If the middle wall can come down, how about something like these? [The walls on the left & right were added for support in case the middle wall is a load-bearing wall.]

I see an elaborate/decorative range & mantle area that will be a focal point from not only the kitchen, but also the LR.

Buehl, Those are all very lovely and I'd love to take that wall out but when we checked and the middle wall is load bearing for the loft. I've attached the floor plan.

Its perhaps possible to remove the wall if they left some sort of columns there in spots. But that would perhaps hamper your plans

Here is a link that might be useful: floor plan

BTW...I Sooo do love your plans. I can talk to someone again about what we could do. Since the dining room of the house is open (with the beam above left in for support of the loft), I can see how flipping the kitchen with the dining could make sometihng like your plan possible. I've been taking baby steps toward making big changes, but if we flipped it, I would have to reduce the dining room window size to make this work.

I can picture a wheeled cart amidships in order to park stuff going in all the various directions. It will be a junk collector sometimes, but otherwise, each plunk space, esp. those next to a doorway, will be receiver for things that need to journey across the room, including things arriving from outside the room. Seven feet across is almost a foot wider than my kitchen, which is at what I believe is the max for efficiency. I was very worried when we did our plan and I had reason to worry. It's a minimum of two long steps across the width, yours will be 3 or more. People will hesitate to do those extra steps and just plunk stuff to avoid heading across the room. Not necessarily bad, but as I said, a small wheeled cart can be a waystation. In my kitchen I make little piles to take to the various sides of the open floor--things headed to refrig, things headed to DW, things going from DW, things going to or from refrig. While coffee is perking or faucet is filling something, I haul piles across the room and stow away clean dishes.

Here is a possibility with the dining and kitchen areas reversed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Round 1, For Reference

Oops, a rather small picture. Anyway, you get the idea. Range with mantle stays in the same place as focal point. Raise bottom of window, to permit a sink in front (probable prep area?), then counters around to the other sink (washing up area?). Refrigerator on the load-bearing wall. Dining wall by the exterior passage, a shallow bar/sideboard along that wall (for the cookies!).

I like that Johnliu! I like the really long run of cabinets on the solid wall. I still get my stove mantle, and I love the shallow bar for cookies! :)

I showed DH and he is not thrilled with all the work he will have to do moving things but I like it. I need to spend more time on this idea

After reading the critiques in my last post and reading the thread about the pot fillers, I realized how much I do take for granted that my stove is right next to the sink now and I am very concerned that having it moved away from my stove may be something I'd regret. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to move it closer to the stove. Thank you for this.

Great food for thought!

I have seen this done on other layout threads so I wanted to add some of my inspiration pics. i love antiques and old world and have a very modern house (which I love) but I hope to give it a bit of an old world flair with the kitchen facelift!

Below is my cabinet style that I currently LOVE and am planning for this kitchen (Schuler Verona):

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I also love the 'tuscan paint' finish on the walls and want to do a gold on the walls, with some burgundy/maroon accents in the tile.

I've kicked around a traditional tuscan backsplash mosaic but ended up with this. Its very 'me' I love art noveau as well in my antiques and I'm leaning toward this. She has fruit in her hands and I think that is kitcheny enough for me. (: Hubby spent a lot of time lecturing me when I showed him tuscan street scenes that I will have to live with what I pick a long time here...and I have art noveau pictures, lamps and other pieces I've displayed in my homes for 20 years so I am pretty sure I can live with her. Just need to coordinate the background ( light stone) and trim colors with this backsplash. I worry she is not tuscan enough for my wall paint though... Its still not something I'm 100% on. I've also considered this tuscan backsplash. I also bumped up to only a 14" mantle/hood so that I have lots of space behind my stove for a long mural if I go with the mucha one. I also think I could lean toward losing the columns because I know this backsplash will be very showy in and of itself.

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And below is the sink that I love...copper apron.
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I also kept the 'low impact change plan' haha.. and flipped the sink to that wall... I don't think its right either but I'll post as its the state of the design today. I would add another cabinet in its place down below so another 36" floor cabinet.

