Law of the inside corner - two physical objects can't occupy the same place at the same time:
--- It takes 32" minimum for a chair to be pulled back so a person can get into it, but most rolling chairs take more space.
--- A person seated in a chair sticks out 2 feet from the surface, again a rolling chair will need more.
--- A rolling chair is generally wider - the side-to-side space taken at a desk minimum is 36".
--- Opposing seating needs to leave an aisle between the chairs for access.

Version 1: With only 54" between the sides of the "U", you'll have a 6" aisle for the kids to maneuver. Kids will have to get up every time you want something from the pantry.

Version 2: The seating position on the north wall can't be used at the same time as the ones on the east wall.

Great space and good for you for using it so well! What direction does it face/what kind of direct sunlight comes through those windows? This might affect the usefulness of the desk surfaces depending on where they're placed.

Would the broom closet be more handy if you switched it with the filing cabinet? Then you wouldn't have to open a broom closet door and pull things out with your back to the open stairs (for me, a klutz, not a good idea), you'd have a handy landing space when carrying things up from downstairs (laundry baskets?), and the closet would be more accessible to the kitchen area.

If I have to choose btw the 2 options. I would go with the 2nd. The first seem too "crowded". Also, I would move the window above the cabinets to the left so that you can look out when you are sitting at the desk, unless you'd rather look at the walls instead of the outside, and also the other big window, move to the right slightly, unless the fact that it's not centered from the view outside bothers you. The other option if you want more storage is to build a row of cabinets (you can use top cabinets that are 12" deep, or if you are getting custom ones, you can get maybe 15" deep cabinets) and put them along the long wall across from the stairs and still have an aisle way that's 4'8" wide. You can use the storage as extra pantry space etc .. just some ideas for you to think about!

I made a desk area off of our kitchen. Ours is a little wider than yours, 124", and our window above the desk is 80". I have two larger printers in drawers - one is in the big drawer in the center against the back wall and one in the top drawer of the side wall. There is open shelving behind the drawers on the side wall. Although it isn't the same as yours maybe you can get ideas. Our knee holes are 30". My right wall is 60".

{{!gwi}}

bmorepanic: thanks for ths info - this is really useful! I as thinking last night that I might have to cut it down to 2 chairs... It just seems like such a huge space.

circuspeanut: the big window at the end faces west. Good point about the broom closet being at the top of the stairs. I am a klutz too... But if I move it to the right side it would close off the desk/space. But I definitely think there is a better way to lay this out -- just not sure what it is yet.

sclee: Part of my problem is that I can't move the windows at this point (and actually, there builiding on the left side...). We did the window, sliding door, window to match the symmetry of the window, french door, window from the dining room. Maybe I could combine options 1 and 2 and do something like:

Although, I still feel like I am giving up a lot of space on the left hand wall.

Here are a couple of the 3D views that the arhcitect originally did to give you a better idea of the space. The version on the bottom, she put a 24" wall cabinet facing out (east) to match the pantry/broom closet on the left. However, she put it directly on the desk, which isn't very functional:

I might need to cut it down to 2 chairs as the kids get bigger. Or maybe even make the desk go diagonally in the corner and put one chair there. I don't think we will often all be sitting there at the same time, but it would be nice for each of us to have our our "spot" so that we don't have to move stuff everytime we need to work there.

I really wish I had know about this site when we were in the planning stages!

Just an idea. elevation isn't measured.
{{!gwi}}

bmorepanic: thank you!! this is an interesting idea...
Would you just put some sort of decorative panel at the end of the tall cabinets?

This is a different direction, but what about opening up the space, and have an "L" of desk space with file drawers in each end, and no uppers? If you don't really need the broom closet, I think fewer cabinets will help keep the space from becoming a clutter zone and without the broom closet you have more room to work.

Having one desk leg deeper, like 30" or even 36", will allow space for big projects the kids (or you) work on, like posters and such.

I think I'd just do a bulletin board/calendar/chalkboard on the end -but maybe it's better doing that kinda thing on the front of one of the cabinets because of the stairs.

Since it's not an entertaining space, if not chalkboard, then a plain skin.

thanks bmorepanic.

I think this layout is good since it gives us storage and desk space, but since the room is long and skinny, do you think this "galley" layout will make it look even longer and skinnier? Or maybe it will have the opposite effect?

remodel-mama, here is a photo of my sunroom adjacent to my kitchen (in the photo, the kitchen appears a bit dark because of all the light coming in the sunroom). The lay-out isn't the same as yours, but I thought it may be useful to you to see an almost finished kitchen with sunroom. I added the sunroom about 10 years ago, when the kitchen was a white formica kitchen. Interestingly, the archway is far more noticeable now that the cabinets are maple than when they were white :)

Good luck!

dancing cook - thanks for posting this pic! Very pretty space. I love the archway.

I met with the KD this morning and she took more measurements. She is going to draw something up today...

If the broom closet is literally for a broom and other cleaning supplies for the kitchen (not for a vacuum cleaner) then the small space at the upper right corner of the kitchen by the dining room looks like it might be a spot for pullout broom storage.

Just a thought if you want to keep your bonus space dedicated to office/homework and related storage.

Here is a link that might be useful: thread and pictures of pullout broom storage

chicagoans - yes, I know the apce you mean! I have tried several times to fit something in there, but the KD says it will not look go and may obstruct traffic...

Over the stairs? Opening into the hall way? That's where I'd try to work in a small broom closet - maybe 18" wide and 24" deep. It could be raised a step to avoid creating an obstacle for the staircase below.

(dancingcook- I love your counter detailing!)

remodel-mama, good luck with the KD's drawings. I found I had to push them to get the functionality that I wanted; and some of the time, they had ideas/solutions I hadn't thought of.

bmorepanic - thanks, the countertops are maple bb with black walnut edging.

Ok, so here is our latest plan. We are going to probably make the doors on the large cabinet/pantry (36" x 15") on the left taller so that a broom and swiffer can be hung on the inside of the door (the KD said this will work... and that the Container Store sells something to hang brooms. Anyone have any experience with this?).

Also, we are going to add another shelf to the open bookcase that facing the desk come down a little lower (the last shelf will be about 18" from the desk. I will put baskets with the kids art/school supplies in the shelves and i may even store my sewing basket here.

Lastly, I think I will ask the KD to square off the open shelves that are at the end of the wall cabinets on the right-hand side. This is match the corner/trim on the pantry as well as the straight lines throughout the house.

Let me know if you have any other ideas. Thanks!