Can you clarify the bit on the "free-standing island" -- Do you mean one on wheels? How can you do that with a sink in there? Whether or not you have a sink in the island makes a big difference in work-flow and how your kitchen layout might be tweaked.

With regards to the fridge/micro/pantry area -- I had one of those at one point, and it made me uncomfortable. Finally, I realized I had "zoned" my entire kitchen, except that I had this one little cooking appliance a bit out of place in my food storage zone. I debated "just living with it" and "putting in a micro/hood", and went with the latter.

Since you have a much bigger/better floor space than I do, I would not recommend a micro-hood, but you might try a micro-drawer closer to the rest of the cooking appliances. Again, though, that would mean running electric to your "free standing" island.

And, it also depends on how you are going to use that micro. I found that even when I was taking leftovers out of the fridge to nuke, I went and got a dish rather than risking melting plastic containers, so I didn't save steps by having the micro next to the fridge. I also noticed that I used my micro for other little things (softening or defrosting food) where it would be nice to have the micro closer to the prep/cook area.

Finally, from your before picture, that looks like a real working desk area, (as opposed to a token desk put in by a KD) and having a single level of countertops between the microwave prep area and the desk may cause your papers to get lost in the kitchen or food mess to get in your desk space. I would consider a change of counter level somewhere to clearly define which space is which. You could raise the kitchen counter a bit, or lower the desk counter to "vanity height" (depending on how tall the users of each space are). The wrap-around is nice to continue a uniform look, but you may still want to do something to define the office and kitchen areas as separate spaces.

That said, I'm jealous of all the storage space you're getting, and it looks pretty in the renderings! You look really close to being done.

The island will be free standing, not on wheels but moveable. No sink for now but we will probably do the island next year when we have a little more cash. You can see the future island in the first picture. I have not totally decided on it but I like the prep sink placement.

The microwave is kind of DH's baby. He uses it every day whereas I could live without it. I thought about doing a drawer in the island but he hated the idea. He is used to his wall MW so that is what I have to stay. It is placed where it is because we can recess it into the wall there.

I know what you mean about the desk area. I could just move my desk to another spot on the main floor. I need to really think about it. I just don't have a good feel it. We have a built-in pantry now and I think I will be happy with it closer to the range. I won't have to walk the island to get to the pantry or the fridge.

Anyone else?

I love it! I have no experience critiquing other's layouts since I haven't even come to grips with my own yet.

But I will say that I've seen that great wrap-around desk idea done a bunch in magazines and it always looks great. Sometimes people add a "twist" to it to transition the space a bit.

Sometimes I've seen it used as a snack/bar area but I'd prefer the desk myself.

I have the same relationship with the micro. My non-cook husband will only micro to heat food, I never do. That location wouldn't bother me as the cook.

I feel jealous of all your space. Our house is 1895 and there is no way to open it up short of adding on. Too many quirks in these old houses.

Thanks zillapgh. I just want to make sure I am not making some huge mistake. Like I said, it was great fun planning it in the beginning but now that I have to write out the check, I am getting worried.

An 1895 house sounds amazing. DH and I both from Savannah so old houses always get our vote.

Anyone else?

I wanted to ask about your plans for a freestanding island. Now that I think about it, it sounds like a good idea for my kitchen!

Are you just putting in the cabinets, but not bolting them to the floor and running the plumbing, or do you have a temporary piece of furniture for now or something that would work for years if it had to?

I keep playing with my island, and I'm realizing that it's because sometimes I want more space around it, and sometimes I want it closer to where I'm working. A free-standing island would be the best of both worlds, but it would still need to have a lot of storage...

I think you'll get some more expert answers on your layout now that the holiday weekend is over. I know what you mean about getting nervous about something you thought you were sure about when it's time to write that nice fat check!

Okay, don't laugh. Here is what I am doing. I am buying a stainless work table from a restaurant supply store. $175 for a 30''x60'' table with a shelf. I am thinking I can use it in the laundry room or the basement playroom later. I was inspired by the John Boos Cucina Forte table. Gorgeous but $1500. If I find one I like better between now and kitchen redo time, I may buy it but for $175, I feel like I can't go too wrong.