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Here is a link that might be useful: Beautiful stove mantle

two more pics I forgot. My lighting and my faucett

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I think I love this style above, want to have a sprayer like below. My current one is tall like this and I like that.

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I'm leaning toward a bronze faucet that will match the coloring

If you do switch the kitchen & dining area...be very careful of clearances. For NO traffic, you need a minimum of 32" b/w table & wall. With traffic and/or counters/cabinets, you need closer to 48" (tight) to 54" for ease of movement around the table when someone is seated.

My other concern is the outside door...how often is it used? Think of all seasons...including the summer! If it's used with any regularity (even if just during one or two seasons), it may be an issue with the door completely blocked and you probably should aim for at least 48" b/w the table and door. OTOH, if you never use the door, then I would at last try for 36" b/w the table & door.

My brother has approx 36" b/w their sliding door to the backyard and table and around 48" (I think) b/w their small island and table...and it's a real hassle in the spring/summer/fall b/c if anyone is seated at the table at all, it's difficult for anyone to use the backdoor...and it's used quite a bit, especially in the warm months. It's a minor hassle year-round to pass b/w the table & island if anyone is seated at the table. (They're also the ones w/36" b/w the island & refrigerator w/seating at the island...my SIL got rid of the stools in desperation b/c it was so difficult to maneuver in her kitchen when people were seated at the island. That island also only has a 12" overhang...which made the aisle situation even worse! Her kitchen is one of the most poorly designed I've seen...barrier island, 36" aisles all around, 12" overhang, major traffic path from garage to house, etc....builder-designed, of course!)

Thanks Buehl. That door is used often, all year long. When we aren't going in and out in the winter my DH feeds the birds/squirrels on the deck so we do use it almost daily. And not just to eat dinner on the deck. We also spend time out on the deck all the way in to the late evenings some summers. I just walked past and my cat is laying there looking outside. Its used by the whole family I guess. Putting a table in front of it would probably be a pretty bad plan.

So many changes that I'm really worried here if I won't abandon any thought of this again this year. DH didn't like the thought of moving everything to the other side.

I'm not understanding the concerns about "moving" the kitchen. The kitchen is currently already on the left. Your proposed plans flip it to the right. Those who propose flipping it are actually proposing keeping it where it is, except they did not see your entire house floorplan from the beginning and don't realize it.

I am marveling at the irony of someone doing a "Tuscan" kitchen that forces her to walk over seven feet across the entire kitchen with a pot of boiling pasta!

I drew quite a long table. If you use a shorter one, such as in your original plan, there would be a clear path to the door.

How many people do you need to regularly seat at the dining table? Is it just the two of you?

The picture I posted was too small, so the dimensions are not visible. I will post a larger picture with visible dimension, tonight,

Also, I am still not clear on what is around the room. You said it is the Augusta plan reversed, but I was confused by that. What is on the other side of the breakfast bar, in your original plan - living room? Stairwell? If you enter the back door and go straight, where do you get to? And, what is above the room? Loft? Cathedral ceiling? Finally, what is the construction of the house? Slab or crawlspace, how easy is it to move plumbing and add electrical? Can you easily change the size and position of windows, and doors?

I was also thinking - if it is only the two of you, if budget permits, and if you don't need a lot of refrigerator space, how about refrigerator drawers? That would eliminate the hulking box on the interior wall, allows counters above. Potentially permits that wall to be windowed with a mantel or arch that creates an interesting view from the living room, frames the mantel hood, and opens up an otherwise rather narrow space.

Oh no Marcolo, my kitchen is on the right now, and virtually everything in my new plan is being left in the same spot, the sink, the fridge, the dishwasher etc, even the pantry cabinets thus moving as little electric/plumbing as possible just getting new cabinets, moving the stove from the middle of the kitchen to the back wall, and eliminating a wall between the dining room and the kitchen. The Augusta plan I posted is the 'mirror image' of my floor plan that I pulled from the web, its not my house. I will try to draw up my house and post that later so as not to confuse everyone.

