Wow! A lot of action here at the moment. I got bumped to the end of page two and no comments!! Anyone?

I really like how you reconfigured the mudroom/pantry area. I do have couple questions about the kitchen proper. Is that an empty space next to the frig? I'm assuming there is suppose to be some base cabinetry there. Also, at the end of the right run on the bottom... is that a prep sink? It doesn't look like a space where one would make sense but it does look like on in the pic. One suggestion... I'm not sure how deep your planning the counter for the peninsula where the range is, but I would make it at least 30" deep and then the counter overhang. You want to protect people from heat/splatters as they're sitting there.

Yes, I love the pantry/mudroom ideas. It solves so many problems! More light, a window in the bathroom, and the secondary entrance from the "home office" flows right into the mudroom instead of the kitchen so I don't have to direct people to the mudroom to drop their stuff all the time.

OK, great questions. The empty space is the refrigerator. Pantry to the left with advantium and 12" cab to the right. I think we're going with the 36" Liebherr built-in (FD, 2 freezer drawers on the bottom) although it seems crazy tall (we are both fairly short people). I know, it's in the flow to the other room. We messed with the fridge placement over and over and this seems to be the best place for it. Right now it's totally in the way of the island seating which would be the case if we moved it to the sink run. We will also have fridge drawers in the island for the kids and to alleviate some of that constant opening of the fridge during parties. Other suggestions are welcome!

We also tried switching the sink and the range to alleviate the other sticking point for me: the hood. I want simple, unobtrusive, unassuming and that's proving to be a real challenge (suggestions welcome here too). Since we're removing that wall, we want a clean sightline to the fireplace and whomever may be sitting at the bar. Switching the range and sink would mean losing the big bank of windows to the deck/backyard, or if adding windows to flank range, losing the upper cabinets. Very good thought about the splatter factor, I will bring it up to the KD. I'm thinking though, if I was making something particularly splattery (bacon, for instance) I'd probably have the kids sit at the island instead. We have many other seating options in this plan so I'm not as worried about that as I would be if that were the only seating option.

The sink at the bar is more of a potable water sink. Hot/cool filtered water for coffee/tea/drinking. That's where are coffee pot will go. During parties we can fill the sink with ice & white wine or whatever. We won't be using it for prepping or cleaning.

It's not just splatter... it's heat, flames, handles sticking out... or whatever depending on what kind of cooktop you have. But.. doesn't having the range there with the hood defeat the purpose of wanting an open siteline to the fireplace in the FR or did you mean an open siteline to the outdoors from the foyer? I love the look of windows flanking a range hood with few uppers... but that's a personal thing.

Yes, good point. I'd love to hear from anyone with this kind of set up: range with breakfast bar behind it. I will definitely bring it up to KD next time we meet too.

I meant sight line to fireplace in the FR. Right now it's a closed off separate room. Removing the top 1/2 of the wall will opening it up immensely. The range hood is something that we can't get around so we just want to choose the least obtrusive model. We wish we could do downdraft but I keep hearing time and time again that they don't work well. Plus we really want a 6 burner range and know that we need adequate ventilation for it.

KD seems to think that it won't be a problem and that it will be like an island application...it is not ideal I agree.

We've tried moving the range around but it keeps ending up back there. If we lose the uppers on that cabinet run, we won't have any and we really do need the storage.

here is a sideview of the area of concern: range with breakfast bar and a 5'6" figure standing in front of it.

Now there's always the option of putting some crazy beautiful hood island hood there...probably crazy expensive but so cool!
Just saw it on another thread:

I saw that too. It's beautiful but will become the focal point of the whole kitchen (I know, that's what you meant). I still want understated. Now that I posted the pic of the elevations and the figure, does it feel better?

I changed the subject title hoping that a few more of you will chime in for me. Thank you!!

I guess changing the subject title doesn't change the title of the thread. oops.

Yep, changing the title only changes it for the post, not the whole thread. GW's ancient software doesn't allow us to go back and edit posts so we can change thread titles.

I envy your new powder room with window. I also like the beverage center (I'm assuming that's what the cabinetry with the prep sink by the DR is), your new bump-out windows behind the sink and your mudroom.

It looks like appliances are staying pretty much where you have them now so you're used to having only 15" to the right of your range. If not, do a test run to make sure you don't object to this (I have 16" on each side of my cooktop and hate it. It's one of the reasons for my soon-to-be remodel).

Is your current pantry so far from your kitchen? That's a lot of schlepping. Most people try to have their pantry much closer to the kitchen but maybe you're used to this.

Can you get French doors that swing out, not in, so that you could use the nook space better? As it's drawn, it's merely a wide - very wide - hallway.

Do you need a 3rd seating area? You already have island seating and banquette seating. Do you need peninsula seating as well? It does eat into your FR but maybe your FR is large enough that giving up space for more counter seating (don't forget to include aisle room behind the stools) won't impinge on furniture arrangement.

Speaking of seating, am I understanding you correctly that the island seating is 42" long and 31" wide and you intend to seat 5 people there? Most recs are for 24" for each person so you don't even have enough width to put 2 side by side, much less add another at the end. There won't be enough elbow or leg room. You wrote that "it's almost the same size as our current kitchen table" but a few inches difference can be enough to make one work and the other not so much.

Hi Lisa, OK...

yes, my range presently has 15" on the right side and a full counter to the left. That won't change with the new set up and it's fine for me

the pantry right now is that far away. It's use is more utility room: party items, crock pot, arts and crafts, kids, bulk items. It's fine for what it is. The food will go into a pantry cabinet to the left of the fridge.

