You've obviously put a lot of thought into this, but there are some things I notice.

There isn't much prep space convenient/handy to the stove area. The prep sink isn't as helpful as it might be, because of the relationship between prep counter and stove.

I love the idea of the lowered baking counter, but this seems limited, tough on the design, since it's in the midst of a run, and also chops up that run of counter. Is there a reason you chose a perimeter location instead of giving him a more accessible and expansive work area on the island?

There seems to be a huge aisle between the island and the perimeter.

Have you considered, or would you consider, swapping the cleanup area and the cooking area? I would love to see the range behind the long side of the island with 2 windows, one to each side. I would put the fridge where you have the dishwasher, so it's not only accessible to the cook, but to others who want to grab a snack or beverage. The island would become a nice wide work area for prep or for baking. I would lower one end, or actually, for me, I'd lower the whole island to prep/baking height.

I would reduce the aisle to no more than 4 ft, and either bring the island over, so that seating is not in the outside aisle, or deepen the island.

A one-level island is so much more useful, IMO...deeper work area and workers can access from all sides. But I think my suggestions could work with it either way.

Thanks for your answer.

I could put the 15" cabinet to the left of the baking counter to get more prep space near the stove.

I would have put the baking counter on the island, but I wanted a landing zone for items coming out of the refrigerator on one end and the other end has the drawers for the dishes coming out of the dishwasher.

You are correct about the huge aisle between the island and the perimeter. I should have mentioned that it will not be that large, I just couldn't get the cabinet guy to draw it closer to the perimeter. It is currently shown at least a foot further out than I was thinking and could easily be moved even further.

Yes, I originally wanted the range on the long wall with windows on each side. But, we are not sure we can lay it out that way because this will be a very tight house with 14" thick pre-cast concrete walls, so the venting of the hood will probably have to be through an inside wall and not an outside wall. We will have to ask the builder about this.

Switching the refrigerator and dishwasher would probably mean flipping the cabinets on the island so the dishes are closer to the dishwasher. That puts the refrigerator closer to the family room, but the dishes further way from the table. I guess it is all a matter of which would be better for our lifestyle.

I considered a one-level island, but the antique bookcase that holds the cookbooks is 37" tall, and we thought it would be too difficult to have the whole island at that level. The short side of the island doesn't have to have a raised area though, the overhang there could go at the same hight as the rest of the island as the only thing under it will be the dog bowls.

**I originally wanted the range on the long wall with windows on each side. But, we are not sure we can lay it out that way because this will be a very tight house with 14" thick pre-cast concrete walls, so the venting of the hood will probably have to be through an inside wall and not an outside wall. We will have to ask the builder about this.**

Definitely ask your builder. It is more complicated (and expensive) to vent a range when it's not on an external wall. Also, if your house is "very tight" in the sense of well sealed, good ventilation of the range becomes even more important than it is in the average house.

When you say venting it through an interior wall, what do you mean? Where would it eventually reach the exterior, through the roof?

If they can't pre-cast it with a hole for the vent built in, they must be able to drill a hole of the correct size. If they tell you drilling is expensive, make sure you also find out the cost of venting the range "through an interior wall."

Here's a link to another thread on ventilation. JohnLiu's post is especially informative.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread about ventilation

ideagirl2 - Our builders are aware of the difficulty venting a gas range poses for a tight house. I believe the problem has more to do with having as few penetrations in the outside walls as possible, so one penetration serves several purposes, but I am not very well versed in the specifics. We will be sure to discuss it further with them next week and see what our options are.

In the mean time, do you have a suggested floor plan that puts the range on the outside wall?

**In the mean time, do you have a suggested floor plan that puts the range on the outside wall?**

Yes, although I'm a bit confused by the measurements because in the 3D rendering of the sink wall it looks like the sink is further to the right (closer to the DW) than it appears in the first overhead rendering. But the second overhead rendering--the one with measurements--is more like the 3D version, so I'll assume that's the most accurate.

Anyway, based on the 3D layout and the one with measurements, one thought is to put the range on the same wall as the sink, over where the 36" wide baking area is right now. That would give you a very workable amount of counter space between the sink and range (which is where most non-baking prep happens), while also letting you define the fridge wall as your baking zone.

Alternately, if you don't do much baking or if you feel there's enough room on that wall for both, then the fridge wall could be a snack zone where people grab stuff from the fridge, put it in the microwave or toaster and then take it out of the kitchen. That would keep snackers completely out of the way of anyone cooking a meal or doing cleanup.

In this proposed layout, if you want to maximize the workspace between range and sink and/or get the range a little further from the window, you could make that narrow cabinet that would be to the left of the range (it's currently to the left of the lowered baking counter) even narrower and use it either for vertical storage of cookie sheets, muffin tins etc., or as a spice pullout.

Yes, although I'm a bit confused by the measurements because in the 3D rendering of the sink wall it looks like the sink is further to the right (closer to the DW) than it appears in the first overhead rendering. But the second overhead rendering--the one with measurements--is more like the 3D version, so I'll assume that's the most accurate.

Your assumption is correct. I am sorry I wasn't clear when I posted. The first overhead was just to show the areas around the kitchen - the kitchen layout is just what the architect drew in, not what we are intending.

If I understand what you are proposing, it is basically to swap the baking counter and the range. If we can put the range on the outside wall, we will look into doing that.

In this proposed layout, if you want to maximize the workspace between range and sink and/or get the range a little further from the window, you could make that narrow cabinet that would be to the left of the range (it's currently to the left of the lowered baking counter) even narrower and use it either for vertical storage of cookie sheets, muffin tins etc., or as a spice pullout.

The 3D view of the window wall makes it appear that there is a cabinet to the left of the baking counter, but there isn't - it is the door of the lazy susan from the corner.

We came up with another layout that puts the baking counter on the island, but I can't post that now as I was just called to dinner.

I didn't end up posting the plan I was thinking about because I was hoping we would be able to put the range on the window wall. We just finished meeting with the builder, and we can put the range on the outside wall!!! woohoo We are going to start working on a plan, but I sure would like some input. If anyone would like to propose a plan we would be very grateful.

Off to look at the finished kitchens website to get some ideas.

so I just saw pictures of the kitchen belonging to rmkitchen. I would love to be able to do a u-shaped kitchen like hers, with a bigger island going the other way for the baking area. Does that sound like a feasible plan?

I only noticed on your island about the drawer configuration. I would make the drawer configuration of the 36" drawers the same as the 27" drawers. Drawers that are too deep become too difficult to organize and find things. Stack the stuff that you are planning on putting there and measure it. Is there a specific reason that you are doing a raised DW? Again, it breaks up a run of counter space.

The deep drawers on the 36" cabinets is because I plan on using it for my dishes. I do not like to stack my dishes and instead intend to put my dishes in a rack much like in a dishwasher. The raised dishwasher is for ergonomic reasons, it is much easier to load/unload a raised dishwasher.

Ok- that sounds like a neat way of storing dishes. Is there racking like that available or is this custom. Love to see it in action.

It does not have to be custom. Diamond cabinets (available at Lowes) offer it. They show it in a roll out tray, but you can also put it in a drawer.
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