I don't believe that an exterior corner is the optimum place to locate a pantry.

It looks like you have enough room in the kitchen/pantry/nook area to get all 3 uses but with a different configuration and maximize your light into the kitchen by having windows on two sides.

A larger floorplan where we can all see how the kitchen relates to the adjacent rooms would probably help immensely in any reconfiguring efforts.

...and your current plan has no corner Susan which I think is more valuable than a large pantry....

I don't know if this will help you make a decision, but you could do something really cute by not building the expected banquette.

Thanks everyone. Below is our floor plan. I'm happy with pretty much everything, but need to give some more thought to the kitchen area. The nook bump out was originally just a nook, but we made it bigger to add the pantry.

The one change that I forgot to mention is that the door to the patio that is currently in the family room needs to be moved to the top wall of the nook. We can make the nook/pantry area bump out a bit bigger if need be.

We'll want to have the nook table large enough for seating for 6, so I was thinking a 4 x 5 table.

bmorepanic - I like your changes. We could probably put in two tall skinny pantries with a window between to get more light.

If you relocate the pantry to the area near your fridge, then you open up the pantry wall for another window into your kitchen.

Something like this.

{{!gwi}}

Any light from a window on that side will only add more light to the nook and not let more light into the kitchen proper. That's why I'm suggesting adding another two windows to the long side of the nook. See if you can get the windows to be as high as possible - even add transoms if you have the ceiling height.

Also take a look at the compass directions and available foliage. Big windows may work well in 3 seasons and not so great in summer.

To figure out lengths to seat 6 - with people on 4 sides, that takes tables sized between 3.5x5 to around 3x6 to be comfortable and you can certainly use larger spaces. When you use a banquette or a bench, the table can be closer to the wall BUT chairs or/and extending the bench around the corner can make some of those seating positions difficult to access. They are kind of hard to get into and out of as well as needing others to move to be able to get out. It's also one of those things that can be difficult for elderly people or unusually sized people - large or small because the diner can't adjust the distance of their seat from the table.

In rough measurements, it's width and length of table plus 5-6 feet to allow for people to become seated on all sides with chairs. Add aisle space for the section in front of what will now be patio doors and in front of what might be pantry so it could be used while people are seated. For each side with a settee or banquette , reduce the total required by about 15".

Personally, I've come to feel that skinnier tables are more convivial, so I'll use the 3x6 starting table with one side being a settee or banquette. I'd want at least 3 feet in front of both the patio doors and the pantry. So, 6 feet of aisle plus 6 feet of table plus 5 feet of clearance for chairs = 15 feet long of open space plus the depth of the pantry.

For width, I'd like to maintain 4 feet between the chairs and the island so I'll allow 6 feet plus 3 feet for the width of the table plus 18" for the amount of the settee that isn't overlapped by table or 10.5 feet of width.

As you can tell, using shorter or longer tables or all chairs will also change size of the area required.

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Stray thought - are you sure you don't want the ref on the table end? I'm thinking table people would be really likely to try and cut through your cooking prep aisle? If you'll actually use this area for most meals, I'd consider reversing the ref and ovens.

AlexHouse - That's an interesting suggestion. I never thought of moving the pantry there. I did like the straight bee line from the mudroom to the kitchen, but I'll definitely give it some thought.

bmorepanic - Thanks so much for explaining all the measurements. I agree that more windows along that long wall will help light up the kitchen. Regarding the fridge, with our current layout, that was the only place to put the fridge due to the door swing and the pantry wall, but by opening up the panty, we have many more options to move it down toward the nook area.

Why is there that little jog along the range wall and into the pantry. Can that be eliminated so that the wall is a straight line? It will be much easier to plan cabinets.

Hi blfenton - I don't really know why the designer put that there, but I'm sure it can be made to be a straight line. I was even thinking about maybe adding 4 or so more feet to that area so that the walk-in pantry could be pushed down so that the long nook wall could have more windows.

Maybe something like this? I really like the idea of being able to look out a window while working in the kitchen (rather than looking at the pantry wall like the original drawing.)

I can't see many of the posted diagrams, so just speaking as someone who has a TON of windows in her kitchen....
The glare off the water when there is full sun is blinding. I preface this with the fact that I hate summer and prefer fall/overcast/misty days. The icky granite that someone put in this house reflects and makes some days nearly impossible to work in---never mind the greenhouse-effect in the summer that makes that area so much hotter!!! I would much rather have walls....offers more cabinets, hooks, decorative items to land.

If getting light in is an issue but you love the layout you had with less windows, could you consider a sky-light?
That would bring in a ton of light and not have to alter any design ideas.

Hi wallycat - thanks for your advice! I'm not sure why you can't see the diagrams. Basically, our current plan calls for one 17' long wall with no windows (it's an interior wall). Beside that is a pantry that is in the corner of 2 exterior walls, preventing more windows. I think I've come up with an acceptable solution by recessing the pantry so that we can add a couple more windows along the right hand side of the nook, which should bring in more light and a better view from the kitchen.

jessrae, assuming your house is 2 stories, what is above the kitchen? any more feedback on the compass directions of your plan or the foliage around the site?

Hi Karen Belle - Yes, it is a two story house. Above the kitchen is a bedroom and bathroom, but there is nothing above the nook area (the nook/pantry area is only 1 story). There will be no trees for at least 75 feet. I believe the windows will face mostly north, maybe slightly turned to the northwest.

Jessrae--look at this blog. You might want to leave your plan just like it is after looking at this gals kitchen. I love what she did in her pantry during her remodel. It looks like she is countertop challenged (like i am) and her solution was to put all her small appliances right in her pantry and even use them in there.

Love this idea.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to kitchen

Red-lover - thanks so much for the link. I love that idea! Counters and outlets in the pantry are going on my must have list!

Jessrae - I'm not sure how much benefit you're going to get from more north-facing windows, aside from a view. Here in the northern hemisphere the sun is to our south. The northern side of your house will only get indirect light (although if you live in the subtropics like me, that's often the only light you want!).

I asked because there are light tubes that you can use to bring natural light into a room without adding windows. Not sure how it would work with your 2nd story over the kitchen, but there might be a way to pipe that light in through a utility space interior to the building.

Here is a link that might be useful: solatube

Karen Belle - Wow! I've never seen that before. I wonder how that would work in the winter with snow (we're in Minnesota). Very interesting.

Even if it doesn't bring in a ton of light, I do think that moving the pantry for the view outside will be well worth it. The kitchen felt so closed in before.