I prefer the L, because the path from sink to range (think of dripping chopped tomatoes or boiling pasta water to be drained) is over a countertop rather than over the floor or across traffic. It also gives you better landing space near the range.

I like the L-shape best, even though you get marginally more counter top run on the galley (@6 inches). But that comes at the cost of two extremely small counters on either side of the range. And each of those counters has big issues (immediately adj.to wall or walkway.) I think those small spaces would be frustrtaing and you'd be forever crossing the aisle juggling hot pots.

Does either layout pose more or less problem with regard to exterior venting of your fan?

Would you consider a smaller range (30") in order to eke out a larger counter top?

Which way is your dining room?

The L-shape may be less useful for two simultaneous cooks, but otherwise I think it is better.

HTH,

L

Also, did you consider using 30" deep counters and cabs to get additional work and storage space. I think you have the room for them and they make a big difference, particularly in a small kitchen.

You can get a deeper top w/o deep cabs (which are more expensive) but sometimes when you aren't doing a huge kitchen it's worth it to get the extra storage space.

L.

Sebby, I really appreciate Davidro's design for replacing 2 yucky lower storage corners with 2 fully functional cabinets, but ultimately somewhat even more the L for, as stated, the continuity of work counter. A great work counter trumps convenience of storage. :)

My own 2 cents: I loved that long work space (on both layouts) right up until I realized I'd be working with a bunch of uppers in my face. On the L, how about retaining only the uppers flanking the stove and the one to the right of the sink, and then borrowing space from between the studs on the wall facing the work counter and adding another 5-6 inches' depth to create shallow floor-to-ceiling storage there? I have such a wall (11.75" deep inside) and love it, even though that depth requires me to pull out 2 or 3 cans to find the ones behind, so it could be shallower. Unlike uppers, almost all storage would be very ready to hand. If the galley, the same but on the end wall. Either way, that would add a great of sense of spaciousness, and if wished some easy-reach low shelves could be added over the counter for frequently-used items, which would be almost totally out of sight from outside the kitchen (should you wish that--no need to color-coordinate whatever went there :).

What is "south" of your kitchen (on the other side of the fridge and dish drawers)? I am assuming it is probably a dining area and/or family room. You get a much nicer view of the kitchen with the L shape... looking at a nice range wall instead of a blank wall. I also agree with the others that the L shape is better for having your sink and range closer with countertop/prep space in between the two.

One concern with both layouts is that having the fridge and dishdrawers open at the same time might be difficult (with someone standing in front of the fridge). My parents had a house like that, dishwasher right across the aisle from the fridge. It was always an issue when clearing the table after a meal... one person is trying to load the dishwasher, the other is trying to load the fridge with leftovers, condiments, etc., and both were in the other's way. Dish drawers are probably better than a DW in this situation and your aisleway may be wide enough that it won't be a problem, but it's just something to consider.

I vote for the L because the 12 in. counters on either side of the range in the galley layout just wouldn't be enough room for me. I like that in the L you take things out of the fridge, put then across the aisle at the sink, wash, move down to the left to prep, and then move down a little further to cook. Seems very efficient to me (and would give more room to spread out).

i think the concerns expressed thus far can be dealt with by putting the range on the same wall as the sink, in the non-L option.

Was the attractive element the long expanse of countertop?
(A straight run with you being able to put yourself in front of it at all points.)

In my vague concept of galley, I wrote about using the end wall instead of leaving it bare.
So, it may take a bit more work to make an alternative to the L.
I mean, to make an alternative that has a fighting chance.
Neither I nor buehl suggested isolating the range.
I also dislike the 14" side cabinets.

In both plans shown above the sink is the same.
You could have a small sink nearby without complicating the drain plumbing. I can explain this in a few sentences if need be.

Another vote for the L...I like how the L shape ties in the range and prep area. I also think it warms it up a bit instead of having almost 3 separate areas.

the L is better:the area in front of the stove is wider...not as crowded looking.

"... Two adult ... cook most of our meals, a lot of time together ... both of us comfortably prepping and cooking in the space..."

the hallway between the laundry and powder rooms might be the element that makes the total galley never quite work right.

both plans have managed to fit your new 36" gas range, your 36" existing fridge, and your sink. It eliminates the peninsula and thereby implements the main idea behind my suggestion to consider going more galley-ey than otherwise previously considered, a month ago.