Johnilu On the other side of my original plan the breakfast bar is open to the living room. I'm about to eliminate that idea though. I fell asleep thinking I could shrink the door, then move the stove over into the kitchen and then keep the wall between the dining and kitchen just make it shorter, cut the upper wall out and then move the sink so its closer to the stove. But this morning that didn't seem as good when I walked into the kitchen.

Oh I just read the other questions you had Johniliu,

My house has a full basement. I can move the plumbing etc if I have to. The back door goes down the hall to the garage/basement.

The view right now from the living room is into the dining room and I can see a half wall and a side cabinet over the stove. The cabinet is basic builder grade oak boxes and its not really a great view.

Midnight- I love your inspiration pictures! I think you're going to end up with a beautiful kitchen :)

The metal stools are wonderful...so you need to have some place to use those. While function is important, sometimes you have to go with style, too. Those stools (in the next to last picture) are great and I can see them in your kitchen. Also, to me, tuscan style means a big wooden table, in front of double french doors...preferable leading to a grape covered arbor, for outdoor dining!

In your kitchen, I like the idea of switching the kitchen/dining areas and making the window high enough, to put the sink under it. Johnliu's plan is very good, as is Buehl's...what if you combined them? Put the french doors back in, move the range back down where you originally had it...and flip Buehl's plan? The sink would be under the window (like Johnliu's plan) and then flip Buehl's fridge wall...so the fridge and pantry are closest to the living room. The big island, could be smaller (you need room for that table) with the second sink and two or three of those great stools...that will be a wonderful feature!

Then, on the 'east' wall, I would look for a tuscan style hutch, for dish storage and display...instead of built-in cabinets. Again, a big wooden table, some great chairs and a metal chandelier...what could be more perfect? Oh, and maybe two of those pendant lights, over the island :)

Larger picture w/ (kind of) legible dimensions and smaller table.

I'm not sure why, but I cannot get the image larger. There is 36'' from table to bar, 42'' from table to door, it is a 72'' x 36'' table which may be larger than needed.

Thank you so much for the kind words Lavender Lass! I need a little encouragement.

Johniliu, While I love your plan DH doesn't want to flip the kitchen. He seems to think my other plan can work so I am back to the drawing board with my other plan.

My latest idea this morning is attached as well as the correct configuration of my house. My house is configured exactly as below.
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My idea is to put the sink back and instead add a little prep sink to my stove wall. Also perhaps I could look into plumbing in a pot filler. I'd drop the island but keep a rolling cart or a table for the center as well. Well that is it so far.

I'd love to hear more of your thoughts.
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If you're thinking about changing the door anyway, why not swap the window and large french doors? Then the french doors will be in the dining room and a higher window can be in the kitchen...then you don't need to flip the plan. Put in the kitchen, as Buehl suggested, but with the sink under the window, as Johnliu mentioned.

Then, put the pantry, then fridge, where you have the fridge....so, entering the kitchen, from the hall to the bathroom, you would have (on your right) pantry, fridge, counterspace, corner, counterspace, with sink under window (higher and switched with door) then stove in space you originally wanted. Then, you put your other sink, where you first suggested, opposite the stove, either in an island or take down the wall and have a half wall...with stools on the other side. Since that hall is pretty narrow, I think the island would work better, with a support beam, if necessary.

The dining room can stay where it is (I like it more across from the living room) and have your french doors, where the window is now. I still think a nice hutch would work great, against that wall next to the table (same wall as fireplace).

So, can you make these changes? Is it in the budget? I think it would look wonderful! :)

Hubby has actually suggested moving the doors into the dining room Lavender Lass. It does change the traffic flow on my deck however. With the door where it is, we can go right out the door and turn right and go down the stairs and off the deck. If we move the doors, in the winter, after we get a huge amount of snow, we will have to clear off alot more of the deck to be able to walk out the door. I don't know if it would make me feel trapped not to have a door way out of the kitchen. But I will definitely play around with that type of change and see what it does to my plan.

