For learning SketchUp there's a pretty decent series of books called "Google SketchUp for Interior Design and Space Planning" or some such. I bought them last winter when I was first learning it. The books ended up being a bit too basic for me, since I learn computer stuff quickly -- it's what I do for a living. By the time the books arrived I'd already learned most of what was in them. But for someone who's just starting out I think they'd be good. The series has 3 books. They're all pretty thin and fairly inexpensive. I bought them on Amazon. I agree that graph paper is a good place to start, though. Or go buy a cheap architects' ruler at Office Depot. I think I got one for $5 or so. Laura still annoyed that Google got rid of SketchUp

My Electrician was asking me where I planned to install my microwave -- he assumed I was going to do a built-in. Nope, just plugging in my $60-65 guy on the countertop, close to where I keep the dishes I'd microwave on. Yes, the fridge is further into the kitchen, but on the way out I'll microwave, and then walk out to the dining region (or outdoors) to eat. I guess most food I nuke is either for hot tea, takeout leftovers, and occasionally parmesan'd asparagus. Serve on whatever I nuke the food item on/in! Having it on the counter on the way out to the dining table is also useful if I host pot lucks. If I get tired of having appliances on the counter top, I can always put them in the pantry -- but I don't want to be moving it in and out especially if guests are going to be using it. (I will store *ugly* appliances in the pantry, or under the counters.... my crock pot is hopelessly stained, for instance.) I don't use it all that often, but often enough.

Thank you! Do I understand the main idea/motivation behind these changes correctly as: - move fridge to the other side of sink so that there is a better flow Fridge -> Sink -> Counter -> Range (I really like that!) - create larger continuous prep space between sink and range - move fridge closer to the dining area so people can grab drinks without going through kitchen - hide microwave from direct line of sight at the end of cabinet run My one concern is that I loose "Pots & Pans" 36" deep double drawer in this configuration. This is one thing that we really wanted. Lazy Susan does not work well for us as Pots & Pans solution... And I am also concerned that massive 36" deep fridge will create visual wall from the the patio/window/table to the kitchen. I would be less concerned if it was counter-depth fridge... So I'm wondering if there is a configuration that will achieve the above benefits but leave the massive fridge in the current place? Then it is accessible from the other side of the island (for grab-and-go) and from the kitchen, but does not dominate transition from kitchen to patio/window/table... Thank you again!

It's hard to think about how a plan works when you've already invested a lot into drawing it in 3d planning software, so don't do that! Just sketch on real or virtual graph paper. Part of the value of this site is that a lot of people can "see" what you're trying for from a sketch. Sometimes, it's worth asking what the rules about stuff like water and an outside wall actually are. Like, you may not know that you can have a sink on an outside wall, but you might not want pipes INSIDE the wall. And that's ok, cause the sink is in a base cabinet and the pipes don't have to be in the wall. If someone starts yammering about a vent to the roof, you can use one word to silence them. That word is Oatey! They make an in-cabinet mechanical vent. I would not worry about how the water gets to the ref. It's just a tiny copper tube and is flexible it can snake through the toe kicks of cabinets or through floors or walls.. I would try, on paper at least, is doing a double sided-island without stools. Put cleanup on the outside long side, consider a prep sink on the inner side. Put a MW near the ref, possibly in the island. Maybe add a hutch, bar thing using 15-18" deep cabinets on the wall of the dining area instead of the kitchen. Then you have the entire outer wall cabinet run for the range, pantry and ref. As @mama goose_gw zn6OH said, try the ref on the short wall, using the long wall for pantry/range. Kids can go to the dining table with a plastic table cloth. Works well and you get all of the kitchen space to be kitchen. With your original plan, you'll mostly be facing away from the kids anyway. This way, with your main prep on the island, you won't be fighting not to ruin their homework and you'll spend more time facing them. You could use the space that was going to be coffee/cabinet pantry to be a step-in pantry with relatively narrow shelves on the potty wall and deeper ones on the short side.