Thanks everyone. I didn't cross reference our other thread because I was hoping to get some fresh ideas from folks not constrained by what we're already considering. But maybe that creates confusion!! Buehl knows from looking at our other thread that we're considering the option of taking out the wall (or at least part of the current masonry/load-bearing wall) that would let us expand the 11' part (like pushing the far edge of the island flush with the widest part of the old room and still have room for seating/walking behind. If we didn't do that, then we might have to lose the island idea or make the space a U instead. So many decisions. How do people decide?? Other thread here: Here is a link that might be useful: Other layout discussion

I should have mentioned this before (it was late!), but I think #1 is your best layout b/c of... Workflow, (Yes, it would be better to have refrigerator --> Sink --> Range, but only if you have a Prep Sink or you don't have a DW. With only one sink, the DW gets in the way of that arrangement, so this is better) Logical separation of the major zones, Easy access to refrigerator & MW for both kitchen work & snacks, No zone-crossing, and Protection of the Prep & Cooking Zones from through-traffic in the kitchen. Note that even though the refrigerator is farther into the kitchen, it's a straight shot to get to it from the LR, table space, or bedroom areas...and no interfering with work going on in the kitchen! I know you have an OTR MW in your layout, but to be honest with you, I really do not recommend one. They're usually very ineffective hoods b/c they're too shallow and b/c they're just not designed that well as a hood (they're real purpose is a MW, venting is more of an afterthought) They're rather short for a MW (at least my sister's is...but she has a very, very tiny kitchen and had no other place for a MW, so she's stuck with it) They're not the safest things to use b/c they're so high and you have to reach up and over a hot range as well as steaming/splattering/smoking food. If you're short or a child, they become very dangerous b/c you're either reaching inside above or at your eye level or you're using a chair to get to it. Try taking a dish full of water (use cold for safety!) out of a shelf that's as high as an OTR MW is...unless you're incredibly well-coordinated, you'll have trouble blindly reaching up & in and then blindly pulling it out while keeping it perfectly level and perfectly "calm" so nothing sloshes over the edge. Your youngest will certainly not be able to do this even when she's old enough to start using the MW. Now, imagine doing this with boiling water/steam, smoke, or high heat rising or grease splattering... If someone needs to use the MW while someone else is working at the range, you'll have a bottleneck...this could be someone who's defrosting something for dinner, cooking veggies or other dish for dinner, or someone trolling for a snack. A MW drawer, regular one mounted below the counter/on the counter/hanging from upper cabinets, or a built-in one is much safer and easier to use. [If any of you are even slightly tall, then I'd nix the idea of mounting a regular one below the counter b/c of bending over, reaching in, and pulling out...all would be done blindly for someone even the slightest bit tall. (Besides, drawers are great...you open it, look down, stir, close...all without taking the dish out! Plus, it has a "cool" factor...especially favorable with the guys!)] Pantry... It depends on the handles you use & whether you have hinges on the wall side of the cabinet. But since you seem to only have a 30" deep wall, even the hardware & hinges...

I am not a KD but I love the idea of benches that fold up and a table that can be used for entertaining.. Very interesting! I love the idea of having a space for your family to eat as one of your important parts. My only worry (and this is because my family is messy) that if something spills on the counter it is going to flow right on to the back of those cushions. Of course your family is not the messy bunch mine was. (kids off to college now) I like your kitchen plans and look forward to seeing all the clever solutions that the experts provide.

To save money and because I love my granite countertops, we're reusing them. So some things are set in stone (literally). Everything to the left of the sink can't be moved (especially the gas stove). I can rearrange what's under the countertop to the right (so I could switch the dishwasher to be closer to the sink, but when the kitchen was u-shaped, I had put the silverware drawer to the right of the sink and the dishes in the cabinet above it so I could easily put things away - whether from the sink or the dishwasher. I can still move some stuff around because the cabinet maker hasn't come yet to build the missing base cabinet (24") and the new 21" cabinet which I designed to go all the way down to the countertop (like the corner pantry next to the fridge to use as a pantry since we don't have a lot of storage space for food. The countertop on the island is only 14" deep because the bar was already in place when the countertops were installed. I could remove the bar and make the countertop all one height but it would probably leave an ugly seam and the grains would go in different directions. Everyone in the family is tall (except my MIL in her wheelchair) and there isn't that much seating, so the bar stools are/were actually used a lot