Having the door on the kitchen side is one reason you don't have enough counterspace in your current design. Swapping door and window, to put the door in the dining side, would be helpful. Could you add an overhang on the outside, to reduce snow accumulation at the door?

We discussed things and determined for the way we live in the house, reducing the size of windows or the door way won't work. Our house is set on 5 wooded acres and many times we look out the back and see coyote and deer and all the birds and other wild animals. Also it would mess with summers out on the deck and going in and out. We weighed the 2 features, stove and entertaining island, and what won out is the visual of the stove. For the past 12 years, I have looked at the side of a wall and an non paneled cabinet every time I walk toward the kitchen from the living room. What I decided to do is scrap the entertainment bar in the dining area, and instead keep my island in the kitchen. Instead of reducing the size of a door or swapping rooms, I am going to have hubby extend the half wall 36". This allows me to put a cabinet on the side of the sink - I didn't like that it was at the end of the run- and balance the 2 sides. I also kept the 24 x 12 cabinet that will open toward the dining room (for my cook books). The island has doors that open both ways and I'll use that for my crock pot, slow cooker, fondue pot, bread maker and other items that are currently taking up real estate in the 2- 24" tall cabinets with roll outs. The stove will not have columns but will instead have balanced double deep uppers (ie 24" deep x 18" wide so they end even with the hood). On either side of the sink are 2 3" roll out spice racks and I plan to have hubby bump out the sink about 4" or so, and then bump out the spice roll outs too. To give visual appeal to the sink and haha for you marcolo to get me to only 6 ft 8" instead of 7 ft from the stove with my pot of boiling water. There will be a message center built into the cabinet across from the fridge to allow for a place to put stuff when you walk in the door and land in the kitchen.

My plan now is to put a hot plate where the stove will be and see how I like cooking in that location. Hubby is concerned I may not like losing the ability to cook while looking out toward the guests in the living room but I think I'll enjoy looking out the window to my right. The little island may get a little overhang (thinking rounded about 6" at its longest point to allow hubby to pull up a stool and sit in kitchen with me.

The only item that will be going is the pantry cabinet in the dining. I'm going to drop that before I order cabinets, that will stay open like it is now.

When I have the hot pot of water, I can turn around and walk to the sink. Its a straight shot without any obstacles. I think it will be fine. We eat low carb anyway so not huge pasta eaters...

I will draw up and post my side views a little later.

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Current view...

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When I have the hot pot of water, I can turn around and walk to the sink. Its a straight shot without any obstacles. I think it will be fine.

Absolutely, as long as you remember to dog crate your family and dinner guests while you are cooking.

Better yet, I'll just have my family or dinner guests dump out the water for me and I'll stay out of their way!

been playing around tonight with the cabinets. I still don't like the "looks" of the stove as much as I wanted to. I love the looks of the sink
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I totally understand your concerns about the view. We have the same thing...so I think you're right to leave the door and window, as is.

The layout looks okay (the sink is nice) but I see what you mean about the stove...and the cart/island kind of looks like an after thought. What if you try one more idea...just to see what you think?

Have you thought of putting a banquette on that wall, where you have the fridge/pantry, above? Something totally tuscan..with comfy chairs and a wonderful chandelier? That would be so cozy and inviting!

The range would stay where it is, but I think you need something, like that amazing mosaic (the woman with fruit) for the backsplash. As nice as your view is...you don't really enjoy it, from most of the kitchen. Personally, I would want the sink, under the window, so I can look out and see that view as much as possible. If you don't want to change the exterior, hide it like in the 'many doors' post. I'll link it for you later, in case you missed it.

The fridge and pantry could be on the wall (opposite the banquette) but I'd put some real thought into the backsplash, cabintry and maybe some fancy uppers for the pantry....you'll be looking at this wall, from the dining room. Then, the half wall, which you like, with the sink, can stay as is. Add a few stools on the other side (those beautiful metal ones) with a couple of those gorgeous pendants you chose earlier. It would be a lovely, functional kitchen with an amazing view! What more could you want? :)

I know you don't want white cabinets...but look at the gorgeous view from this big window! And the topiaries are perfect!

