Small things:

---Are you planning on more refrigeration than is shown? It seems to be a 30 inch ref for 6 people?
---Imagine lifting a pot of pasta water off the range and going where?
---Where's the mw?
---Where are the dishes v. the location of the two dishwashers? Can/will kiddos be able to get to them for setting the table?
---In your case, perhaps the prep area ?should? face the breakfast area or the deck. Unless you entertain daily, views in those directions should be more interesting for you amd involve you more in the family. Facing into the dining room isn't all that its cracked up to be.
---You have enough room that you might consider two 5 foot square islands. It would promote better access to the clean up sink. and easy parking for kids at one island while you cut at the other.
---An equal and opposite point of view is to move the clean up out to the outer edge of a single large island and do a prep sink/prep area in front of the windows. Perhaps move the range to where the ref is and the ref (and spare oven) to the wall where the range use to be.
---I have never cared for islands of the shape in the plan. The two wings and the center cut off each other from being used. Use the end drawers and be unable to open the dishwasher, etc. Plus you'd have to run around the wings to either reach the range or breakup fights or whatever.

hth and good luck
jill

Wow......new home, congratulations.
Firstly, I don't have an island but if I did I would want it rectangular for function and it seems that is what you are going for, considering there will be more than 1 cook.
Do you think if you moved the fridge closer to the window sink it might help with the cooking zone? If so, then I'd add a tall cabinet pantry at the end, near the breakfast nook, to store cereal, snacks and such the kids can get to easily. You may be able to add the microwave in that pantry too : )
I like where your range is......if everything else is easily accessable the kids have less reason to be near the range!!!
If you decide to change the island to rectangular your prep sink could be more at the end near the range.......like bmorepanic mentioned about hot pasta. Since you have 4 children I'm sure they will help out so don't forget the step stool in the toe kicks......that will help them be independant when unloading the DW comes around and setting the table : ) Same goes for the thin cabinets (3"-6")others have used to store the broom & dustpan, another 'little helper' cabinet : )
Good luck with your build, I'll be watching for updates.

Quick notes/questions....

Do you have a Family Room?

Will the everyday entrance/exit be from the Mudroom? Is that where you will be bringing in groceries as well?

I also would prefer a rectangular island for

• more useable workspace

• better aisle clearances

• better overall access to the various areas of the kitchen (no angles in the way)

• better & more cabinetry/appliance room/spaces

• I would also have at least a 15" overhang, the NKBA recommended overhang for counter seating

• I would also put the prep sink closer to one end or the other, depending on where your range and refrigerator end up

Ideally, the refrigerator and MW should be in the kitchen but on the perimeter so they are both accessible from the kitchen and for those people who are just looking for a snack w/o the snackers getting in the way of prepping/cooking/cleaning up.

I too am building and have the same issue as you, the fridge where it is. I propose to put a bev fridge closer to the range to include items specific to it, ie eggs sauces for cooking etc. It can also be used as a fruit fridge or bev cooler. It can be paneled as well. What about directly beside the range on the right (of the range?)
Hope this helps!

Here's a possibility...

It has...

• Two DWs, one on either side of the main sink. I really think it's better to have the DWs nearby b/c even if you plan to put different things in different DWs(like prep tools in one & dinner dishes in the other), inevitably things will be put in the "wrong" DW and then you have to run around finding things and/or putting them in the right place. If you want to use one for prep, the one on the left is still in the prep zone.

• The sink is no longer the first thing you see when guests come in from the Foyer, you will see the range, but if you get a nice hood it can actually be a plus that that's what you see first.

• Flow goes:

  • From garage w/groceries to pantries & refrigerator
  • From refrigerator & pantries to prep at
    • the island/prep sink
    • counter b/w sink & range (could also use b/w refrigerator & sink as additional prep)MW (reheat, cook frozen veggies, etc.)

• From prep to range or oven or MW

• From range or oven to either Breakfast Nook or island

• From island or BN to cleanup sink & DWs or refrigerator (leftovers)

• From DWs to being put away

MW is next to the refrigerator and both are in the kitchen area but also on the perimeter where snackers can come through w/o interfering with the work being done in the kitchen
Are you a baker? The corner and to the right would make an excellent baking center since it's so close to the wall oven and it has a deep corner for storing your mixer.
There at at least 3 zones for prepping and cooking:

• b/w refrigerator & main sink
• b/w main sink & range
• on island...could actually accommodate 2 or 3 prepping/cooking b/c of its size!

There's plenty of seating space for children & their friends or for just sitting around.
Plenty of room for homework or projects on the island
Still have a 48" range w/54" hood (the recommendation is that hoods be at least 6" wider than the cooking surface)
15" overhang on the island for seating
I Moved the island north slightly so the island seats are completely out of the major traffic thoroughfare b/w the mudroom & the rest of the house. You still have a 48" to 51" aisle b/w the island and wall run of cabinets.
48" built-in or counter depth refrigerator. If it's counter depth, I recommend a finished end panel on the exposed end and a full depth (24") cabinet above the refrigerator.

I think that's it.

Thank you for all your help!

