I forgot to add - I am a bit of countertop appliance junkie... so an appliance garage is a good thing! :-)

I'm also thinking about turning the window over the sink into a garden window for herbs. I LOVE using fresh herbs.

I mainly use the cooktop portion (I'm a "chop and drop" kind of cook - that's why I want 30-36 inches to the left of cooktop - have a 21 inch cutting board which I love and use daily. Right now it sits on the island and then I have to carry the veggies over to the stove) - occasionally oven... micro is just for reheating/popcorn/defrosting. I'm not in love with having the micro down low in a base cabinet (think about little hands turning it on). That being said, my youngest is now 3.5, so it's a limited amount of time that I'll be dealing with this.

You're not going to like hearing that of those plans, I like your current layout the best...Especially for welcoming little helpers.

I don't have new ideas at the moment, so am sorry to only point out negatives without solutions:
The double peninsula plan with the peninsula to navigate between the stove and the fridge, I'm afraid, would drive you crazy. Peninsulas, in general, close in the space and prevent good traffic flow for multiple workers. My sister remodeled her kitchen to get rid of the peninsula and how it trapped people in her work area. With your current island the kids can work from the opposite side, and people can flow around the island to avoid running into each other and crossing paths.

The island cooktop without buffer (24" recommended) behind it is a safety hazard, especially with a busy family scooting through that major traffic path. Additionally, that plan has all the important elements (stove, sink, fridge, dishwasher) in one little area...So, again, no room for helpers without everyone getting in each other's way. This one, like your current plan, doesn't offer the bar seating you want...Do you need it with a table so close? I understand there are different pluses to each kind of seating, but you've limited space to fit bodies.

Is there a reason you want pantry space in the kitchen with your great walk-in so close by?

As I said, I'm not trying to sound completely negative...The beginning stages can be tough.
Best wishes.

"...Dh has told me he doesn't want the walls messed with (drat!) and prefers the plumbing to stay in a similar place..."

"...there are too many walkways in my kitchen..."

Remember, the more constraints you put on a design, the less you can change and the fewer options you have. Particularly, in this case, the plumbing and the doors (b/c they're part of the walls). While you didn't say the doors couldn't move or be changed, I'm assuming they cannot b/c your DH doesn't want to mess with the walls. Which brings me to this question....

If neither you nor your DH are doing the work, why doesn't he want to move plumbing or "mess with" the walls?

Is the 54" window currently there (it sounds like it)? I'm asking b/c it's not in the pic of your kitchen's current layout.

I would probably work on the G -shaped one but try it as a U shape and get rid of the peninsula in the upper right that blocks the fridge. As Rhome says, that traps you too much.
Your kitchen is a bit too small to have an island that has much function because it is narrow.

I am not in complete agreement that the back of the range needs so much *more protection than the front. The house I grew up in had the cooktop on a 28 deep island and we cook on it from either side, which actually is convenient if you are doing four burner cooking...but it is not currently recommended and in your case it is in a major traffic area whereas ours is not.

I had the same idea as Palimpsest...instead of a "G", make it a "U". It gives you a bit more space and seating. However, since you cannot move plumbing and I think the window is already there even though it wasn't in the layout for your current kitchen, it isn't ideal...but it's not bad if you don't mind a peninsula (personally, I don't...I have two in my kitchen, but they are shorter than yours).

I drew up two versions...a "U" and an island. However, with the island setup, I think you will have to give up a second oven since you lose some wall space to make room for the island with seating.

I put a range in both layouts. In the first, it was to give you two ovens...one in the range and one in a tall oven cabinet paired with a MW (build an alcove rather than getting a built-in MW...it's more flexible & the MW will be much less expensive.) In the second, the only oven is in the range; the MW is a MW drawer in the island (they do have child lockout if you're worried.)

Here are the two versions + the zones for each one.

Layout #1

Layout #2

Now, Layout #1 w/zones

Layout #2 w/zones

Thanks for looking at the layout ideas... each idea I come up with is "close, but no cigar" - since it seems like it's almost possible, I keep working at it. If I could just find something that worked, I think my mind could rest.

Yes, we currently have the window over the sink.

I think dh is just trying to reign me in - less hassle of moving walls etc... plus he doesn't like the idea of losing space in the very helpful pantry. speaking of the pantry, I guess I wasn't clear. I don't need food storage in the kitchen, but if it was available, I'm not going to say no to it.

the outside wall with the sink will have changes already - the french doors will be switched out for a single french door and then a window so the banquette can be anchored there. (the "L" banquette will be under the new window and kind of move into the family room space a bit the layout I posted didn't show that side) So if the window/sink need to move, it's ok.

I still think I might be able to steal another 12, maybe even 15 inches from the pantry to lengthen the outside wall(it would push the range wall back). But as I said, dh is asking me to try to work within the perimeters of the existing room. But that's the only wall I can play with without doing major renovation.

bar seating. dh really wants this. I personally would like at least 1 perch for a visitor to the cook.

speaking of the little helpers - it's already crowded. for whatever reason, we often end up in the corner between the sink and the stove... very crowded feeling. that's why most of the plans I've put on paper have the cooktop on an island - not boxed in. a few of my ideas had a raised overhang/counter behind the cooktop as a bit of a buffer.

I do have a lot of family in the area - so quite a bit of casual entertaining. And you know how people tend to congregate in the kitchen...

I don't know. I know our space doesn't support our wish/want list. So now it's the game of compromises. My biggest want is definitely to get more workspace to the left of the cooking area. It will be changed - as I said, the cabinets are falling apart, drawers are broken, etc. - so my hope is to find a layout that meets some of our wants in the meantime.

perhaps one reason we end up in the corner cooking with kids is because I really don't like the countertop material for the current island... it is tile with nasty grout and a few of the tiles are breaking.

Once again, thanks for reading this far!

wow - you're fast! thanks buehl! I didn't see your layout ideas last night - but you better believe I'll be pouring over them today. :-)

I think have a different pair of eyes look at it is wonderful - when you are living in it, you tend to get tunnel vision... also perhaps unknowingly swayed by how the kitchen already functions (or doesn't)

and now to prepare bkft for those little ones. :-)

Happy New Year

Possibility for a cooktop in a shallower island or peninsula

Kuppersbusch

Yesterday when I was getting very frustrated with the constraints of the space we have, I went and mapped out our current pantry... and then mapped out what it would be like if we stole 15 inches from it to give to the kitchen... figured out the storage space lost (not much), showed dh how it would work - especially if we switched out pantry door with a pocket door... and then showed him how drastically that extra 15 inches could improve our kitchen.

I **think** I got an "ok" out of him. He was afraid it would kill the pantry storage and it didn't really affect it much... so now to the layout with that additional 15inches along the sink wall... YEAH!

I'm considering moving the cooktop/range to the sink wall. I don't want it on the short wall - my back to everything. That's why I was trying to put it on the island, so I can be facing out. But there are the safety concerns cuz I don't have much room for a buffer. But if I put the cooktop on the sinkwall, it's my side to everything, not my back.

Another thing I'm considering is widening the window to both the sink and the cooktop prep area. We back to the woods, so it's a lovely view... and the kitchen is in the "dark" part of the house and more natural light would help that.