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And not all banquettes, are created equally...here are a few worth considering :)

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Here's the link, to the low window...it's a few responses down, from Huango. On the inside, they put the counter up to the window and on the outside, added a window box. There's also a link, with the reply, leading to more info on the window. Might be an idea...

As for view, here's what we see, out our kitchen window...thank goodness the snow has FINALLY melted! :)

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And this is why I have to keep looking out the window, to make sure they stay out of trouble! LOL

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Here is a link that might be useful: Link

Here's an idea of what it would look like...sorry I don't have nice software, but hopefully, you get the idea :)

The banquette can be freestanding or built in, with maybe shelves for books/display on both sides? There should be plenty of room for a table that will seat six!

The pantry and fridge are on the opposite wall, with the microwave, either on a shelf or as a drawer, below the countertop. The sink is under the window (notice the topiaries on either side) and you keep your lovely range layout.

The second sink (dishwasher with this one?) is still open to the living room and across from the range. There's still room for an upper cabinet or two and a few stools. If you like, you can still have a flat message board, calender, etc. on the solid wall, to the left of the stools.

What do you think? Any possibilities? Have a great weekend! :)

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Redesigned kitchen stove. I like it, it has a hutch look and I think great storage. Rather than using a real column that is 24" deep, and then having to bump out the depth of the cabinets to 24" deep and then having to shrink down my cabinets, or have odd looking cabinets on the wall, we have settled on this, which I like. Over the stove is a decorative valance, not exactly a 'hood'. This works for me because i can get a small vent with lights, I think. One the size that would be on the bottom of a microwave. If anyone knows of sources that would be great, otherwise I think I'll find something at lowes. So that shrunk I have added 2 cabinets 21" wide that drop all the way down and have 3 or 2 drawers at the bottom. Not sure which I'll choose yet. I will put my spices in them I think.

So I get spice storage, and i get decent cabinet space, all at standard sizes so I will be able to use my cabinet storage.

Then on the bottom, next to the range are 2 30" cabinets, one with 3 drawers and the other with a drawer and cabinet. it may be a little light on counter but I have a flat top range and I've lived with very little counter space next to my range now for 10 years...I think I can deal with it, that is why I've got my little island

I'm liking the floor color! I am thinking I will have to find gold tile now.

On the refrigerator wall, I've also decided to go down the full length of the wall with large cabinets, and at the bottom of what was in the middle above the microwave, I'm going to add a full length cabinet with an appliance garage. I'm leaning toward the one that continues to look like a cabinet door to keep the full wood look. That cabinet above will still be 24" deep.

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And for all of us designers out there, you can download a free version of this design software at http://www.chiefarchitect.com/ They have serious software for the true architect/designer/contractor and also home enthusiast software. I like using it. Its been great! You can use the free software but you can't print or save the kitchen design.

Are you concerned about the lack of work room around the range with cabinets to the counter with such short runs on each side the range, especially since the Prep Zone & other expanses of counter are so far away? I would be, but maybe it's OK for you...

Those cabinets take up a lot of space...

I have thought about it buehl. One idea I have been contemplating is having hubby build out the bottom cabinets 6" so I have 30" deep bottom cabinets and then leaving the top ones attached to the wall. This way instead of the 12" in front of the drawers there will be 18" in front. I also have not yet set on the location of the island. I can move it closer. I have a flat top range and very little space now...I have 18" on each side of my range at this time.

How much room do you have by your range?

And I also have to admit a very bad habit I have with my flat top... Due to the lack of space I have already been dealing with, I have gotten in the habit of using the flat top as a prep area. I doubt that will change now... I chop veggies on it and put all the ingredients together. i use it when I pull things out of the oven...

What is the over all size of your space? I love your plans thus far. I am working on a very similar kitchen space and design and am curious to know your overall dimensions of the space.