I see little use of the countertop space on the east end of the first drawing. From the other three I like #3 the best because of the addition of the window (at least it looks like a window or is it a glass upper?) Either way, I don't see the need for a prep sink on that countertop run. I'd rather have the extra countertop space. I assume the DW is in the island?

Honestly, you'll have no problem with your refrigerator where you had it originally...It's not like that door stays open and it's on a short side of your island...no problems.

If you move it..I'd go for putting it on the end and gaining that extra counterop space!

If the only difference between #3 and #4 is the prep sink on the counter run, I vote for #4. I wouldn't think you would need a prep sink over near the fridg with your layout as much as you would need countertop. I would definitely put your fridg on the right end. Also how much aisle space do you have between your island and your range? Will you be able to open your DW and your range at the same time if you need to?
Nice kitchen.

Sorry to do this to you, but I'd much rather put the speed oven and warming drawers over at the far left side, and recapture the corner counter area for more work surface.

I vote for #4 as well. I think the uninterrupted countertop is soooo valuable.

Another vote for #4, and I like rob_p's suggestion for the wall ovens too.

I definitely like rob p's suggestion to move the ovens to the far left and have that long expanse of open countertop. That would also give you plenty of room for a prep sink if you wanted one. If you don't want to give up one of the *hutches*, I'd keep the fridge where it is in the original plan with the hutch to the right and move the oven/warming drawer to the far left.

I was assuming the dishwasher is on the left end, so I like the hutch where it is for dish storage, leaving the ovens away from there and where they are. My vote is for #4, as is.

Honestly, I vote none of the above. I strongly dislike having the main sink back up to the cooktop, though prep sink would be OK. A kitchen of your size should be able to support multiple cooks doing different functions simultaneously. Keep in mind the typical refrigerator sticks out beyond the 24" counter--even with a counter depth it will stick out about 3-4" more since the door is there so your 42" may in reality be only 39". In addition, I agree that putting the wall ovens in the corner creates a lot of wasted space. I much rather see it at one of your two end of counter runs. I'd put the refrigerator closest to your dining area side and out of the main traffic zone and your ovens on the opposite one.

I agree with Val. None of the above. I do not like the aspect of giving up so much counter space( I think it amounts to approx 52") for the ovens in the corner. It is also breaking up your sight line. Place them on an end. I would rather have them below counter than in a corner.
G

I would also vote for #4 (the bottom one). I also like the additional expanse of counter top without it being broken up by a sink. Otherwise, I would go with the KD one. Beautiful kitchen. Have to show us pictures when you are done.

I would seriously consider putting the sink and the stove back to back. Mine a close together and if my husband is at the stove, it's very hard for me to get to the sink (eventhough we always have fun trying). Unless your isle is huge I would move the sink (possibly next to the fridge) and put a prep sink somewhere on the island.

Of the drawings you posted, I like #1 the best, but honestly, think all of them will work. A 42" aisle should be fine (assuming it's a built-in fridge) and can help keep people from "window shopping" with the fridge door open.

As to the "long stretches of uninterrupted counterspace" argument -- IMO, they're very nice IF they're in a spot that's really useful. In all of these layouts, the majority of prep, cooking and cleanup work would be done on the island and on the counterspace immediately behind. So I don't see a huge value in a long uninterrupted stretch on the fridge wall.

If you feel like exploring, how about this? Pull your ovens out of the corner and instead, put in a beautiful focal-point hutch with glass doors and counter space in front. (A small drawer below the glass doors allows you to set stuff on the countertop and still open the doors.) Then move your fridge to the far right (like #3 and #4), and install your oven stack next to the fridge.

Another option would be to put your fridge on the far left - same wall as the range. Then have your island sink be a prep sink and put a large single and your DW on the right wall. That gives you a very cozy work triangle with ample space for a second cook on the right-hand wall.

I think mlraff53 has a good idea, and has changed my mind about blanketly supporting #4... but the fridge would have to move to make enough room: Fridge goes over to replace left hutch, that right end wall becomes cleanup area with all sorts of nice dish storage over and around the sink and dw. Prep sink in island. To me that makes the corner warming drawer location work even better, since it's now between the range and dishes/serveware/silverware.

Should have checked before I submitted my message...You beat me to the suggestion, Sweeby!

Thank you for your votes! All the people who like #4 with the fridge at the end, you don't think the sink is going to be way too far from the refrigerator?

As far as the layout in general, Rob, Val, Footballmom, Sweeby, Rhome and others, I know exactly what you are saying. When we started the design process (many many months ago) I didn't want to have the main sink in the island, have the range behind the sink or have a corner oven either. I learned everything about work zones, prep sink placement (wanted a prep sink in the island), accomodating multiple cooks etc etc. But unfortunately, the way our kitchen is located in the house, anything else we tried just didn't work in the space. It is not because there is not enough room but because of other factors. We have no windows on either wall and felt that a tall cabinet on the left side would create an enclosed space with less light so decided against it. That restriction alone drove everything else pretty much. So after many nights of no sleep over this, I finally decided that I have to compromise and go with an acceptable layout instead of an ideal one.