French doors that swing out. I will definitely look into that. Thank you. Same with the reg. size door into the mudroom. The KD said something like "most new englanders want their door to open in due to snow, etc. Not much use of the deck during snow storms but we still use the grill. We do have another access though. I agree with the dance hall (hey, an idea!) in front of the french door and hope I can decorate with a comfy chair and table or plants and pictures, etc..

We have a largish family and a pool, always with friends over. The kitchen is where they gather. We have a very close neighborhood too and always have parties and host all the holidays. So I love the idea of having loads of options for seating. I envision having another family over for dinner and parents eating at the island (or the banquette for that matter) kids at the other...

As you can see from the existing conditions we have a lot of square, same sized rooms. Our living room (couch, tv) is in the front of the house, the FP room is off the kitchen. Right now there is only a small desk in there and the kids board games. No other furniture. They lay on the floor and play games in there. It's really a glorified hallway to the 3 season porch which gets used constantly, in all seasons (gas fireplace). I plan on putting 2 upholstered chairs and a low round or oval coffee table in front or to the side of the fireplace. Hopefully it will still be a place where the kids can play games.

lastly, the seating area of the island is 50x31" so I think we're ok there. At least the KD says we are. The aisle width is 42". The work area is is 60" and the people sitting closest to the work area can spread out in that direction. I will definitely be mocking this up (part of me wants to cut my existing peninsula off to see how it will really work)

Nbptmomto3- Do you have to have a hood? Would a downdraft work, in your situation? It looks like there's a raised countertop, behind the cooktop, which will make splatters less of a problem. Also, that will probably be a popular place for adults to 'hang out' and visit, with the kids seated at the island. I really like your cozy banquette, too.

While you could switch the sink and stove, I'd hate to lose all those windows. They provide so much light and view, right now...and the cooktop is a friendly place to chat, if precautions (like the raised countertop or a deeper counterspace for stools on the same level) are taken. Here are some pictures, from another post, that might give you some ideas :)

Here's one with a hood, similar to your picture.

{{!gwi}}

Here's a raised countertop.

{{gwi:1547982}}

Here's one with seating nearby...

{{!gwi}}

There are lots of examples, if you do an image search for cooktops on island or peninsula, on Yahoo or Google. Hope this helps :)

Here in the rainy PNW, I forget about snow. ;-) We have an outward opening French door from our Dr to our covered deck and I'm so glad we did that but our situation is different than yours. (love the dance hall image!)

If you said, I missed the part about how many you entertain at a time and given what you wrote, then yes, you do need that much seating and since you don't have lots of furniture in the FR, it won't be an issue for you.

IMO, a raised counter by the range minimizes the concerns others have voiced but as you'll discover - if you haven't already - there are some strong opinion about ranges in peninsulas and islands.

We have a 17 year old pop-up downdraft in our island. It's okay but not great. New models works so much better than our current one but an island hood will always work better. When we thought we might keep our island cooktop set-up, I mocked up a cardboard hood over the island. Got lots of ribbing about my "art installation." ;-) But it did help me realize that an island hood would be acceptable for us. They can be quite a nice decorative touch, too.

I see pantry and think food. Never occurred to me that it might be for storage. Makes good sense to have it where you do, especially since you know it already works for you.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. ;-) Sounds like you're really thought this through.

This is a minor thing but if you are working on the hall between the mudroom and where banquet is, I would get rid of that tiny wall from the bay to the mudroom. The banquette can then stretch further left. This will let you make the banquette much larger, which will allow you to use more of that room.

Another idea:
Since you have another door out to that side of the yard from the mudroom, you can NOT have the FD from the bay window and have an absolutely devine banquette built under the window. However, I do understand that you desire for a quicker access to the backdoor with the new FD from the bay.

Kaismom, that's where we started with the banquette. My original thought was to have it in that bump out area but at the expense of that flow to the deck that we need. Putting it in the corner helped block off the "family office" and have it flow into the mudroom instead of the kitchen.

Laveneder Lass, thank you for the pictures. Yes, it would be a raised counter. It would probably look like a combination of the 1st and second pictures, including the style of the hood. Great idea to mock up the hood too.Thank you!!

The hood in your drawing is shown the same width as your range. Don't forget, when mocking it up, that it's recommended that a hood be wider than the cooktop, and that this is especially important with island installations.

nbptmomto3, I think what kaismom means is this:

{{!gwi}}

I couldn't determine your scale but it's possible that you could get 8 at that banquette, not 6. And IMO, it would be more comfortable seating for 6 than a round table with L bench offers. Or maybe you only intend for 5 to sit in that space?

Thought you'd enjoy seeing my "hood" (it was me not LL who suggested making a mock-up). Not too shabby for someone who considers herself craft-impaired. ;-) (please ignore the mess!)

Oh my gosh, I love it. Can you send it to me (kidding)? Do have your real hood in there yet? I'd love to see the finished product! I like the bigger banquet but have my heart set on a round pedestal table already picked out. We are a family of 5 so it would work.

I threatened to cover it with aluminum foil and leave it up there! LOL

Not long after my mock-up, we decided to change our lay-out, which includes moving the cooktop off the island. You see those 16" to the left of the cooktop? That's the hardest working surface in the kitchen. Not only is it next to the cooktop but it's right across from the oven, fridge, and pantry and it's the prime spot for dropping groceries when we bring them in from the garage. We're moving the cooktop to a 7' stretch of counter to the left of the sink that is underused at present. I can't wait - but I must. It will likely be fall before we get to remodel. In the meantime, I live vicariously through others' projects.