I installed a small stream fed by a large ceramic pot 2 seasons back and made a HUGE error. I used slate and large bull gravel that I gathered from around my pool to line the stream bed. Used a tile hole saw to drill into the lower back side of the pot. Ran my line and tied it into the said pot, fired up the pump, everything flawless, so I thought. About 3 or 4 days later I noticed that my beautiful water lily was starting to brown up. The lily was situated in the pond right where the stream dumped in. After a week or so the lily started to die. Took me awhile do realize just what I had done. Remember the rocks that I said I got from around the pool? Well I forgot that I had sprayed total vegetation killer around the pool to control weeds. Hence the stream washed the chemical right onto my lily, killing it. 2 years later I am still angry about my stupidity. My lily was 4 years old and at the time of its demise was one of the focal points of my 1200 gal. pond. So just a little sad and precautionary tale.

Looks great. I need to do one as well to minimize runoff from our pipes into the neighbors yard. The space is narrow and has a lot of tree/bush roots. Most recs are to make it at least 2 feet wide. Will it still work if its only a foot or 6 inches wide?

Thank you guys for your feedback. I am scratching my head, staring at these drawings, re-measuring things on a daily basis. Just can not come up with the right layout. Few comments: 1. If I move the entry to incorporate the chase in the peninsula then on a daily basis I would be coming in straight into the family room. Also, the side entry is not full heigh because at one point there was a second staircase going upstairs from the bathroom area on the first floor. So by closing in the entry I can not get a good L shape corner there. 2. I am considering moving the chase. I am also estimating the cost to be $2-3k so it is not a problem. The bigger problem is if the chase is also a support column to two load bearing walls that intersect at that point. In the current layout, which you can not see form these drawings, there is a hallway from the side entry (wall is paralle to the wall of the door on the bathroom. 3. Assuming the chase can not be moved then moving the fridge to the alcove makes sence. I like that idea. Few questions. If it is where GreenDesign put it then how would the doors open? The side wall is 40 inches deep. Would I have to pull the fridge up forward in order to be able to open it (it is french door style). Maybe keep it in the alcove, but next to the fireplace (that is where it is today) since that recess is 21 inches. So if I keep design 1 layout of the island, then I would switch the DW to to be on the right side of the sink and then the sitting of the chairs would be paralle to the alcove and to the family room. More than 4 people can sit in that area. May have to redesign this layout and post if it is had to follow. In this layout the range will be closer to the pantry. Yey!

This may be nore open then you like, but instead of a walk way eliminating kitchen area, how about removing the corner wall between the DR and great room. Also the fridge opening to the end of the peninsula is a chokepoint. I moved the fridge to where the oven stack was and put the oven stack opposite the fridge. These 2 tall items would balance each other at that end of the kitchen. Even if you didn't do double ovens you could have a hutch cabinet in that corner and still get balance. Just some quick ideas. I'm sure others here can help more.