Guessing that the software is the issue, the "bar height" counter by the sink does not show in the rendering but visually I can see it.....less the open shelves. I can picture an overhang on the counter instead, no shelves or cabinets at all as it looks a little confining in the bar stool area.

Regarding refrigerator placement, you know your own kitchen - is that a traffic problem due to the mud room, or would it be better to swap it over to the pantry cabinet area? You could cover the panel facing the rest of the house with matching cabinet strip?

Things I notice and think could be problems, or at least, would be for me:

1) The 2ndary prep area is a ways from the sink...Means carrying anything that needs washing from fridge to sink and back to counter, which seems to be in a traffic path.

2) The main sink, which I assume to be your primary prep area, is quite a ways from the fridge.

3) The oven stack is only 2 ft wide but needs to be 30"?

4) The counter to the left of the fridge will become a junk catcher...Is that what you intended?

I think I would want to keep the fridge in the U work area by swapping it with the oven stack. I would use the counter between the fridge and oven for the mixer and/or toaster, coffee maker, etc. so those things weren't in your way in the U.

OR

I would put the stove on the back wall of the U, the sink in the center of the long wall (about where you now have the stove) so that the 2 prep areas could be to either side (and dish storage could be on one side with cooking stuff on the other as a separation of zones), sharing the sink, and keep all the tall stuff (fridge, oven stack, and storage) on the straight wall. There would still be a bit of counterspace on that wall for landing space for the oven.

Best wishes!

Thank you. This is exactly what I need. I am worried about the refrigerator placement. It was placed on that back wall due to a structural obstacle. That back wall is 2x6 to accomodate a PSL post and the mudroom is 2x4 (original 1970's construction) My DH was hoping that he could " hide" the transition by keeping the refrigerator in it's current location. It give's it a bit of extra space to sit back nearly flush with cabinets.

And the small counter to the left of refrigerator is intended to corral all of DH's clutter. I'm hoping if I create a natural place for him to drop his junk it might salvage the the rest of my kitchen and dining table (his current favorite places to spread out)

I love the obscured junk collection spot behind the fridge. Brilliant.

I might, however, consider rearranging your tall elements. The oven and fridge might swap well, or even the fridge and cabinet #13.

I like the fridge on the back wall, but I would add a prep sink, since you're designing it for two cooks.

The DH setup is a great idea, but what about a floor to ceiling small cabinet (kind of the size of a broom closet). DH can have built-in shelves, baskets, whatever inside, but the door closes and it's all hidden away. You could even have hooks for keys, calendar, storage on the inside of the door, whatever and it really keeps the mess down :)

I'm not sure what cabinets #7 and #8 are, but where #8 is, that's where I'd put the double oven, or oven/microwave...depending on what you're planning to use. The oven would be close to the cooktop, with a nice prep area in between...and the microwave would be close to the fridge/freezer.

Side by side fridge/freezer are great, but you only have landing space on the right side...so have you thought about a fridge on top/freezer on the bottom model? This would make it easy to take things out of the fridge and set them right on the counter in your "second cook" area...with the prep sink. I wouldn't want to be reaching around the door all the time...just a thought :)

I like the sink and cooktop where they are, because no one wants to have their back to company, and this way you can see what going on, whether you're cleaning up or cooking. Nice plan!

If that were my kitchen, I would be happier with:

1. Moving the fridge to the right so that it is side-by-side with the pantry. From your sink, it would be a direct shot to both pantry/fridge. Ours are side-by-side in our kitchen, and when we are cooking, all the ingredients are in either pantry or fridge, so having them beside each other is convenient.

2. Shift 10,11, and 12 down to be beside 9. Perhaps you could stick a small sink in 11, and create a "drink" nook...you could put your coffee maker and coffee mugs over there, wine glasses, juice glasses, etc. We are in the middle of a renovation, and I am creating this exact type of space. I hate how everything in the kitchen seems to cram up on the sink...so I will now have a dedicated small sink and drink station.

3. Make 9 a full height and 24" deep cabinet. Make this your "clutter closet".

I just re-read your post, and you mentioned that you specifically designed the pantry and fridge and countertop area for prep. Looking at your kitchen, that doesnt feel like a good spot to me because it is a ways from the sink. I would be much more inclined to use the area to the right of the sink and above the 1,2 cabs area as prep.

I love Lavender's suggestion for a full height cabinet for dh's stuff...So you don't have to see it at all. ;-) We did that in our last kitchen for my dh. We called it 'his tower' and the doors barely closed it got so full, but no one had to look at it.

It's more likely to be used as a dump station without doors though. On the other hand, if it were a tower it could be as deep as the fridge cabinet and hold more junk. And yet on the third hand, that would make the doorway feel squishy.

