the wall that has the closet under the stairs.

Thanks,
Judy

Current kitchen layout

What is the purpose of removing the wall with the pantries? It sounds like you have a lovely kitchen that you enjoy working in -- I'm trying to understand the reason for the structural change?

There are 2 entries to the family room,which is bizarre. the counter at right angles to the penninsula is never used except as a place for buffets, because it is out of the kitchen work area. removing the wall would open up the room to the backyard.

The island goes right to the step. The item to the left was a rollout pantry. I want to rearrange the area to use the high part for pantry, and as low as we can go for the 2nd oven. I also don't want to put the MW in the island or this closet, so we are looking at beside the fridge on a shelf other thoughts?

We can always make the island a little shorter to give more room to the fridge/sink/DW wall. My husband wants to change the shape of the island to be a little different: starting out at 48-54 at the end near the fridge/sink/DW wall and tapering to 36inches near the step - an odd shape, but pretty. We also are thinking of a cappucino bar where the step and the new pantry wall would meet.

Here are the dimensions of the closet.

Hi, I am anxiously awaiting some advice. Anyone have time to give me some ideas? THanks a million.

Judy

Maybe you have stumped us! Or maybe we, at least, have nothing to add that will improve things...

My problem is that currently I see a lovely, serene, gracious looking/feeling kitchen, but the plans make a new small kitchen without the same homey feel. I can see the challenges, though, of your current kitchen when I look at the floor plan. In the new plan I want to move the sink out of the traffic path to the dining room, but not sure where...Swapping the pantry and ovens? Maybe. I guess it's my only suggestion. Even where it is, it's better than having the range and sink in the path!

The plan looks a little short on counter space, but when I study it, I think there is enough, and in the right places...So that's what counts.

Thanks for the response, rhome410. Do you think I shouldn't do it?

What do you mean swaping the pantry and ovens?

I just went to a large store in Toronto and looked at lots of wall ovens installed under the counter. THey are much too low! So i want to put a microwave/ oven combo on the south wall. THis will take some counter space away. What do you think? I can't think of anything else to do.

Alternative: If I put 2 ovens in the angled closet on the North wall. is that too far from everything else? I thought so, but it is difficult to make all the choices and compromises. I would then have to find adeqate pantry space. If we are doing it I want it to be terrific.

Thanks,

Judy
Judy

So sorry about the thinking faster than typing...I meant maybe swap the sink and dw with the pantry and ovens, creating a whole wall of tall things, so that only things opened momentarily will be on that aisle to the fridge from the range, and to the dining room.

If you are talking about doing a micro-oven stack, I don't know how you'd fit that on the south wall with the range in the new plan. You need all the counter space there is there.

Are we just confusing each other?

One thing we sure agree on...I wouldn't want my oven that low, either. I gave up on ranges for our new kitchen. I've had them all my life, but wanted the oven up higher.

I am getting more and more confused. But, i'll think on all your suggestions. They are interesting and creative. Thanks.

Judy

Just to clarify my only 2 points, since I know things got all jumbled:

1) With the new plan you have, couldn't you stack a microwave and oven on the north wall where you already show the microwave and oven? Why would they have to move to the south wall?

2) BUT, I worry about the dishwasher and sink being in the way of the west aisle, and wonder if you couldn't move those to the north wall and move the ovens and pantry over by the fridge.

I hope that's clearer.

Yes. That's clearer. My problem with the north wall is the distance from everything else.

But if I actually put the mw/oven in the spot on the west wall where the sink is drawn in, and put a large sink/ dw in the island, although I would lose some island space, and the smaller sink, it might be the better arrangement. I could make the island 9 feet long and 48 inches wide and move it a few inches closer to the north wall so that there would be a 48-50 inch space, so we could cook at the cooktop and wash/prepare at the sink simultaneously. What do you think?

It is good to think with others, and I appreciate your time.

Judy

It makes a better work flow. Nice suggestion rhome. I think you have almost 18" you could "use up" between an increased aisle between range and new sink location and extra depth on the island.

The last cabinet in the island seems to be hanging partially over a step?

Sounds good if you'll think you have enough room (and enough sinks) for the 2 of you and when the kids are home and working with you in the kitchen. Don't want to redo and have everyone vying for the same spot on the floor or at the same spot at the counter. That's something only you can figure out...We all do things differently and have different amounts and kinds of 'help.'

thanks, rhome and bmorepanic. The kitchen designer from the cabinet makers was here today and she is going to do a 3d mock up with the mw/oven on the west wall, and one larger sink in the island. We will see it a week Monday. I'll keep you posted.

Judy