This looks pretty good to me. I like the fridge where you show it for so many reasons...Doesn't block a doorway, is where you've said the kids come in to access it, and it's close to the table and dining room. The other end would have clearance and traffic issues, and be too far from both eating areas.

Are you going to store your dishes in the cabinets near the banquette? If so, I'd put the dw on that side of the sink. I wouldn't swap them, because that would limit your baking area too much, but maybe line up the DW with the left side of the uppers near the table, then have the sink, which would be approx centered under the window. Hope that makes sense.

I think you could run the sink wall cabs right down to the bench? As long as the bench is longer than the table, as shown.

I don't think I'd want the fridge much, if any, closer to the table than you have it drawn. You can use that blank wall space for calendar and board for grocery list, art, or whatever.

Congratulations!

Your right and the contractor is not right about the ref placement. I'm pretty sure we went thru that, but the ref can't sit close to the wall - so the actual final cabinet in the corner would need to be a 12-15" utility cabinet and the ref would go next and then the cook top cabs and then a smaller pantry (because the 12-15" utility cabinet is reducing the size of the pantry cabinet).

What you have is about 34-36" of clearance beyond a seated diner in a chair. You could move the ref about 3-4" or so. If you're adding cabinet panels, remember to allow about 1.5" for each side of ref for the panels and add that to the width of the ref.

If you want to add a 12" deep cabinet, you could fit one 24-27" beside the ref. You could also add either a short or tall corner cabinet.

I am happy that you're happy! I think its going to be great.

Can you see my grin? Thanks for weighing in, you've made my day.

Rhome, the dishes will be near the banquette, I placed the DW on the otherside of the sink to allow space for a trash cabinet--I thought it would be easier to use by everyone after dinner as they are scrapping their dishes.

And another ahah moment thanks to you--I found the place for the dog bowls, next to the frig in the space by that wall.

Bmore-I like the idea of the corner cabinet, I'll play with it and see what I get.

Any suggestions for the door width from the DR into the kitchen? It gets lots of traffic, especially during meals in the DR so I want to keep it as wide as possilbe. Do you think 3 feet 8 inches is enough?

My only remaining concern is the placeemnt of the doorway from the DR into the kitchen. As it moved toward the garage, I made sure to keep the wall long enough to hold my buffet (57""). But it is not centered over... anything. I'm afraid it will look off balanced. Think I'll get over it in a week?

Thanks again, you made my day.

We have dishwashers flanking the sink, and although it's a smallish gripe under the circumstances, it's a much bigger pain to unload the left one. With the right hand one, if I can't put the dishes right into the drawer or cabinet, I have counter to set them on...and I can scoot them closer to their destination. But on the left dishwasher, I have no chance of just turning and placing the dishes in the cabinet and drawers, but I also can't turn and place them on a nearer counter, because that's where the sink is. I have to walk with each handful to get to either counter or the actual storage. This is a long explanation to describe a simple situation, but I hope I'm giving you the picture. Lots of walking back and forth.

My priority with the trash, besides having it near the sink, is to have it near the messy work areas... so that I can easily drop in messy meat packaging, butter wrappers from baking, put opened cans in the recycle bin, etc. Just my way of doing things...

Pre-remodel I had a dw a few steps away from the best location for the plates. What a nice change to have it handier. I'd like to second the motion to put the dw on the right, and let people scrape their plates on the left.

Or, here's another idea: In our first remodel the dw was to the right of the sink and the trash was in between. The dw was then offset from the upper cab enough (I can't recall if you are not doing uppers) to make unloading glassware a snap. I loved this set up and would have done it again if I'd had the room.

I can't believe how different this plan is: I've been away for a couple of weeks, and almost didn't recognize it! Nice work, all of you!

I really like what you've decided on! I also agree...you're right on the refrigerator location for all the reasons others have stated.

I also like the idea of extending the cabinets to the bench...it forms a sort of window seat that way. You could put pillows on the cabinet end and sit w/your feet up in front of the window. You get both a banquette & window seat!

To the right of the refrigerator I would suggest adding a Message Center for mail, phone, etc. It's the spot everyone will be walking by for a mail/key drop, a central location for the phone (near kitchen/DR/LR), & a charging station. To me, it's an ideal location for charging cell phones b/c you walk by it on the way out, get your keys, and "oops, can't forget the cell phone!" I have to put mine where I practically stumble over it in order to remember it (which is why I will never have a hidden charging station!)

You could put a calendar in a shallow upper cabinet there or have a regular upper cabinet and put the calender inside the door or on the outside wall facing the doorway.

Everything looks great! Good luck!