closer up of the kitchen cab layout

Click here to view these pictures larger

any help would be greatly appreciated!!! I know it is a pretty basic plan, but would love your thoughts and ideas. I also am thinking about the pros and cons of not having a window in the kitchen!! Any ideas and suggestions??? Please help!!

I think pantry cabinets are great storage aids but agree with not putting them in between counters. These are best suited with one side butting wall. I like end panel on both sides of fridge. There was posting a few days ago about desk area, if you don't think you will use it lose it!

Unless you really want a desk in the kitchen, I'd remove the desk. Perhaps you can move the pantry down to where the desk is now and either have the counter space between the fridge and pantry or move the fridge down to where the pantry is and have a longer counter run to the right of the fridge.

Do you want a knee wall? Personally, I'd rather make the back of the island curved with seating and larger countertop.

thanks so much. i am def. going to lose the desk. It would just collect junk!!! prickly, I was thinking of moving the pantry to where the desk is but the was thinking of the edge there. the cabinet guy at lowes said it would take away from the look of the edge ending!!! ahhh!!! not sure what you mean by knee wall!!! I think that would be a good idea of making the back of the island curved then it could take more of the breakfast space up and I could put a breakfast table in the keeping room???

any ideas on windows? is it a must to have a window in a kitchen. I was thinking I could wash dishes etc. and watch the kiddos out back through the french doors/windows. versus a window where the oven range is located in this plan. Thank you for all the input!!

A few questions to help you figure our your approach:

Why do you want to give up the natural light made possible by window? Is it for additional upper storage or are you on a zero lot line? If so, add clerestory windows above the cabinets perhaps if you have high enough ceilings. Curving the island, while nice, will cost more and you still need to be mindful of clearance for door to screened porch. The keeping room seems approximately 16 X 13. It's larger than the the breakfast nook and many would use it for seating/tv space. Do you have convenient private space for family time elsewhere?

How much time do you spend at the sink vs the range/cooktop? Based on how you use them, you could flip the two though the sink is in a convenient spot from the breakfast nook. An angled pantry can easily go where the desk is, and if you prefer DO those could go the left of a counterdepth french door or SxS RF. I'd place them next to the relocated pantry and have more open counter near the entrance. If you keep the RF in its current location, agree about the end panel. Not sure why you need a deep cabinet for the micro nor do I like its location in the entrance.

I think the kneewall may refer to the counter height bar on the island vs all one level curved counter, but the all in one is not the greatest in your configuration as you don't have enough room for adequate counter in front of the working sink/cooktop space plus seats plus door clearance. This is a case where an outswing door may help if you have enough room on the porch for furniture placement.

thank you abudantblessings! i am wanting kitchen windows but trying to see if I could do without. I think natural lighting in it is necessary but wasn't sure of all your thoughts!1 we could only put them on the long cabinet side where the range/surface unit is. I can't imagine one there the way the plan is... thus why thinking about putting sink there, however I love the sink with the island.,...and wouldn't want to do a hood over the island where a stove/surface unit would be!
So you are saying: put the angled pantry where the desk is.... put the oven/microwave beside, and move the RF over some? Yes, that is a door to the dining room and was thinking the same about the microwave and RF placement!! I don't want to put too much into the island. We are going to do away with the screened-in porch and do a deck. We were thinking about making that a closed wall with maybe a window there.and do french/sliding doors where the windows are in the breakfast area. I saw a video of a sample house kitchen and picture I will attach. the breakfast room and keeping area don't seem to big. The measurements of the keeping room says 13x13 but I think that is considering the walk way by the kitchen. hate the pantry where it is located in video!

Here is a link that might be useful: kitchen video

glimpse of kitchen alternatives
thoughts?

Here is a link that might be useful: more photos of sample kitchen alternatives

We don't have a window in the kitchen proper- couldn't because the kitchen is smack in the middle of the house. There's lots of windows in the breakfast nook and we just have that open to the kitchen and I am thinking it will make the kitchen plenty light (I hope). It seems, from your floor plan although I can't see everything, that your keeping room is in relation to your kitchen where my breakfast nook is in mine.

My (empty soon-to-be-kitchen, pic taken w/o a flash in late afternoon)

Nook:

I don't have a window in this kitchen either, beagles, as mine is behind the breakfast nook and family room but we have lots of NW glass so get great light. I know you will love yours once done!

Anni, I think your builder was trying to save a bit and provide egress from either direction with the central door, but you're right your keeping room is just a bit larger than 13'5" x 13'3". Still, isn't that bigger than the nook? If you do change the doors to the nook, think about furniture clearance in both directrions unless you go with a slider.

A lot will depend on the way your house is sited, trees, etc as to whether you'll get enough light w/o the kitchen window. Impossible to guess via this forum.

Thank you all so much!! It shows the keeping room as 13 x 13 and nothing about the breakfast area. Looking at some of the sample homes, the breakfast area/keeping room don't look as big. not sure if they measure from the kitchen etc...with an open floor plan. I am a visual/hands on learner. I don't read plans too well. I'll talk with the builder and see what he thinks and get a bette idea of the size of the breakfast area and keeping room. Love the pictures beagle!!! So exciting building. oour kitchen only has one wall that could have windows but we have 4 windows in keeping room and big door/windows in breakfast area. This process is tiring!!! LOL