And really it's tucked away so well it'll be really hard to see from almost everywhere so maybe it doesn't need to be hidden at all.

Are you planning to have the white cabinets, with the black countertop? Are you thinking about granite or soapstone?

I like your glass upper cabinets by the cooktop, but have you thought about what you'll store there? I really like the glass doors on the cabinets closest to the sink...for dishes, etc. How about some glass cabinets over in the second prep area. Great place for some display and extra dish storage.

What style do you like? Traditional, more contemporary, country, transitional? Do you have any inspiration pictures?

Are there openings at the top and bottom of the dining area part of the floorplan? Do these lead to to other rooms? Any windows? Maybe room for a window seat for extra storage? Do you have room for a hutch? If not, the extra dish storage between the fridge and pantry might be a good idea.

There are some really pretty white cabinet with black countertop pictures on page 2 or 3 of the forum...I think it's amay...something like that and her floor plan. Very nice :)

It is amay's kitchen and I put a link to it...about half way down are her inspiration pictures. Don't know if this is your style or not, but they're very pretty :)

Here is a link that might be useful: White cabinets/black countertops

Alright, I am finally home from work and can't wait to try out all of these suggestions. I will post a couple revised pics later tonight.

Lavender - That is a beautiful inspiration kitchen. Its very close to what I'm going for. The cabinets, counter, and backsplash are perfect. My wood floor is a bit more rustic and warmer in color. Also, I think I'd like to go just a bit less ornate and add a few more industrial (for lack of a better term) touches. Think clean lined dining table made of reclaimed wood, maybe some exposed hardware, or antique looking metal bar stools. It all makes sense in my head but I'm a lab geek not a kitchen designer so we'll see what happens...

As far as windows go... I eventually want a bay window with window seat on the solid dining room wall opposite the kitchen, but every time I bring it up DH kindly reminds me that he'll add it to his mental list for "phase 2" of our remodel/addition. For now, there is light coming in from both of the large doorways off of the dining room. The opening on the refrigerator wall side opens to a large family room with windows on 3 sides. The other opening leads into a sitting room & foyer with good sized window. I am still worried that kitchen could be dark. There is a beam in place that would allow the refrigerator wall to be opened up more to the family room, but I worry about having too open a floorplan and losing valuable cabinet/kitchen space.

I'm so glad you like the pictures! I think your changes sound great and will make the kitchen your own.

Just so I understand...there are no actual windows in the kitchen, right now? If so, that is going to be dark, even with the openings to the other rooms, that may bring a little light into the dining area, but not much into the kitchen.

Have you checked to see how much a window (even if it's not the bay window, although I love the idea) might cost? It might surprise you and not be as expensive as you think.

Even a nice double window (probably much more affordable) with shelves/cabinets on both sides(?) and a window seat would be lovely. You could push the table up to it and still have chairs on the other three sides.

You have a beautiful kitchen plan, but think how wonderful it would be to stand at the sink and look past your table and out the window. It would bring in a lot of natural light, too :)

The comments here really got me thinking about the lack of natural light in my kitchen. I have always wanted a light and airy kitchen but there were obstacles (drain lines in exterior wall) that prevented large windows on the exterior wall. Also, the living room partially backs up to the kitchen. The only area of exterior wall is the stretch between the mudroom door (there is a 15-light french door to the back patio immediately after the last kitchen cabinet) and the tall cabinet beside the refrigerator. And to complicate things further...there is plumbing in the wall behind where I have placed the open shelving. Unfortunately, after much discussion with GC/ plumber/ architect - this is the only place for the plumbing that won't cost $$$ to change.

So here are my revised plans:
Also, I am playing with the idea of placing a prep sink beneath the window. What do you think????...

And

Thanks in advance!!!

And just for fun here are a couple before and "In progress" pics of my project so far... I look forward to your kitchen feedback but for now I'm off to help DH before he fires me as his assistant ;)

Beacon- Why can't you put a window in your exterior wall, in the dining room? It seems like you have a pretty large remodeling taking place, so would one window be that much more money? Is that where the plumbing is?

I don't know if the loss of storage is worth the little window next to the fridge. I'm not sure how much light that's going to bring in...and you're losing any landing space next to the fridge.

Your original kitchen plan looks really good, so I hope you'll let us know about the window :)

While the window is a nice thing to have, how will you put groceries into the fridge? My kitchen right now is about your kitchen's size and my fridge is on the end of the run. Next to the fridge is a built in microwave with cabinets below and above. That means that I constantly have to take steps to either put stuff in the fridge or take stuff out. I HATE it. LOL. It is so inconvienent not to have a landing area next to the fridge.

I am certainly no layout expert, but your layout is similar to mine (although your kitchen is larger), so I thought I'd chime in.