My reasons are kind of wimpy. I just can't make any more decisions. I have to get the island size and layout so perfect for my space and I don't think I can do that right now. I am planning on putting a sink there and seating. The seating is tricky with my fridge wall behind it. I know there are some talented folks that could design a perfect island but I need to get the feel of my new space before I commit.

Somehow, I can't post a pic right now but I will later.

I think the location of the MW is fine...it's easily accessed via the kitchen as well as snackers...w/o those snackers getting in the way. I use my MW a lot, and I wouldn't have any problems with that location. As a matter of fact, most items that I MW come from the refrigerator...so if the MW were too far from the MW it would be an issue for me! Once you put in a permanent island with water, it will be perfect (I add water to some of the things I MW)!

Something to keep in mind about the refrigerator...if you end up with a less-expensive counter-depth refrigerator, your refrigerator will most likely stick out another 6" or so b/c the doors + handles will need to extend out past the surrounding cabinets & counters. (Recessing it into the back wall won't help b/c you still have to have the doors stick out.)

Overall, the layout is pretty good. But keep in mind that if you don't put in a corner cabinet of some sort, you will need significant filler in the corner to ensure the drawers on either side clear each others handles. You'll probably need at least 3" in each direction.

It would be nice if you had more space b/w the range & sink, but it's probably workable. One thing, though, since the cleanup sink is currently the only water source in the kitchen, everything will be done in that corner...prepping, cooking, cleaning up...so be prepared for a bottleneck there. At least the DW isn't in the Prep Zone...that's a definite Plus! (The Prep Zone will be b/w the range & sink b/c of the sole sink.)

The counter to the right of the DW probably won't be used much unless you make it into a coffee/tea center or similar. It won't work as a snack center b/c the MW & refrigerator are too far away.

Once you put in an island w/a sink, your Prep Zone options will expand. I suspect the preferred location will still be b/w the range & sink primarily b/c it's just so convenient to the range, but you'll have the island as a secondary Prep Zone. My only concern w/the island as a Prep Zone is that

(1) you don't have much space on the range end (it's the narrow end),

(2) using the sink side causes the island to be a "barrier island" as well as puts anyone working there butt-to-butt with someone working at the cleanup sink, and

(3) the refrigerator side appears to be a major thoroughfare through the kitchen...it looks like the path to/from your front door is right there...so you'll have major traffic there and that's not a great condition for a Prep Zone.

I'm assuming there's no seating planned for either long side b/c there's not enough room for it. You could, though fit one or two stools on the opposite end from the range (the # will depend on how deep the island is).

With 176" to work with plus a major thoroughfare through the kitchen on a working aisle...

176" wide kitchen
- 25.5" sink side
- 42" aisle b/w island & sink (need at least this b/c so much is going on in that space)
- 48" aisle b/w island & refrigerator wall (need this b/c it's a major thoroughfare & a working aisle)
- 25.5" refrigerator side
-----------
35" for the island.

If you want a deeper island, you'll need to reduce aisle widths...but be careful, don't make the aisles so narrow they become congested b/c of everything that's happening in them!

I debated the corner cabinet for a long time. I still could be swayed but it just feels better to me having 24'' drawer banks on each side. I think it is because my current setup does not have any corner access. Does anyone have any ideas for the cabinet next to the trash if I don't change to a corner cabinet?

I cannot wait to get the darn DW out of the corner. It opens right in front of the cooktop.

Do the upper cabinets look okay to you guys? I wonder about having one set of cabinets 1'' smaller than another on the sink wall. (Talk about TKO!) Is that crazy? I think the cabinet guy cares more about centering the range than the drawer banks matching in size. Will I even notice that later? Do the uneven size of the upper cabinets on the range wall bother you? (No, I am not normally this obsessed).

Do you like the glass cabinets?

Am I forgetting anything else?

buehl - I forgot to say that all the island concerns you mention are the main reason that I can't make up my mind yet. I am thinking 36'' for my future island with the prep sink on the range end toward the refrigerator. I really want to see how I do with 30'' and a couple of stools. I think living with that will really help me.