It may be useful to you to know this: i'd like to point out that you have water on both walls facing the sink wall. A laundry room and a powder room are there. For example, a sink may be added to the laundry drain; it's specifically written in as a provision under the strictest plumbing codes. If you had a 66" by 29" counter on the wall backing the laundry, you would have a prep space.

So, in the interest of exploring alternatives while the time is still available to explore, i'll suggest you map this out:
fridge as shown in the layouts above, on the powder room wall
(maybe with open shelves next to it, because a 9" closed cabinet is not practical)
one big counter facing the laundry wall; small sink if you dare
a range across from it
a thin connector counter spanning the "bare" wall
big sink as shown
27" d counter
depths can be greater than 29" and 27".
(why? because between the range and the opposite counter, it's not a passing aisle)
((and because you two, or any future occupants, would be a couple not a rowdy family))
(((and to confirm that a 39" aisle is fine, we can locate several people's comments to reassure you)))

by adding more storage capacity in wide drawers, you rely less on the wall cabinets. Wall cabinets become showpiece display and less storage-y.
So, one more thing: cut down the uppers.

It also makes the psychological space much more open.

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful observations!

mnerg - I agree with the landing space by the range.

liriodendron - We considered a 30" range, but are pretty set on the 36" at this point. The dining room is through the hallway between where the fridge and range are. The hallway has a door to the powder room on one side, across from that a door to the laundry room which leads into the garage, and at the end of the hallway is the dining room. As to the 30" counters, I think they would work in the L layout and we will definitely consider bumping them out another 3 inches.

rosie - I agree about the corner storage. It's been something that I've been trying to avoid in the new kitchen, but if we end up keeping it to gain a more workable layout, I'm ok with it. I do like your idea, but I don't know that we would want to invest the added expense in tearing into the walls if we can help it.

my2sons - What's south of the kitchen on the other side of the fridge and dish drawers is the family room. And that has definitely been a consideration - what we would be looking at from the family room. As a two person only household, we spend the majority of our time in the kitchen and family room, so we want to make sure that both rooms work together. I appreciate your caution about the fridge/dishdrawers opening into each other, but I think because that's the widest part of the kitchen, and the fact that we're doing dishdrawers should (hopefully) make this a non-issue.

flwrs_n_co - That was exactly how Buehl mapped it out when she suggested this layout in an earlier post, and I agree. It has a very good feel to it.

brianadarnell - DH agrees with you. More welcome space, and able to gaze longingly at the new 36" range. :-)

herbflavor - It's a good point about the crowdedness of the galley style.

davidro1 - I think that your initial suggestion of galley style was really instrumental in getting us to look at our kitchen in a new light and being able to break away from the current layout that we have. I know that you didn't specifically advocate moving the range to the laundry wall - that decision was made in an effort to simplify the plumbing that we'll have to do. Our current gas line comes into the laundry room, so it will be extended from that room into the kitchen to accommodate the new range. So in the end, it's less complex for the range to not be on the long sink wall (for gas line and hood venting purposes.) Your point of having plumbing in both the laundry room and powder room is a great one and now we definitely want to fit in a small prep sink in that area of the room. Cutting down on uppers might also be a good idea for the small space.

Thanks again to all - your input has been extremely valuable!

u "... want to fit in a small prep sink in that area of the room..."
i ".... counter on the wall backing the laundry, you would have a prep ..."
Tweaking:

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Drawers can open "south" from that prep space counter; the other set of drawers under that counter could open towards the kitchen' long wall. Then the counter shape doesn't have to be as rectangular.

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With a prep sink, a main sink could be 22" inside (24" outside dimensions) and it would be big enough.
Any size larger than that is OK, but i wouldn't make it much bigger if the range is on the long wall.

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What I think I read above was: a soffit or dropped ceiling for a gas line and
exhaust duct (hood venting) = range and hood on the long wall. Tradeoffs, tradeoffs.

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perhaps the alternative to the L could be thought of as a U that has one thin side and two thick sides.

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