I really like it, especially the walk-thru pantry - clever idea. You've got a nice work flow from fridge and pantry to prep island to range to table to cleanup area.

As you say, you've got minimal uppers - but for a good reason. I'd sort through all of your dishes and glassware to toss anything that isn't used frequently, or else find another place to put little-used dishes. Organization will be key to maximizing the utility of your uppers.

Since you seem to be searching for criticisms (just kidding) -- I'll suggest that for a 3-story house, having the laundry room on the same floor with the bedrooms might be something you'd come to love. (Though I hate to disturb your fabulous mud-laundry-pantry arrangement, which I just love...)

The one thing I'd do is shift the sink over to the right some. Having it right up against the side like that would get awkward.

Looks great! A couple minor things, since you asked for critiques :), I would move the oven next to the fridge to get it out of the doorway to the walk-through pantry. And I would also move the sink out of the corner a bit more to give more standing room for multiple people to help clean up. If you get lucky, maybe one of your kids will be loading the DW while the other does the rinsing or hand washing. Other than those minor things the layout looks like it would really work well!

Most things have been covered...I'd make sure the sink is at least 3 ft from the wall to its left. I would move the oven next to the fridge. I don't usually worry about ovens opening into a pantry doorway, but since yours is a walk-through space, it'd be more of a hazard.

To do a builtin seating look, use base cabinets adjusted to 18-20 inches high, and individual table and chairs, rather than a set. But are you sure you want that kind of seating when you have no other dining room? Will you ever host holiday meals for extended family, dinner with other couples or families, etc., where adults, possibly elderly adults, will have to scoot around on the benches? They also trap those who may have to use the bathroom. I love banquettes, but not as a main/sole dining area.

Love the Roomba! Great to have a spouse w/ a sense of humor (esp. w/ 3 young kids, a new business, and building a home!).

I also ADORE your pantry/mudroom/laundry room and mail nook. Great stuff!

If you are trying to use lower cost appliances, then that might indicate a standard depth fridge. That will definitely stick out several inches, but you've got a 49" aisle, so space shouldn't be a problem -- you'll probably have room to get by easily. But if you wanted to achieve the look of a counter-depth fridge w/out the extra cost, you could have them recess a fridge nook in that wall, stealing several inches from the powder room.

I would scoot that oven over toward the fridge...as rhome indicated, it's a walkthru pantry, and w/ kids, that means they'll be running/chasing through, and coming around that corner into the open oven would be bad (I know you won't leave the door open, but sometimes kids' timing just stinks!).

I'm a little concerned about the banquette, too. It looks tight in the drawing (maybe it's just the graphics, but I think you need more info about banquette placement and clearances, esp. since it's your only dining table and it's near those stools.).

Looks like a great kitchen -- love all the storage space and the windows at the corners!

Everything has been covered I think...

I would put the laundry room upstairs too,
it would be much more convenient.

If not then definately put in a laundry chute from upstairs
into the laundry room downstairs...I have one and would
hate to be without it.

Sometimes home owners insurance goes up a lot if laundry's upstairs. Just something to consider if you're thinking about doing that.

Bruuunooo, your design's actually rather similar to ours, but different. :). Anyway, I like it too. My suggestion is that you slice a good 12 to 18" off the end of that counter extending into the dining area and give that space to dining for pushing out chairs, walking around, etc. You wouldn't use that counter space for much of anything so won't miss it. Every inch of storage above the dishwasher is nice, but you'll still have good room for everyday dishes, and others can go in the pantry. Wetlands view to the east, hmm? Sounds about perfect.

Wow, thanks for the quick feedback!

I've wobbled a little about the upstairs or downstairs laundry. I decided that it would be a major pain to drag the two year old upstairs with me if I wanted to throw a load in during the day...of course the kids will grow up and they will be throwing the loads in (Hah!). We've been trying to find a laundry chute area and will have to ask the builder about it. (I grew up in a 1920s home and we used to lower ourselves down the laundry chute when our parents weren't home...did anyone else?)

Shifting the sink to the right makes alot of sense. I love the idea of space for team clean-up, especially if I am still sitting at the table with my evening glass of red wine.

Moving the oven next to the fridge would be easy, and would get it out of the doorway. Plus a recess for the fridge would make it look like it blends in better. Thanks!

I appreciate the concerns about the banquette, too. I hadn't thought of the "booth" situation. Everyone has to slide off the bench so the youngest (or oldest!) can use the potty. We'll cut off a little from the end cabinet and research the dimensions of a banquette.

Thanks for the positive feedback as well as the criticism. It is nice to think that the whole mudroom-laundry-pantry idea meets with approval since it was my desperate attempt to combine passageways and function. I think about this house plan while I do the "Mommy Taxi" and sketch out ideas on junk mail envelopes at red lights.

Any more feedback is much appreciated. I'm starting to feel like this plan is coming together, thanks to your help!

couple of minor points:

1) consider allowing for access (sliding door?) from the kitchen to an outside eating/rec. area. Ya gotta get the boiled brats to a grill without dripping on the carpet, let kids run in for drinks, etc.

2) the open front door opens to a direct view of the loo -- bad feng shui. Maybe rearrange for access to the powder room from the mud room side.

3) there might be other constraints, and I can't tell from the rest of the floorplan, but it is a shame to waste the south side on utility functions (laundry & mudroom), rather than living space.

OOPS,
I misread. It looks like you DO have the utility areas on the north side, and living areas on the south. Smart, smart, smart.

Never mind.>
-Lena

Hi, just wanted to chime in on the laundry issue. I think I'm one of the few people who prefers to have laundry on the first floor off the kitchen. My previous house had it on the 2nd floor with bedrooms and I hated it. With 3 little kids, the laundry got ignored because it was inconvenient to run upstairs to change a load or whatever. I live in the kitchen so having it right off the kitchen works great for me. FWIW, a neighbor who just did a huge remodel and moved hers to the 2nd floor regrets it for now. She has 3 kids aged 7, 5, and 2, and she says that when the kids get older she thinks she'll love it but for now it is rough.

We do have a laundry chute but even if you don't, bringing laundry down is a great chore for kids. And my kids at ages 9, 7, and 4 take their own laundry up so it doesn't bother me to not be on the bedroom level :)

And I want to commend you on your wisdom for making the mudroom separate from the laundry. Our laundry was in the mudroom before our recent addition, and it was a PITA to have the main traffic of the house pass through the laundry. My new laundry palace (as I refer to it) is fabulous just off the mudroom as yours is. Love it.

Good luck with the house!

Anita

I'm also in favor of a first floor laundry room. To me having it right off the kitchen is ideal. In the morning I reboot the laundry while waiting for my coffee to brew and in the evening I reboot again while cleaning up dinner. Then everyone is responsible for bringing their own cloths upstairs. Also in the summer I like to hang cloths on the clothsline outside, keeps the house cooler (saves energy too) and smells oh so good! That would be more difficult if we had a second floor laundry.

If it bothers you as far as view into the powder room from the front door, just swap the door hinges so the first view is to the dining/family room instead.

I like it! reminds me of my granda's cozy country kitchen!
You will love that walk-in pantry and separate mud room! that's what I have and it's so nice to be able to SEE what you have in the pantry.
The way your island is situated you can still visit with ppl seated at table and bar makes it so nice and as far as I can tell the entire layout I can see looks great! good luck!