To answer questions: Jill - I would like to have an all fridge/all freezer instead of the 36inch fridge in the plans. Two islands seems maze like to me, I think I'd rather just straigten it out - any solid functionality arguements for the two islands?

Sasgirl - I like where the range is too - because it will be nice to look at from the family/great room on the other side of the breakfast area (which also answers buehl's question about the family room) and out of the way of the kids like you said. What I don't like about it being there is that I think that's the best place for the fridge (main family entrance from mudroom, grocery drop) and it seems too crowded there to put both.

I need to get the kids to sleep and then I can look more closely at buehl's potential plan - thanks again! I will keep pestering and posting!

Having two islands can set up different places for prep and socializing. Also, it is less of a barrier to go round than a very large island b/c you can walk between them.

And if that doesn't peek your interest, then check out momto4kids' kitchen- one of my all time favourite kitchens. She has two islands and it works beautifully.

Here is a link that might be useful: momto4kids' kitchen

What alku05 said.

I also like Buehl's plan and doodled one sorta like it - not enough difference to matter. I like how the island is narrowed so the foot of the stairs isn't full of stools. This is prep for saying I'm not critizing Buehl in any way.

Every kitchen is a compromise of sorts. The kitchen area in the house plan is very large - almost too large.

The island is almost 14 feet long. It does channel people to the far side of the island - which is good - until something has to go into either dw or to set the table or kiddo needs a glass.

It's a barrier to the front hall and public spaces - which could be good or bad. It's a 14 foot detour to the front hall. It lines up kiddos like little birds on a linear feeder. The ref and pantry is a hike from the range. It somehow reads "Kiddos don't belong in the kitchen." For a two island plan, I could list as many negative points.

This is helping clear up my cloudy thinking about your space. The only two points where ref and range could be are too far away (guessing you wouldn't consider island range placement). The traffic aisle and stairs are a consideration. I understand that traffic by island = island dumping ground. Your orientation while cooking doesn't have a great solution.

So - this comes with the usually disclaimers that I can't understand exactly what your preferences are from a few paragraphs and a floorplan and that I'm trying to help even if I sound insane.

So, have you tried sketching trading the kitchen for the breakfast room? It looks like that has the potential to solve some stuff.

Wow! Momto4kids'kitchen is incredible!

I'm still not sold on the two islands though. I like the flow of buehl's layout. I'll have to see what the window change will do to the deck/back of the house. I don't think that will be an issue.

I liked the pantry close to the BN idea of saskatchewan_girl's but think that moving the fridge and range will be more functional for us. I'm a little sad about giving up the focal point/alcove I was hoping for with the range where it was. However, it could still be a nice feature for view coming from the main foyer. I'm so excited! You've given me a lot to think about. Thanks!!

My DH thinks I'm out of my mind to be obsessing so much over the kitchen so early - but I can't seem to help myself.

I will attach a link to the entire first floor plan if that helps.

{{gwi:2106542}}

That's small maybe the link on bottom is better? It's three car garage on the top, mudroom between garage and kitchen, bn, and great/family room beyond that. Front of the house is more formal space, office and dining room.

I would love more ideas if they are out there. I'll be back with more questions for you (and on different forums too - did I see laundry rooms on that list?) - but the kitchen will really be my baby, so thanks for all the info!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2106542}}

bmorepanic - I totally agree! It's huge! The whole house is huge! We've never had more than 1300 square feet and now we're going to be closer to 4000 - I don't know what to do with all the space - I don't want to sound ungrateful, I'm so excited, just overwhelmed too. We could (maybe should) make it smaller, just not sure how - we really wanted the great room, mudroom, DH wanted the breakfast nook, upstairs bedrooms for the kids, us, guests (Lots of out of state relatives that visit frequently). I definately want the kids in the kitchen with me - they love to cook too. I think we could all work together well at this island . . . and bake in the corner. Maybe I shouldn't worry about crowding the range and fridge together on the one wall and put a bigger pantry where the fridge is currently (I'm having a hard time visualizing how big it will really be). I don't know if DH would move the BN out of that little knock out - but would be interested to see the option . . .

It's late so I'm tired and rambling don't want to take too much space - thanks again! Everyone's comments are all very helpful! What a fantastic site!

Some other options....

Re: Pantries

• I would keep at least one of the pantries next to the DR for overflow & bulk items

• the other for small/seldom used appliances + utility (brooms, etc.)

• use the one in the kitchen for everyday

For sample hoods, see the following kitchens in the Finished Kitchens Blog:

Gibby3000's Kitchen
TexasHottie's 'new' Old World Kitchen
Stephanie's Kitchen
Moogies' Kitchen
Sage63's Kitchen
Cate_co's Kitchen
ArtTeacher_NJ's Kitchen

I like the two islands, but I would have switched their locations so that the cooking one would be on the right, and the one on the left (closer to breakfast room and living areas) could be for seating and visitors.

Working with Buehl's middle layout above, I'd switch the location of the cooking and cleanup, move the prep sink to the right island.

Amazing! I really like the photos of wooden hoods. I think I like alku's suggestion it would keep everything closer together for cooking (which I'm used to given my very small kitchens to date), would put clean up closer to table in breakfast nook too - couldn't fit all four kids at the island though . . .

Thank you thank you!!!