My first two thoughts when I saw your layout were 1. no windows? and 2. that's a lot of cabinets. I am not seeing 'light and airy' in your plan. Do you really need all of those cabinets, especially the uppers along the range wall? What is on the other side of that wall? The living room? Could you open that wall up? It sounds like there is some natural light in the mudroom - could you somehow rearrange things and use that light in your kitchen?

If this were my space I would try to put in an island by eliminating most or all of the things on the fridge wall, shifting the mudroom door down towards that wall as far as possible, and eliminating the peninsula. But maybe the remaining L and island aren't adequate for you (the pantry cabs might be hard to fit in, or you could switch to a range, eliminating the oven cab), and maybe there isn't really room for an island.

Your exterior pics look great! Great job with the exterior remodel - love the color.

Good luck!

Re: landing spot next to fridge. If you really have a side by side, as shown in the plan, or a French door style, landing space to the side won't do any good anyway, as the door will block. With the new plan it looks like the peninsula will be close to right across, so a handy spot for groceries. (My fridge is about 6 ft from the island, where we deal with groceries, and I don't find it a hassle at all, so it's all individual, I guess.)

I kind of like that cute little window...What direction does it face? Will it get good light? Does it face a pleasant view? I could see big jars or canisters with flour, etc. on the open shelves to create a baking area, or other items to create a bfast center, either of which could take advantage of the prep sink...as well as your using it for a 2nd prep area, of course.

Your dh's drop zone is lost with this plan, though. Have you thought about facing the tall cab next to the oven stack toward the door, and have it open that way so that he could store his stuff in there?

Good Morning to all -

lavender: We will be putting a double window on the dining room wall. There will be a second phase to the renovation as early as 3months from now. Since my husband, a couple friends, and myself are doing a large majority of the work we had the plans drafted in 2 phases. We wanted to finish the main living spaces get our c/o and move in (we had a limited timeframe on the condo we are using living in). All major structural work was done in this go-round to allow for easy addition of the family room located behind the refrigerator wall. The entire dining room wall 12.5' will be open into this room. For now there are just french doors to the back yard. So whether or not it was the right decision to break up the work.... its done as DH loves to remind me (I'm learning a lot and taking notes from our first time experience on a remodel this size. Next time I'm planning entire house around the kitchen!) . Back to the topic at hand, the dining room wall windows (for some reason) were submitted on the second permit. It would cost extra money to have the plans reviewed/changed. So, I'll be in a shadowy kitchen for a few months :(

To make matters worse.I can't fit my little window either :( :(
It will be VERY close to the new living room exterior wall. Too close. and it is limited by pluming on the other side. So no window actually in the kitchen.

But, my new thoughts - maximize light coming from mudroom french door. If I don't put a full height cabinet (or large uppers) adjacent to the doorway (at the end of the refrigerator wall) light DOES filter in for a good portion of the day. Any ideas how to utilize that expanse of counter? What would you do on the wall?

CPartist - I'm hoping to use the end of the peninsula for a grocery drop-zone. we'll see how it goes. I live with a side-by-side now and always find myself walking back and forth around the door anyway. I opted for a side by side because I thought that opining a smaller door would cause less of a traffic block in the walkway.... but now with the pantry there too. It will probably still create a bottleneck. I'm really starting to think that smart kitchen design is TRUELY and art! I bow to all who do it well!!!

Rhome - I am a little sad to lose DH's drop zone but I can probably accomodate him (with some training, LOL) in the mudroom. And I removed the extra tall cabinet next to oven stack to cut down on tall elements.

One more thing before I'm off to work - The full height cabinets: The one anchoring the end of the "U" is the oven/micro built in. On the straight wall there is pantry, refrigerator, and 15" broom closet. I considered getting rid of broom closet, but laundry room is quite a few steps away and there is not a logical space to put it in the mudroom. So It would be nice, but not necessary, to have a small spot for cleaning essentials in the kitchen.

I forgot to say how impressive the transformation of the exterior of your house is! It's just gorgeous, and you must be so excited.

It seems like a drop zone for dh in the mud room makes perfect sense.

Even without the window, you have an interesting idea forming for that side of the kitchen.

A few months? That's no problem! I thought it was going to be a few years...just put in lots of lights (you'll need them anyway) and you'll be fine :)

Can you show us your new plan? Is it the second one, minus the window?

What about (from mudroom to dining area) the broom closet and DH's tower (looking like the pantry storage when place next to each other) your work counter, with upper cabinets for more storage, the fridge and then the pantry? Would this work? It wouldn't be quite so bulky on one end...and maybe DH could get his tower back. Would you still have enough prep space on your counter area?

Your house looks amazing! You've done a beautiful job on the remodeling. Can't wait to see the inside :)