All of the above? :-) Multiple cooks was the top priority in our kitchen. We have a family of 10, almost all love to cook, and we homeschool, so we do 3 meals a day, plus lots of baking.

Definitely zones are a big help:
*Cleanup area with dish storage and 2 DWs
*rangetop area across from prep island
*baking counter by dbl oven (plus island for rolling out, kneading, putting into pans, etc.)
*a breakfast/snack area for cereals, bread, PB, toaster oven, chips, and crackers...Things that never really had a good 'home' before.
*Fridge and freezer across from walk-in pantry and all close to cooking/prep and baking areas.
*A 2nd fridge by breakfast counter and kitchen table.

48 inch rangetop for more than 1 cook at the stove at a time. One night we had 3!

The prep sink is situated to be multifunctional...It's on the corner of the island, so accessible to kitchen entry (hand washing), baking areas, main fridge, and rangetop.

4 ft wide aisles, except between rangetop and island, where it's 3 ft for spin, not steps.

The island has an overhang, but is meant for helpers, not a dining space. Provides workspace from 4 sides.

Separate table for casual dining, or homework, games, and puzzles. These activities won't be interfering with workers' elbow room, and books, papers, etc. won't get wet or food spattered like they might at an island.

We did almost everything Rhome410 has done, except for the family of 10! We wanted our kitchen to function for our smaller immediate family (of multiple cooks) as well as for weekend house guests and big parties.

We have a coffee/cereal/icemaker center around the corner from our kitchen, next to the 2nd fridge (glass front) for beverages, snacks, & extra entertaining foods.

Rhome, I am studying your plan very carefully! My space is much longer and thinner with a thorofare on one side so I am trying to decide what I can incorporate and how...I love, love your baking center.

It is fascinating to me how such small adjustments can make such a big difference (where a sink is in relation to a fridge or door, for example)

Gizmo, I am planning a similar breakfast station near our banquette. Can't wait!

Rhome, where is your breakfast center? I can't quite tell by the plan--with the baking section?

Also, I was wondering if you do most of the prep for cooking at the range at that stretch of counter next to the range, or on the island across. Or both? We will have a similar setup.

Since we're a family who loves to cook together, we thought about this one very carefully. Planning for separate zones was what made this work for us.
Zone #1 is my main prep zone. It's the largest prep space, faces the family room and has the bank of prep drawers, pull-out double trash, MW drawer and knife drawer .
Zone#2 is the secondary Prep area. It's between the sink area and my prep zone. Plenty of space, although it's long and narrow. It has the best views though!
Zone#3 is the sink zone. DW to left, dish drawers and cabs are there, too.
Zone#4 is the cooktop area with counters on both sides. Food storage, pantry cab, pull-out spice/oils & vinegars are in this area.
Zone#5 is the bar area. It has a nice counter with bar glasses above, bottles and bar tools below. It's right next to the fridge, which is very handy for getting ice, as the freezer is a big drawer with the automatic ice maker and bin right there.
Zone#6 is the French door fridge & the double ovens. There's tray and platter storage above the ovens and bakeware storage below them. The end of our extra wide peninsula is directly across from this area and there's the counter right next to the fridge for another landing/prep area.
Zone #7 is on the far side of the island and, technically, in the family room. There's three bar stools and storage cabs below for my many cookbooks, small appliances that I don't use weekly and two more sets of dishes. I sit here and thumb through my cookbooks to plan meals and shopping. I also put seated guests to work there, if need be ;^ P

Hollylh, I noticed when posting that the breakfast center isn't labeled. It's to the far right on the bottom...between the single fridge and the dining room wall, and across the aisle from the table. The little box there on the counter represents the toaster oven. The photo below shows that wall.

I can prep on either side of the range or the island and which place I choose is affected by what others are doing at the same time, and what portion of the rangetop I'm using. If others aren't using it, I do most chopping at the island, because of the sink, because of the room, and because my knives and cutting boards are stored in the island. Then I sometimes move things and kind of 'stage' them next to the stove, ready to add at the appropriate moments.

Did you post your plan so that people here might help you find a place for a baking center or other things you want to have? (Sorry if you did and I've forgotten!)

What it's supposed to look like... Someday! ;-)

Hi everyone--Lynne, I did post a layout a while ago, but I asked sort of vague questions about it. I got some very helpful responses, but things were hampered I think because my pics weren't very good. I photographed my plans and posted those photos, but they weren't nearly as clear as something from a program like Rhome posted above. So I am thinking I have got to figure out a way to post it better. I have made a few changes also so have to incorporate those.

We are adding to an existing kitchen and not moving appliances around too much, so I don't have the same wiggle room as I would if we were starting from scratch. But I am hopeful I can make it work better for our family. I will try to figure out how to post an updated layout tomorrow! g'night!