A bunch of people on the forum assured me that they live a good and happy life with 42" between the island sink and the range behind it, so I am not as much against it now as I used to be. We are making sure to have 42" from counter to counter, not from cabinet to cabinet.

Sweeby and Rhome, I am still keeping the layout you described in the back of my mind just in case I feel different about the room when the current walls come out.

Thanks again
annab

The fridge in #4 is just a turn to the island and just a little bit more to the sink. I don't think it's too far. My fridge is 6 feet or so from the sink in our island, and since it's on the corner, it's a couple more steps to set things beside the sink. Not a problem at all.

I actually think the original design is fine. I'm assuming you have a side by side CD fridge. If you have a 36" door then it needs to move over. The 42" might be a bit tight (especially considering projection of fridge door and 1.5" overhang of countertop) but honestly, I would still consider it in the range of acceptable.

I would first consider shrinking the island by 3" on either end (to keep it symmetrical) if you want a wider aisle, than I would consider moving the fridge over, as I like the look with the fridge in the middle of that short wall. Also seems like there is a hallway on the right side of the kitchen (perhaps leading to another room? dining?) and a fridge in that edge spot could swing out and cause obstructions for traffic. It's really important to consider what is adjacent to the kitchen, not just the kitchen itself.

In the alternatives, #2 is way off balance so drop that. Between #3 and #4, it's just up to you if you want a prep sink. I see it as useful as I expect those mullion doors would host glasses, and you don't have in-door water. Having a water source in your drinks area is great, and with a prep sink you have a nice little bar area setup. You have plenty of working counterspace in the kitchen already (imho).

Everyone is right about the oven/wd in the corner at an angle. I think it really poses a functionality issue as well -- if you have the wd open, then you can't open the drawers to either side! Drawers leading into both sides of a corner can already create annoying situations (depending on what is stored in the drawers and how often they are opened)... but the warming drawer also butting in with those drawers really compounds the problem.

Basically, I agree most with sweeby's, and I also like his suggestions for alternate configurations.

Of the four you posted, I think I'm going to be the lone ranger voting for #2. It gives you a little more uninterrupted counterspace than #1, and it also gives you a small pantry on the other side of the fridge. You don't seem to have any pantry space otherwise, but maybe you have one in another room?

I would put the range/cooktop in the island. I hate cooking with my back to people. That, of course, will change everything in your design...

mavmomma, we do have the door to the basement right next to the right end of the cabinets. So you may be right about a potential conflict there even with a french door refrigerator. As far as having water in the fridge door, I didn't think it was a good idea because of the wood panel but now that you mentioned the convinience of having a water source next to the glass storage, I am going to consider it if we don't have that small sink.

Knowing you have the door to the basement there -- I would really stick with your original design. I think that original design is an efficient work space and well balanced.

I would consider if it is possible to shorten the island by 6" and keep it centered, so that you can gain 3" more aisle space. But that is a nice to have, and not necessary in my book.

In-door water dispensing is generally a love-it-hate-it thing. While I do personally prefer in door water, I would avoid it with a wood panel. That wood panel is destined for water damage... it's just a question of how long it would take.

I like number 3 the best. In the 3rd option a non cooi can get something out of the fridge to eat, wash it at the prep sink and leave the kitchen all without having to enter the chefs working area. While counter space is valuable I don't think that area will be used much.

-Robin

Sweeby described exactly what I was thinking. In any of the four drawings, the sole sink/DW sharing the aisle with the cooktop will make that area congested whenever the kitchen has more than one person doing a task. I agree that the 42 inches would help that congestion, but with all that wonderful space you have to work with, do you really want prep, cleanup AND cooking all happening in that one spot?? Think of loading/unloading the DW while someone is cooking.

Fridge left of the rangetop, prep sink at the island, range as is. Then DW, cleanup sink and attractive hutch dish storage along the right (now fridge) wall. Ovens either in the corner as shown or on the end past the DW. That would function SO much better.

You can solve a lighting problem with lights. Function is not so easy to fix.

Thanks Robin and Celticmoon, I've been thinking about a sink on that wall (main or prep) and besides the basement door problem, another issue is this wall is "the least connected" (the best term I could come up with) to the adjacent rooms and we have no windows near by either, so kind of a "dead end". But I recentry visited a home where the kitchen had a mirror backsplash which looked great and started thinking about possibly using it in our kitchen. I think it can make a difference, except that kitchen was very contemporary and ours will be traditional, but I will post a question about this separately.